The National Evangelical University (UNEV) marked its 40th anniversary with a full week of academic, spiritual and social activities held at its Santo Domingo campus.

The commemoration not only reflects on its history in this Atlantic-Caribbean country of 11 million inhabitants, but also provides an opportunity to reflect on the challenges facing evangelical higher education and the role the university is called upon to play in strengthening Christian thought, research and service to the country.

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Thanksgiving Service

The celebrations began with a Thanksgiving Service, held on Monday 27 July in the Assembly Hall of the Los Fundadores Building.

The Vice-Chancellor, Dr Rafael Reyes Almonte, reiterated his commitment to strengthening the university’s Christian identity. UNEV’s mission is to pursue academic excellence without compromising the spiritual mission that gave rise to this university. The 40th-anniversary celebrations provide an opportunity to continue training Christian professionals and leaders capable of contributing to the transformation of Dominican society.

The keynote address was delivered by Pastor Ezequiel Molina, one of the most influential figures in evangelical leadership in the Dominican Republic. He urged the university community to remain true to its mission of training leaders grounded in the principles of the Gospel.

A week full of activities

Throughout the commemorative week, other activities were also held, including keynote lectures, meetings with alumni and reflections on the ethical and technological challenges of the present day.

The programme included a talk entitled ‘Today’s Christian and Artificial Intelligence’, delivered by the pastor and writer Tomás Gómez Bueno. Another event was the ‘Sharing with Our Graduates’ session, during which the Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Council, Julio Morales, gave a lecture on ‘The Ethical Challenges Facing Today’s Professionals’.

Authorities from society join the celebration

The closing ceremony brought together academic authorities, representatives from higher education institutions and special guests, who highlighted UNEV’s legacy and its contribution to the Dominican higher education system. The ceremony included a commemorative video, closing remarks by the Vice-Chancellor for Administration, Epifanio González Minaya, and a toast in honour of four decades of institutional service.

Dr J. Adalberto Martínez, former Deputy Minister of Education, delivered the keynote address entitled “UNEV: A Model of Higher Education in the Context of the 21st Century”.