Author: David Daniel Ramirez

UNICDA welcomes its students with an orientation day for the new semester September – December 2026

With enthusiasm and expectations for the challenges and opportunities of a new academic stage, the Dominican American University (UNICDA) welcomed its students during an event held at the Patrick N. Hughson Auditorium, marking the beginning of a new semester of training, learning, and university experiences.

The event featured the participation of Lic. Enrique A. Fernández Malla, rector of UNICDA; Dr. Josefina Pepín, vice-rector; Eng. Edwin Salazar, dean of Student Services; Eng. Paola Martínez, coordinator of Systems/Software Engineering; Dr. Ligia Henríquez, coordinator of the Education program; and Dr. Juan José Mariñez, Academic Dean, who accompanied the students during this important moment of integration into university life.

As part of the day, students took guided tours of various spaces and facilities at UNICDA, an experience designed to help them become familiar with the campus, learn about available resources, and recognize the different environments that will be part of their academic journey.

The welcome program also included specialized orientations by academic areas, allowing students to get closer to their respective fields of study, learn relevant aspects of their training, and better understand the spaces and dynamics related to their professional development. The orientations were organized into four main areas: Technology, Education, Business, and Tourism.

This event represents the students’ first approach to the spaces, services, and people who will be part of their university journey. It also serves as an opportunity to strengthen their sense of belonging and begin building connections within the academic community.

Through these initiatives, UNICDA reaffirms its commitment to comprehensive education, ensuring that each student receives the guidance and support necessary to make the most of their university experience.

Welcome to UNICDA! May this semester be the beginning of great learning, experiences, and achievements.

UNICDA promotes innovation and the protection of intellectual property during Young Innovators 2026

Within the framework of Young Innovators 2026, the Dominican American University (UNICDA) held the conference “Building Innovation That Competes & Best Practices for US IP,” a space aimed at strengthening the knowledge of young entrepreneurs and professionals about the strategic importance of intellectual property in the development and growth of innovative initiatives.

The conference was led by Malachi Hernandez, founder of Ipelint & EinsteinIP, who shared knowledge and best practices related to the protection of ideas and intangible assets that are part of technological ventures.

During the session, participants learned about the main mechanisms for protecting intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, as well as their importance in preserving the value of innovations and strengthening a company’s competitive position.

One of the highlights of the event was the need to continuously validate ideas with users as part of an innovation process focused on understanding the real needs of the market. Additionally, the importance of developing layered protection strategies and considering intellectual property as an asset capable of generating value, boosting competitiveness, and fostering business growth was addressed.

The activity also featured the participation of UNICDA’s rector, Lic. Enrique A. Fernández Malla, who addressed those present and emphasized the importance of continuing to promote a culture of innovation, creativity, and strategic vision among new generations of entrepreneurs and professionals.

The holding of this event reaffirms UNICDA’s commitment to academic training connected with the transformations of the professional and business environment, providing its students and participants with opportunities to expand their knowledge and get closer to the trends shaping the future of innovation.

Through initiatives like Young Innovators 2026, the Dominican American University continues to promote learning spaces that stimulate creativity, strategic thinking, and the ability to transform ideas into proposals with the potential to generate sustainable value.

Because innovating not only means creating but also recognizing the value of an idea, protecting it strategically, and turning it into an opportunity for growth.

Students of Tourism at UNICDA learn about new trends in the events industry during an academic visit to PYHEX Work

As part of their academic training process, students from the Tourism program at the Universidad Domínico Americano (UNICDA) conducted a field practice at the facilities of PYHEX Work, a center specialized in business and event spaces, as part of the course Business and Event Tourism.

The activity was accompanied by the professor Francesca Vásquez and allowed the students to experience firsthand an innovative proposal within the meetings, conferences, and corporate events sector.

During the tour, the students visited different coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and halls designated for corporate events, having the opportunity to observe how these environments respond to the new dynamics and needs of the business and meetings market.

The experience also allowed for the analysis of the integration of elements such as infrastructure, technology, innovation, and service quality in the design and development of competitive experiences for the MICE sector (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), one of the areas of growing importance within the tourism industry.

This type of practice constitutes a fundamental complement to classroom training, as it provides students the opportunity to transfer the knowledge acquired to real scenarios, learn about industry trends, and broaden their perspective on different fields of professional performance.

Likewise, the engagement with specialized companies and spaces helps strengthen skills related to observation, analysis, and understanding of the dynamics that characterize the events sector, contributing to preparation more aligned with the current demands of the market.

UNICDA thanks PYHEX Work for welcoming its students and contributing, through their experience, to strengthening the training of future tourism and event management professionals.

With initiatives like this, the Universidad Domínico Americano reaffirms its commitment to an education that goes beyond the classroom and connects academic knowledge with real industry experiences.

UNICDA students strengthen their training in hotel management through field practice in Punta Cana

As part of their academic training process and with the goal of connecting the knowledge acquired in the classroom with the real dynamics of the tourism sector, students from the Tourism and Hotel Management course at Universidad Domínico Americano (UNICDA) completed a field practice session from July 31 to August 2 at the facilities of Serenade Caribe Club Resort & Spa Punta Cana.

The activity was supervised by instructor Lic. Francesca Vásquez and allowed students to gain firsthand insight into the processes involved in managing and operating a hotel establishment through meetings with executives and managers from various areas of the complex.

During the program, participants had the opportunity to learn about the functions, challenges, and best practices of essential areas for hotel operations, including resident management, housekeeping, human resources, entertainment, security, kitchen, mixology, and marketing. These exchange sessions helped broaden their perspective on the comprehensive management of tourism enterprises and the importance of coordination among different departments.

The experience contributed to strengthening the students’ professional competencies by enabling them to compare classroom concepts with real-world situations and processes inherent to the hotel industry. Furthermore, it fostered a broader perspective on the challenges, opportunities, and trends that characterize the strategic and operational management of the sector.

Initiatives of this nature are part of UNICDA’s commitment to an education oriented toward the practical application of knowledge and a continuous bridge between academia and the productive sector. Interacting with active professionals provides students with real-world benchmarks to understand market demands and prepare to face the challenges of their future professional careers.

Universidad Domínico Americano expresses its gratitude to the team at Serenade Caribe Club Resort & Spa Punta Cana for their willingness to welcome the students and share their knowledge and experiences, thereby helping to strengthen the ties between academia and the tourism industry.

Through learning experiences like this one, UNICDA reaffirms its commitment to training professionals who are capable of understanding, managing, and contributing to the sustainable and competitive development of the national tourism sector.