What changed
2026-07-31 17:17 UTC → 2026-08-04 21:52 UTC ·
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After the June‑July In June 2026 elections, Jorge Asjana David was sworn in as the 22nd rector of the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo on 16 July, (UASD) held internal elections that returned Dr. Jorge Asjana David as rector with President Luis Abinader presiding. In his opening weeks a decisive 66 % of the vote, confirming the mandate he met Housing had already secured in the 17 June poll. The election also filled vice‑rectorates, deanships and Buildings Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó numerous campus directorates, with a second round scheduled for 2 July to launch complete the slate. Asjana quickly moved to implement his 100‑day modernization plan, launching the renovation of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, opened a joint service point for national identity and electoral cards, and pledged a campus‑wide modernisation programme. Asjana unveiled a 100‑day plan focused on inclusion, gender equity, transparency, democratic participation and student retention, targeting upgrades to technology, infrastructure, dining, housing, transport expanding scholarships, and sports facilities. He announced advancing a partnership with the Ministry of Education to align pre‑university and university pathways and began work on decentralising the university through new decentralisation strategy that adds regional centres in Santiago Rodríguez, Neiba, Cotuí, Hato Mayor and Baní. The rector also introduced a master’s programme in Collective Management of Artistic and Cultural Productions, new scholarships and research incentives, and awarded distinguished economists and former Education Minister Franklin García Fermín. He reaffirmed UASD’s goal of celebrating its 500‑year anniversary in 2038. The university community mourned the death of veteran political scientist David La Hoz Vásquez, whose contributions were honoured with a public viewing. In late July 2026, Asjana continued the modernization drive by appointing appointed Dr. Ángela Quezada Guerrero as manager of to manage the new Punta Cana campus, citing the site’s strategic importance for the region’s growing population, tourism and economic activity, and pledging to strengthen academic programmes campus and community engagement there. The same ceremony also saw Raúl Hernández sworn in as Director of Public Relations and International Affairs, and oversaw the opening of a joint national‑identity and electoral‑card service point on the main campus. Parallel governance reforms saw vigorous campaigns for deanships across the Humanities, Economic and Social Sciences, and Arts faculties, with candidates pledging participatory management, curriculum renewal and stronger links to productive sectors. Student groups voiced expectations for improved virtual teaching platforms, additional faculty hires, and expanded research and exchange opportunities. UASD also deepened regional engagement, signing a commitment cooperation pact with the Barahona Chamber of Commerce and inaugurating new facilities in El Seibo, while planning a Punta Cana extension to maintain transparent, continuous communication about UASD’s academic, scientific serve local tourism‑driven communities and social initiatives across a diaspora training initiative in Marseille. These actions collectively reinforce Asjana’s agenda of inclusion, transparency, and academic excellence as the Dominican Republic. university approaches its 500‑year anniversary in 2038.