ISFODOSU drives educational research in the Dominican Republic
Vladimir Figueroa, Director of Research, and Andrea Paz, Vice-Rector of Research and Graduate Studies, thank the national and foreign delegates of the 4th Caribbean Congress on Educational Research for its resounding success. (Photo: Isfodosu.edu.do)
Punta Cana, DR.- Educational research plays a crucial role in the development and enhancement of educational systems in Latin America. By identifying problems, developing effective solutions, optimizing educational quality, generating indigenous knowledge, and fostering collaboration, this type of research has the potential to drive positive change across the region.
Aware of this reality, the Instituto Superior de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña (ISFODOSU) periodically hosts the Caribbean Congress of Educational Research (CCIE). The fourth edition of this event, held in October in Punta Cana under the theme “Innovation for Quality Education,” brought together approximately 400 presenters from 16 Ibero-American countries.
Academics from universities in Colombia, Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Brazil, Portugal, Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Panama, Chile, Venezuela, the United States, Guadeloupe, and the Dominican Republic presented their research findings across nine thematic areas: Innovative Practices in Teacher Training Processes (27 presentations); Didactic and Learning Processes in Natural Sciences (26); Processes of Guidance, Inclusion, and Teaching in Schools (27); Physical Activity, Sports, and Health in School Settings (35); Information and Communication Technology in Educational Contexts; Management, Policies, and Educational Development; and Mathematics Education Didactics, each with 27 presentations; as well as the Didactics of Language and Literature (24 presentations), and Didactic Learning Processes in Social Sciences (26 presentations).
ISFODOSU Rector, Dr. Nurys del Carmen González. (Photo: Isfodosu)
For the fourth consecutive year, the congress succeeded in creating spaces for discussion and the proliferation of knowledge. According to ISFODOSU Rector, Dr. Nurys del Carmen González, “A constant dialogue is necessary, sharing best practices and knowledge, because our work is full of challenges: we are shaping human beings for life, and that is a commitment constantly threatened by the social, economic, and political changes in our countries.”
The fourth iteration of the CCIE represents a milestone in ISFODOSU’s commitment to research. Despite being called “Caribbean,” its reach is much broader, involving academics and experts in the educational field from Ibero-America. “Through the Caribbean Congress of Educational Research, we build bridges towards academic excellence and collaboration in the field of research among our countries,” the Rector emphasizes.
Distinguished speakers
Among the special guests was Astrid Bibiana Rodríguez, Colombia’s Minister of Sport, who delivered a keynote address on Gender Equity in Physical Education, Sports, Recreation, and Physical Activity in Colombia. She discussed gender equity from the perspectives of research, public policies, programs, and challenges in the sector, and shared insights on the Sport for Equality project, which made Colombia the first country in Latin America to establish public policy guidelines for gender equity in sports.
The CCIE’s opening day featured two keynote lectures: one on the impact of artificial intelligence in education, by Peruvian professor Rafael Martínez Campoblanco, and another on international trends and challenges in continuous teacher education for educational research, presented by Professor Francisco Imbernón from the University of Barcelona, Spain.
The closing day of the congress included keynote lectures by Francisco Javier Murillo, Director of the UNESCO Chair in Education for Social Justice at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), on transforming schools to achieve a more just society; and Oswaldo Lorenzo Quilmes from the University of Granada, Spain, who spoke on interculturality in compulsory education classrooms.
A growing and cross-border event
Vladimir Figueroa, Director of Research, acknowledges that the congress has gained maturity and broader reach with each edition. “ISFODOSU has always conducted academic events. It was previously called the ISFODOSU-IDEICE Pre-Congress. After gaining enough experience and showing advances in research, we separated from the Instituto Dominicano de Evaluación e Investigación de la Calidad Educativa (IDEICE) and organized an academic event with the highest standards.”
At the ISFODOSU-sponsored congress, academics can participate by submitting research papers aligned with the thematic areas. Attendees can also participate as audience members. Accepted formats include presentations, keynote lectures, and posters. The main target audience consists of educational researchers, teachers, and decision-makers.
Figueroa, the event’s ideologist, is convinced that to maintain the relevance of the conference as the educational and technological landscape in the Caribbean evolves, it is crucial to “increase international participation and achieve more indexations of the conference proceedings.”
Given its characteristics, Figueroa emphasizes, “this congress is destined to become a convergence point for scientific communication in the Caribbean. ISFODOSU’s institutional commitment has been the driving force behind its recognition as one of the most significant educational research conferences in the region.”
Cutting-edge research
Andrea Paz, Vice-Rector of Research and Graduate Studies, identifies two ways that contribute to the congress’s positioning and the advancement of educational research in the Caribbean and beyond. “One is by connecting talented researchers, as the conferences bring together like-minded individuals as well as divergent thinkers. It’s like an intellectual fusion experiment.”
She points out that this clash of perspectives “leads to breakthroughs and new research directions which, in the case of the Caribbean, can highlight our research needs that are not priorities in developed countries.”
According to Paz, the CCIE translates into inspiration and motivation, as attending a conference can energize researchers. “Hearing passionate colleagues talk about their projects or attending inspiring talks can spark new creative ideas. Conferences can help maintain motivation and enthusiasm, which are essential in cutting-edge research.”
An educational research congress leaves a significant legacy in the educational community by promoting research, knowledge exchange, innovation, professional development, and educational improvement in the region. It can also influence decision-making and the formulation of educational policies.
Sustainable investment, quality, innovation
The variety of academic institutions and countries represented, along with the quantity and quality of the presented papers, was largely satisfying, according to David Capellán, ISFODOSU’s Director of Faculty Development. “We could extract important lessons from each thematic area; however, in summary, I can say that sustainable investment in education is essential for long-term development. The lack of adequate resources can hinder the quality of education. Policies that promote sufficient and efficient funding allocation for education, along with transparency in the use of these resources, are crucial to ensuring a robust and equitable educational system.”
David Capellán, ISFODOSU’s Director of Faculty Development. (Photo: Isfodosu)
Capellán also emphasizes that educational policies must be inclusive and equitable. “This involves ensuring access to quality education for all, regardless of socioeconomic background, gender, ethnicity, or disability. Policies that promote inclusion and equity are essential to reducing educational gaps and enabling each student to reach their full potential.”
Publications of excellence
ISFODOSU’s editorial activity is part of its strategy and is consistent with its mission to “be the benchmark in the training of education professionals,” which commits it to seeking solutions to educational problems through scientific research. Congress attendees experienced firsthand the quality of ISFODOSU’s editorial catalog through numerous printed copies on display (also available on the digital platform publications.isfodosu.edu.do, accessible free of charge).
For Miguelina Crespo, in charge of Publications, events like the CCIE contribute to the dissemination and exposure of ISFODOSU’s editorial products. “The congress is an opportunity to showcase the quality of the content edited at the institution, and the event’s multiplier effect means that the catalog can reach international audiences.”
Mylene Terro, delegate from Guadeloupe, stops by the ISFODOSU Publications stand and shows interest in the book catalog. (Photo: Adrian R. Morales González)
The public had access to the Revista Caribeña de Investigación Educativa (RECIE), the Colección Clásicos Dominicanos (Narrative and Essay series), as well as recent publications released at the last Santo Domingo International Book Fair: The Crucible and the Sieve. Learning Stories (by Professor Manuel Matos Moquete, National Literature Award winner), and the reef fish catalogs of the National Aquarium and bird catalogs of the National Zoo, both resulting from the master’s program in Biology oriented towards Teaching and Research (a joint degree between ISFODOSU and ISA University).
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By Adrian R. Morales González
Senior Staff Writer
(Originally published in Bohío magazine)