Instituto Superior de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña

What Instituto Superior de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña does

Instituto Superior de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña (ISFODOSU) is the Dominican Republic's only public higher education institution dedicated exclusively to teacher training. It operates six regional campuses (recintos) across Santo Domingo, Santiago de los Caballeros, Licey al Medio, San Pedro de Macorís, and San Juan de la Maguana, with approximately 492 employees and a 140-year institutional heritage tracing to the 1880s founding of the Dominican Normal Schools. The institution serves three primary student segments: pre-service teachers pursuing undergraduate licenciaturas (14 programs covering initial, primary, secondary, special, physical, artistic, and language education), in-service teachers pursuing master's degrees and specializations, and doctoral students in the newly launched Doctorado en Ciencias de la Educación.

ISFODOSU's academic model is anchored by a regulated Teaching Practice System requiring 1,354 supervised practice hours per student, which was the first such program in the Caribbean to receive international validation from the Committee of Practicum and External Internships of Pontevedra, Spain in 2015. Supporting technology infrastructure includes ISFODOSU Virtual (a hybrid learning platform for degree and postgraduate programs), ISFODOSU Virtual Educación Permanente (continuing education delivery), Mi ISFODOSU (student portal), Microsoft 365 integration, and a Scientific Portal hosting research groups. The product portfolio spans 14 undergraduate programs, multiple master's and specialization programs, continuing education diplomas including a recently launched AI-focused offering, the SciELO-indexed Revista Caribeña de Investigación Educativa (RECIE), and over 150 institutional partnerships.

The business model is government-funded public higher education: tuition and fees are regulated by the Ministry of Education (MINERD), with the institution's Board of Directors chaired by the Minister of Education and including representation from INAFOCAM. Revenue therefore derives primarily from state appropriations rather than market-priced tuition. Distribution occurs through direct enrollment at six physical campuses, the virtual learning platforms, and channel partnerships with MINERD-affiliated schools and educational districts. As a regulated monopoly in Dominican teacher preparation, ISFODOSU functions as the primary pipeline for the national public education system.

Name

Instituto Superior de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña

Legal name

Instituto Superior de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña

Website

https://isfodosu.edu.do

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

ISFODOSU is the Dominican Republic's only public higher education institution dedicated exclusively to teacher training, operating six regional campuses with 14 undergraduate programs, graduate degrees, and continuing education for pre-service and in-service educators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Teacher Training

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHALAG

Online Teacher Education Universities (Licensure & M.Ed.)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Distance & Online Universities

SECONDARYEDANACAB

Academic Language Support (ESL/EFL for School & University)

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Language Tutoring & Exam Prep

SECONDARYEDAIAKAG

Academic & Classroom Integration Support (Study Skills, Academic Norms, Integrity)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Student Support & Cultural Integration Services

SECONDARYEDAAAEAF

Language & Communication Continuing Education

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Continuing Education (Noncredit) & Lifelong Learning Programs

Keywords

• Teacher training
• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Postgraduate education
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional

HQ country

Dominican Republic

HQ region

Latin America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Higher Education Funding: ISFODOSU operates as a public higher education institution in the Dominican Republic, funded primarily through government appropriations. The institution offers undergraduate degrees, postgraduate programs, doctorates, and continuing education programs. As a public institution, tuition and fees are regulated by the Ministry of Education (MINERD) and the government.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ISFODOSU is a public higher education institution in the Dominican Republic specialized exclusively in teacher training. It delivers 14 undergraduate degree programs (licenciaturas) covering initial, primary, secondary, physical, foreign language, special, artistic, and counseling education, alongside master's degrees, specializations, and continuing education diplomas. Academic programs are delivered across six regional campuses and online through ISFODOSU Virtual, with a pioneering 1,354-hour supervised Teaching Practice System validated internationally in 2015.

Product overview

Instituto Superior de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña (ISFODOSU) is a Dominican higher education institution specialized in teacher training. The institution offers a comprehensive educational portfolio consisting of 14 undergraduate degree programs (licenciaturas) covering all education levels from initial to secondary education across various specializations including languages, sciences, arts, and special education. At the graduate level, ISFODOSU offers master's degrees (maestrías) and specialization programs in areas such as early childhood education, language and literature, social sciences, educational management, mathematics education, and physical education. The institution has recently launched its first doctoral program (Doctorado en Ciencias de la Educación) for advanced research training. Supporting these academic programs are technology platforms including Isfodosu Virtual for online/hybrid learning, Mi ISFODOSU student portal, and a scientific research portal. The institution also provides continuing education through various diplomas including educational technology and AI applications for educators. The academic offering is delivered across 6 physical campuses (recintos) throughout the Dominican Republic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Licenciatura en Educación Inicial
• Licenciatura en Educación Primaria (Primer y Segundo Ciclo)
• Licenciatura en Educación Secundaria (Lengua Española y Literatura, Ciencias Sociales, Matemática y Física, Biología y Química)
• Licenciatura en Educación Física
• Licenciatura en Educación mención Lenguas Extranjeras (Inglés)
• Licenciatura en Educación Especial e Inclusiva
• Licenciatura en Educación Artística
• Licenciatura en Orientación Escolar
• Licenciatura en Psicología Educativa
• Licenciatura en Bibliotecología y Ciencias de la Información con Énfasis en Educación
• Doctorado en Ciencias de la Educación
• Maestrías (Educación Inicial, Lengua Española y Literatura, Ciencias Sociales Orientada a la Investigación Educativa, Gestión de Organizaciones Educativas, Matemática Superior con Énfasis en la Educación Secundaria, Educación Física Integral)
• Especialidades (Educación Inicial, Diseño Curricular Bajo el Enfoque por Competencias, Educación Ambiental)
• Diplomados de Educación Permanente (Tecnología Educativa, Nuevas Tecnologías de Inteligencia Artificial, Lengua de Señas, Atención a la Diversidad, Química Orgánica)
• Isfodosu Virtual
• ISFODOSU Virtual Educación Permanente
• Mi ISFODOSU
• Revista Caribeña de Investigación Educativa (RECIE)
• Portal Científico

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,354 supervised practice hours completed by each student before graduation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universidad de Coruña (UDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeacher and future teacher training partnerships in Master's programs in Education and Physical Activity Sciences, including double-degree joint master's programs.
• Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetency-based evaluations of students at mid-term and end-of-term, and curriculum development advisory services.
• Universidad de Sevilla (US)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch advisory services through the US Research Foundation, academic research and publication guidance, and academic virtualization support.
• Instituto de Formación Continua (IL3) de la Universidad de BarcelonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining of tutors for online teaching and faculty development stays for ISFODOSU instructors.
• Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeacher training in Master's programs in Neuropsychology and Education.
• Instituto MofetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirtual training programs 'The trainer of trainers as academic, researcher, writer and disseminator'.
• Gordon College of EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntensive teacher training programs focused on ICT utilization for implementing education curricula.
• City College of New York (CCNY)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty development programs in mathematics and natural sciences areas.
• Universidad Pedagógica Nacional de ColombiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational agreement for pedagogical collaboration and exchange between specialized teacher training institutions.
• Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) de EspañacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration and scientific exchange with Spain's premier research institution.
• Universidad ISAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint master's program in Biology oriented to Teaching and Research with double degree.
• Banco BHD LeóncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementation and management of the Valora Ser Program - Teacher Training focused on values-based education and neuroethics.
• Centro Cultural PovedaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiploma programs in School Libraries, Mathematics, Initial Literacy, Primary School First Cycle, and Educational Center Management.
• Fe y Alegría DominicanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurriculum and management support for the 'Science in School' program at primary and secondary levels.
• FLACSO República DominicanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional support for research development and management by ISFODOSU faculty groups.
• Organización Universitaria Interamericana (OUI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInter-American university organization membership facilitating hemispheric cooperation in higher education.
• Red Educativa Universitaria de Conocimiento y Acción Regional (REDUCAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network of universities specialized in pedagogy across the Americas. ISFODOSU served as General Secretary from 2018-2020.
• ACCESS Consortium (Erasmus+)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded project promoting policy change for inclusion of students with disabilities. Consortium of 11 universities from Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Spain, and Greece.
• AUIP (Asociación Iberoamericana Universitaria de Postgrado)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIbero-American university association focused on postgraduate education and research collaboration.
• Instituto Nacional de Formación y Capacitación del Magisterio (INAFOCAM)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNational institute for teacher training and professional development, co-managing teacher formation initiatives and representing MINERD on ISFODOSU's Board of Directors.
• Ministerio de Educación de la República Dominicana (MINERD)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOversight ministry for the education sector, providing regulatory framework, curriculum guidance, and representation through the Minister of Education on ISFODOSU's Board.
• Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostgraduate consultancy and research collaboration with INTEC's education programs.
• Universidad APEC (UNAPEC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint program for Artistic Education degree with double degree option.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/isfodosuRDo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/IsfodosuRDo
• Facebookfacebook.com/isfodosuRDo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isfodosurdo
• Instagraminstagram.com/isfodosuRDo

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Instituto Superior de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña