Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo 488th anniversary

The Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) is conducting various commemorative activities to mark its 488th anniversary.

Initial celebrations included the launch of the ‘La Madre Tierra nos habla’ (Mother Earth Speaks to Us) campaign, which focuses on ecological awareness and sustainability. The university also held ceremonies to honor retired faculty and staff for long-term service at the San Francisco de Macorís campus. Subsequent activities expanded to include flag-raising ceremonies at the central headquarters led by Rector Jorge Asjana David. The anniversary also features the XLV Tony Barreiro University Sports Games, marked by the arrival of an Olympic torch that toured various regional centers. Additionally, the university granted a posthumous Doctor Honoris Causa degree to priest Luis José Quinn Cassidy for his contributions to Dominican society.

To mark the milestone, the university held three investiture ceremonies, graduating 3,589 new professionals, of whom 1,519 received academic honors. During these ceremonies, Rector Jorge Asjana David addressed global challenges, specifically referencing the ‘La Madre Tierra nos habla’ theme to urge graduates to consider climate change and pollution. He also noted the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and quantum computing, warning of the environmental footprint caused by the energy demands of AI servers.

To improve campus mobility and organization, the university implemented a new graduation modality that groups faculties of varying sizes to distribute attendance more effectively and reduce vehicular congestion.