The academic unit commemorates almost seven decades of contributions to the training of engineers, architects and surveyors in the country
SANTO DOMINGO.– Amid plans, structures, calculations and designs that have marked part of the development of the Dominican Republic, the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (FIA) of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) celebrates its 69th anniversary this Tuesday.
The academic unit, considered one of the most emblematic of the state university, has trained thousands of engineers, architects and surveyors for decades who are now part of infrastructure, urban planning, construction and technological development projects throughout the national territory.
According to historical data published by UASD, the faculty was officially created in 1957 through Law No. 4799, legislation that transformed the then Faculty of Exact Sciences into the current Faculty of Engineering and Architecture.
A story that began centuries ago
Although the formal creation of the FIA occurred in 1957, its academic roots go back much further. According to the institutional overview of the UASD, mathematics was already being taught at the old University of Santo Tomás de Aquino, considered the direct predecessor of the Dominican state academy, by 1754.
Over the years, the technical and scientific fields gained prominence within the university. In 1914, the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences was established, encompassing programs related to Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Mechanical Engineering. Later, in 1937, it was renamed the Faculty of Exact Sciences, before finally adopting its current name.
From a technical school to a key faculty
The evolution of the FIA has been linked to the growth of the country and the need to train professionals specialized in different branches of engineering and architectural design.
Currently, the faculty integrates schools such as Civil Engineering, Architecture, Industrial Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Surveying, in addition to developing postgraduate programs and research related to sustainability, urban planning, energy and technology.
According to UASD, the faculty has also promoted institutes and projects focused on urban mobility, sustainable production, and modernization of industrial processes.
Celebration and legacy
Each FIA anniversary is usually accompanied by conferences, workshops, awards, and academic activities organized by university authorities and the faculty's governing board.
In various institutional interventions, Dean Omar Segura has highlighted the faculty's commitment to innovation, curriculum updating, and the training of professionals capable of responding to current technological challenges.
Sixty-nine years after its official founding, the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of the UASD continues to be one of the main references for technical and scientific higher education in the Dominican Republic, with a legacy that transcends the classrooms and is reflected in a large part of the works and structures that are part of the country.
Recommended readings:
