Dominican Republic's ITLA launches AI and semiconductor programs amid institutional overhaul

Under the leadership of rector Jimmy Rosario Bernard, the Instituto Tecnológico de las Américas (ITLA) in the Dominican Republic has entered a 100‑day transformation focused on industry 4.0 needs. The institute expanded its academic portfolio to 18 technology degrees and introduced the country’s first technologist program in Semiconductors and Microelectronics, aiming to integrate the nation into the global advanced‑manufacturing chain.

More than 8,000 technology scholarships were awarded to students nationwide, while ITLA secured partnerships with multinational firms such as NVIDIA, Microsoft, Huawei, Fortinet and Red Hat. The NVIDIA collaboration trained the first cohort of AI‑specialized faculty and laid the groundwork for an on‑campus Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence. Digital services like the ITLA App and ITLA PASS were launched to streamline student support, and the ITLA Barahona project began expanding tech education to the southern region.

ITLA students also competed in the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge, qualifying in both Human‑Powered and Remote‑Controlled categories. A new agreement with the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo will create a National Hub for University AI, projected to benefit hundreds of thousands of students. The reforms align with President Luis Abinader’s national strategy to boost high‑value‑added sectors and strengthen technological sovereignty.