LXIV General Assembly of SIRCIP

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, September 17-19, 2025

The Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) is hosting the Sixty-fourth General Assembly of the Central American and Caribbean Regional System of Research and Postgraduate Studies (SIRCIP), an organ of the Central American University Confederation (CSUCA) that strengthens, guides and coordinates research and postgraduate studies in the region, with an integrative vision and sustainable development.

SIRCIP's main objectives are to coordinate postgraduate studies and research in universities in the Central American and Caribbean region; promote academic integration through human talent management; foster quality and academic harmonization; and contribute to sustainable human development through professional training and research excellence.

Opening Ceremony

The assembly began with the opening ceremony in the Aula Magna of the UASD, with the participation of university and regional authorities.

In the words of MSc. Carlos Alvarado Cerezo, Secretary General of CSUCA, he highlighted the importance of this Assembly as a meeting of wills and commitments that give meaning to the regional mission: “Research and empowerment are engines of development, because they generate relevant knowledge to transform our environment and train researchers and professionals capable of leading innovation processes.”.

For his part, Magister Editrudis Beltrán Crisóstomo, Rector of the UASD, mentioned "May these events continue to be spaces to keep us united, updated and committed to the value of service to society that the knowledge emanating from our universities provides.".

Meanwhile, Dr. Alice Burgos, President of SIRCIP, noted, “Being gathered here at this SIRCIP assembly, your presence from our nine sister nations, strengthens the certainty that our university integration is a living, dynamic project committed to the future of the region,” adding that on this occasion she was unable to participate in person, but she is following up on the planned actions virtually.

Master lectures

The day includes three high-level keynote lectures, namely:

“Towards an inclusive, innovative higher education linked to regional development”, by Dr. Franklin García Fermín, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Dominican Republic.

“Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Scientific Production: Management and Governance Framework for the Central American and Caribbean Region”, taught by MSc. Victoria Hernández, from the Development Observatory of the UCR.

“The CRIS system for managing information on research and postgraduate studies at the National University of Costa Rica: experience, usefulness, potential and challenges”, presented by MSc. Silvia Argüello, Vice-Rector of Research at UNA.

Reports and progress

During the sessions, reports are presented from the outgoing presidency of SIRCIP, the General Secretariat of CSUCA, and on the progress in organizing the VII Biennial Regional Meeting of Research and Postgraduate Studies, which will take place in 2025 at the University of San Carlos of Guatemala.

Also shared are the proposed regional research and postgraduate agenda, the reports of the permanent working committees, and the progress of strategic programs related to the research agenda, management capacities, innovation, internationalization, and open science.

COREP and CORI meetings

In the following days, the sessions of the Regional Postgraduate Council (COREP) and the Regional Research Council (CORI) take place, which work on strategic planning, the definition of regional postgraduate programs, micro-credentials, the regional research award and the articulation of scientific information systems.

The assembly will conclude with the presentation of joint reports from CORI and COREP, the appointment and renewal of members of the Technical Commission for Research and Postgraduate Studies (CTIP), and the validation of proposals regarding scientific publication policies and guidelines for the evaluation of regional programs.

With this Sixty-fourth Assembly, SIRCIP reaffirms its commitment to promoting academic excellence, strengthening inter-university cooperation and contributing to the sustainable human development of Central America and the Caribbean, through research and postgraduate training.