Vice President of Dominican Republic Signs Educational Agreement with UMass Boston
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by Leigh DuPuy
On
February 15, the vice president of the Dominican Republic, Milagros
Ortiz Bosch, visited UMass Boston to discuss her experiences as a female
political leader and to participate in signing an agreement between
the university and the Universidad Autonamia de Santo Domenigo. The
educational agreement establishes a collaboration between the universities,
which will include initiatives to create special, exchange programs;
technical cooperation in the fields of information technology and distance
learning; and sharing research in the social, scientific, and pedagogical
areas.
Ortiz Bosch spoke of the partnership with great anticipation during the ceremony held in the Chancellor's conference room that afternoon. Lucia David, of the Graduate College of Education, was on hand to translate Ortiz Bosch's Spanish into English for the group of over 60 people from the university and Latino community who witnessed the signing.
"By crystallizing a collaboration with UMass Boston," Ortiz Bosch said, "We are looking at a new chapter. Speaking from a small country in the Caribbean, I ask you to give us your hand and we will walk together." Later she noted that, "democracy is education and it breaks the last barriers. Education and technology are important for globalization."
The seeds of the partnership first began during a visit by Provost Charles Cnudde and Dean Israel Ramírez-Soto to the Dominican Republic during the inauguration of President Ramírez Hipólito Mejía and Ortiz Bosch in May 2000.
For Ortiz Bosch, education always has been a priority. Following the inauguration, she was appointed as the minister of education for her country in August 2000. From a background which includes years as an accomplished lawyer, writer, and leader on the Senate floor in the Dominican Republic, she has written and sponsored legislation to support education, health, and women's issues and initiatives.
Ortiz Bosch shared these experiences as a political leader in a speech for UMass Boston's McCormack Institute's Center for Women in Politics earlier that morning. After the ceremony in the Chancellor's conference room, she concluded her visit with a speaking engagement at the office of President Bulger.