The Instituto Global de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Sociales celebrated its 20th anniversary at an awards ceremony in Santo Domingo, recognizing founders including Leonel Fernández Reyna.
The event at the Mauad Hotel honored key figures who drove the Dominican social sciences institution from its inception, including Fernández, who serves as president of Funglode and heads the institute's Board of Regents.
Fernández shared details of the process behind consolidating the institute over the past two decades, recalling his own attempt to pursue a doctoral degree in sociology at New York University. Although he passed the entrance examination with high marks, he faced tuition costs of $50,000, an amount he said was impossible for him to afford at that time.
He explained that the experience showed him the need to create opportunities for talented young Dominicans to gain access to top tier education without leaving the country. During his presidential administration, the Dominican government launched an international scholarship scheme that enabled nearly 30,000 students to study abroad.
Faced with growing demand, officials sought to bring those educational opportunities directly to the Dominican Republic. That goal led to the establishment of the Escuela de Gobierno de las Américas, inspired by institutions such as the Harvard School of Government, and later to the creation of Iglobal.
Role of humanities and social sciences
Addressing current intellectual trends, Fernández spoke about the challenges universities face in an increasingly technology driven world. He defended the role of social sciences and humanities, including sociology, history, anthropology, philosophy and linguistics, as essential tools for critical thinking and understanding societal changes.
Technological development should complement rather than displace those fields of knowledge, Fernández said. He stressed that social and humanistic thought remains necessary to guide the broader impact of emerging technologies on society.
At the conclusion of his address, Fernández joined Iglobal rector Josefina Pimentel in a symbolic ceremony to encapsulate the anniversary memories. Organizers described the time capsule ceremony as one of the central highlights of the evening at the Mauad Hotel.
Academic output and international partnerships
Rector Josefina Pimentel presented an overview of the institute's achievements over its two decades of operation. She stated that Iglobal has delivered more than 1,600 postgraduate alumni holding master's and doctoral degrees to Dominican society, alongside hundreds of professionals trained through specialized diploma courses.
Pimentel said the academic training was conducted with scientific rigor, excellence and a permanent commitment to innovation. She highlighted internationalization as a core pillar of the institute's mission since its founding.
The institute has established formal partnerships with more than 50 universities and research centers across Europe and Latin America. Key international partner institutions include Sciences Po in Paris, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, the University of Salamanca, Comillas Pontifical University, the Autonomous University of Madrid and Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
She pointed out that these partnerships have yielded dual degree postgraduate programs, joint doctorates, microcredentials and UNESCO chairs. Pimentel noted that these collaborations have established Iglobal as an active bridge for advanced knowledge transfer between regions.
Local institutional agreements and historic alumni
Beyond international outreach, Pimentel outlined Iglobal's involvement in strengthening domestic public institutions. The institute maintains agreements with bodies including the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, the National Institute for Teacher Education and Training, the National School of the Judiciary, the Dominican Municipal League, the General Archive of the Nation, the Constitutional Court and Indotel, the national telecommunications agency.
Through these public sector partnerships, Iglobal has trained more than 9,000 graduates in subjects of national interest through short and medium term specialized training courses.
Pimentel pointed to prominent alumni who now serve in high level public roles across the country. Notable graduates include Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso, Supreme Court of Justice Judge Namphi Rodríguez, Dominican Ambassador to China José Julio Gómez, former Constitutional Court president Jottin Cury and Ombudsman Pablo Ulloa.
She added that Iglobal alumni hold positions as members of congress, high court judges, former ministers and deputy ministers, senior military and police officers, diplomats, political scientists, educators and business executives.
Institutional origins and honorees
Pimentel recalled that the institution traces its origins back to 2006, when it opened as the Escuela de Gobierno de las Américas in collaboration with the Ortega y Gasset University Institute, Comillas Pontifical University, the University of Salamanca and Sciences Po in Paris. Following the success of that initial project, Iglobal was formally established in 2009 under the leadership of Professor Ligia Amada Melo.
During the anniversary ceremony, Pimentel recognized several key individuals who contributed to the institute's development. Special distinctions were presented to Frederick Emam Zadé, engineer Ramón Flores, who served as founding director of the Escuela de Gobierno de las Américas, and Marcos Villamán, who directed Iglobal during its first 12 years.
The rector also acknowledged Ramón Cruz, María Elizabeth Rodríguez and Marco Herrera, the executive director of Funglode. She expressed gratitude to the institute's teaching faculty, administrative staff, partner universities, state training agencies including Mescyt, Inafocam and Ideice, and the institution's graduate body.
