1. NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: FUNDING CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Dominican Republic Presenter: Rosa Rodriguez

2. Dominican Republic ´s Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT) Scholarship Progam Objetives & Goals: Expand opportunities for academic and professional careers identified as priorities in the context of social and economic development of the country and higher education needs of the Dominican population. Strengthen graduate level training and studies within a cooperative approach and internalization of higher education. Increase the education budget and expand the coverage of it throughout the whole population. Ministerio de Educación Superior, Ciencia y Tecnología (2011). Informe Estadístico – Memorias, Viceministerio de Educación Superior, Período Enero 2010 /Noviembre 2011. MESCyT, 48 pp.

3. The MESCyT Scholarship Program Overview Robust scholarship program for Dominican students internationally. Scholarships are available for both undergraduate and graduate levels. Priority level: Ph.D.s. MESCyT seeks to provide advanced degrees for students, and advanced training for professionals among all sectors of the economy. The Ministry is also interested in programs for teachers training and development; Internship program where students come for short term exchanges focused on teacher training and curriculum development.

4. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS Be a Dominican citizen. Reside permanently in the Dominican Republic. Graduate Degree with a minimum of 80 pts. or 3.0 pt. average. Commitment to return to the Dominican Republic for 2 years following the completion of their studies.

5. CURRENT FIELD OF STUDY PRIORITIES FOCUS ON: Engineering. Information Technology and Telecomunications. Film /Cinematography and the Arts, Music, Composition and Performance. Business and Administration (Marketing, International Business, Hospitality). Graduate programs are also a priority of interest in different fields of studies. Education and Curriculum Development.

6. STEPS TO DEVELOP AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MESCyT Prepare a draft with a proposal outlining how your institution can meet the Ministry´s academic priorities. Describe what kind of financial package service you can offer students. The Government funds and budget will not permit the Minstry to increase the numbers of grants awarded per year. The Minister seeks as its top priority to expand the number of U.S. universities receiving Dominican students as long as they can sponsor them. Set up an appointment for a meeting with the Minister in person. Proposals and communication in Spanish will be helpful, but is not obligatory.

7. THE AGREEMENT In order to establish scholarship agreements the Minister wants to sign articulation agreements with institutions that offer programs in their priority field of studies. Institutions that are willing to agree to set levels for tuition, lodging fees and other expenses that the Ministry can´t cover due to budget limitations. The Ministry will preselect candidates and send them to the universities for final approval.

8. THE TOP COUNTRIES RECEIVING DOMINICANS STUDENTS WITH MESCyT SCHOLARSHIPS 2005-2011 Period Spain: 4,736 (58.49%) United States of America: 1,311 (16.19%); Argentina: 350 (4.32%) Cuba: 294 (3.63%) México: 172 (2.12%) Other countries (Europe and Central America) 871 students (10.76%) and in Long Distance Programs 134 (1.65%) in 2010. Ministerio de Educación Superior, Ciencia y Tecnología (2011). Informe Estadístico – Memorias, Viceministerio de Educación Superior, Período Enero 2010 /Noviembre 2011. MESCyT, 48 pp. In the United States: This graph that you see here reflects the amount of Dominican students that were accepted in US universities throughout 2001-2009.

9. Dominican students in the USA  2008: DR 1159 / US 948  2009: DR 1387 / US 1205  2010: DR 1400 / US 1448  2011: DR 1398 / US 1324  2012: DR 1610 / US 1343

10. IMPORTANT CONTACTS Mrs. Ligia Amada Melo, Minister of MESCyT, lmelo@meescyt.gov.dolmelo@meescyt.gov.do Tel. (809)- 731-1247 Mrs. Dania Marcano, Administrative MinisterAssistant. Tel. (809)-731-1245 Mrs. Rosa Rodriguez, EducationUSA Adviser. Mrs. Maria Mercedes Salmon, REAC.