Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – September 15, 2025. The Universidad Domínico Americano (UNICDA) welcomed five distinguished binational centers from Mexico and Central America, in a gathering that reaffirms its commitment to academic, cultural, and international cooperation.

The visiting delegations represented the Mexican American Institute of Cultural Relations (IMARC), the Guatemalan American Institute (IGA), the Sampedrano Cultural Center (CCS), the Honduran Institute of Inter-American Culture (IHCI), and the Specialized Higher Education Institute Centro Cultural Salvadoreño Americano (ICC). Among the attendees were their leading authorities: Luis Alfredo Medina Córdova and José Alberto Castillo López (IMARC), Ana Sylvia Ramírez Toriello (IGA), Francia Quintana (CCS and current President of ABLA), Claudia Margarita Alcerro García (IHCI), and Jorge Alejandro Castrillo Hidalgo (ICC).

The delegations were received by Eng. Ramón Sosa, Executive Director of ICDA and Rector of UNICDA, accompanied by members of the institution’s leadership team.

This meeting marks a significant step toward strengthening academic ties and creating new opportunities for collaboration in teaching, research, and outreach. The presence of these sister institutions not only enriches academic dialogue but also reaffirms our commitment to fostering regional and international partnerships, promoting student and faculty mobility, and developing joint projects.

The diversity of perspectives brought by these delegations contributes to broadening the global vision of our university community, inspiring us to continue building bridges of knowledge and friendship that transcend borders. With this visit, we reaffirm that the future of higher education is built through networks—solid alliances that allow us to advance toward comprehensive, competitive training aligned with global challenges.

As part of the visit, an international cooperation agreement was signed between UNICDA and the Specialized Higher Education Institute Centro Cultural Salvadoreño Americano (ICC), in a ceremony led by the rectors of both institutions: Eng. Ramón Sosa of UNICDA and Mr. Jorge Castrillo of ICC.

The agenda also included working sessions and presentations with the various academic areas that make up the Instituto Cultural Domínico Americano: the Language School, the Domínico Americano School & Preschool, the School of Art and Culture, the Culinary Space, the Teacher Development Center, and Continuing Education. These activities offered a comprehensive view of the institution and its impact on the academic, cultural, and professional development of thousands of students in the Dominican Republic.

All of these centers are members of the Association of Binational Centers of Latin America (ABLA), a network that brings together institutions dedicated to English language education, cultural exchange, and collaboration between the United States and Latin America.