San Juan.— The administrative minister of the
Presidency, Andrés Bautista, stated that the new ISA University (UNISA) in Bohechío materializes President Luis Abinader’s vision of turning higher education into an engine of economic and social development for the Southern region.
Bautista clarified that the modern premises of the ISA University (UNISA) in Bohechío were built by the Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company (EGEHID), under an inter-institutional agreement signed with the academy in 2022.
The inauguration of this university center took place on February 23, 2024, following an investment that amounted to RD$654,810,795.00 and which allowed not only the construction of new infrastructure, but also the adaptation of facilities and the equipping of classrooms, laboratories, and student residences.
The official specified that EGEHID ceded in usufruct several lands and facilities to the ISA University, including spaces from the old camp used in the construction of the Palomino hydroelectric plant, which were adapted for student, professor, and administrative staff housing.
Baptist Minister clarifies misinformation about statements by former President Danilo Medina
Minister Bautista clarified that the recent statements by former President Danilo Medina about universities and agricultural training schools contain inaccurate information.
Bautista pointed out that a former president should refer to public issues based on verifiable data, avoiding confusing the citizenry.
The minister explained that the differences between these institutions are evident: while agricultural training schools offer short, practical courses on forest management, coffee planting, and other crops, universities require prior studies and prolonged academic programs, ranging from two to four years depending on the degree.
“The agricultural courses, which last only a few days, focus on practical instruction, while university education requires prior high school and prepares students to perform professionally,” Bautista indicated. He emphasized that comparing both systems without considering these differences generates confusion and does not reflect the country’s educational reality.
Bautista emphasized the importance of providing clear and truthful information to the population. “Each type of institution plays a specific role in the education and development of the country, and citizens deserve precision and responsibility in public statements.”
The welcome remarks were delivered by the Vice-Rector of the Campus, Manuel Sena, who highlighted the potential of ISA University to transform higher education in the southern zone of the country.
He highlighted the rapid growth and acceptance that the new headquarters has had since its inauguration on February 23, 2024. The construction of the enclosure, which began in February 2022, allowed it to receive its first group of 65 students from the main headquarters in Santiago. In just eight months, the maximum accommodation capacity of 400 students was reached, leaving 200 young people from vulnerable families out due to lack of space, while another 100 applicants are preparing to enter in the next enrollment in September.
In addition to the academic impact, the vice-rector indicated the socioeconomic effect of the campus on the community of Bohechío, where around 40 permanent jobs have been generated, 75% of which are held by residents of the municipality. A network of local agricultural suppliers has also been consolidated, which supplies a large part of the students’ food, positioning the campus not only as an educational center, but also as an engine of local development.
ISA Enrollment
For his part, Junior Ubri, academic director, highlighted that the institution’s main focus is on regional development, training professionals who strengthen the agri-food value chain, with emphasis on southern provinces with emphasis on Pedernales.
He explained that the ISA University reports that the majority of its students are concentrated in technical careers: Agricultural Production Technician with 185 students (49.3%) and Food Technology Technician with 76 (20.7%). The degrees in Environmental Management and Administration in Operations and Logistics Management add up to 57 and 56 students, respectively.
Most of the students come from the southwest of the country, mainly from Bahoruco (49.5%), followed by San Juan, Azua, Independencia and Elías Piña. These data reflect the preference for programs linked to agricultural production and food technology, reaffirming the university’s commitment to professional and regional development.
Meanwhile, the executive deputy director of the Technical Executive Unit for Agroforestry Development Projects, Arístides Santana, explained that the facilities of the Agricultural Training Center previously functioned as an Odebrecht camp. Currently, technical courses for farmers are taught at the site, while professionals of a higher level are trained at ISA University. “You cannot confuse a university with a training center,” Santana specified, to differentiate academic training from non-formal education.
Penélope Valdez, architect, described the conditions of the land before construction and how the adaptations were carried out to convert it into a modern university campus, with classrooms, laboratories, and residences for students.
Infrastructure and academic capacity
The university campus has an installed capacity for 1,200 students in classrooms and laboratories, of which 420 can reside on campus, receiving accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and study materials.
The facilities include 12 equipped classrooms, administrative areas, a student center, and a dining hall with a capacity for 400 diners. It also has 8 modern laboratories specializing in computer science, chemistry, biology, microbiology, unit operations, dairy processing, and fruit and vegetable protection.
To ensure operability, the work was equipped with two electrical plants of 375 and 135 KW, as well as two cisterns with a combined capacity of 80,000 gallons of water, ensuring a stable supply for the operations of the enclosure.
