INAFOCAM, INTEC, and the University of Sevilla Start Doctoral Program in Education

INAFOCAM, INTEC, and the University of Sevilla Start Doctoral Program in Education
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 12/10/2013

In order to train a core body of researchers capable of providing solutions to the needs of the Dominican education system, the National Institute for Teacher Education and Training (INAFOCAM – Instituto Nacional de Formación y Capacitación del Magisterio) will host a Doctoral Program in Education, in coordination with the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC – Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo) and the University of Sevilla, Spain.

The objective of the doctoral program is to train researchers that are competent and capable of designing and implementing original and innovative projects and research in the areas of educational policy, teacher training, and curriculum practices.

The group will be made of 15 professionals who have been selected for their experience in the various areas and levels of the education system, who are motivated and interested in educational research, and who have a favorable attitude toward lifelong learning.

The objective of the doctoral program is to train researchers that are competent and capable of designing and implementing original and innovative projects and research in the areas of educational policy, teacher training, and curriculum practices.

The fourth level program will cover fifteen modules; its duration will be two years, with an additional year for completing and submitting the thesis. Each participant will have a tutor and must hold a Master’s degree.

Throughout the program, INAFOCAM scholarship holders will participate in a scientific theoretical training seminar, as well as in methodological seminars, doctoral training sessions, and national and international conferences.

These doctoral activities will expose current research trends on: institutional analysis and educational innovation processes; counseling agents and process, training and professional development; information and communication technologies in educational settings; curricular design, development and evaluation in educational contexts; educational intervention and evaluation; design and research in education; design of research tools: questionnaire, inventories, and test, among other thematic components.

This group has committed, at the conclusion of the doctoral program, to develop research that responds to the educational problems and needs of the Dominican society. To that end, they signed a contract in the virtual classroom of INAFOCAM.

Details of the Event

The meeting at INAFOCAM took place in order to share with the Doctoral candidates the purpose of the Ministry of Education in supporting training at the highest level through INAFOCAM. The objective is to train a core of specialists who will contribute with their research to create solutions for the specific needs of the Dominican education system.

The attendees were welcomed by Teacher Miguel Ángel Moreno, Director of Training and Development, who represented Teacher Denia Burgos, Executive Director of the INAFOCAM. In his remarks, Moreno outlined the expectations of the Institute in terms of the results of the doctoral program, according to the activities and goals of the education system.

Dr. Ginia Montes de Oca, Director of Research and Evaluation at the INAFOCAM, discussed the role of research related to teacher training programs in the Dominican Republic, in light of the needs and demands of the education system.

In turn, Dr. Altagracia López, Director of the Center for Innovation in Higher Education (CINNES-INTEC) addressed the requirements and development of the Doctoral Program in Education in partnership with the INTEC and the University of Sevilla.

Cecilia Bergés, Director of Graduate Studies, and Nurys Nieves González, Coordinator of the Doctoral Program, also attended the meeting on behalf of INAFOCAM.