Organizational development in the Dominican Higher Education: Keys for institutional transformation and continuous improvement

Abstract

Dominican Higher Education faces structural challenges that limit its capacity to offer quality, equitable and relevant education. This study, developed from a qualitative approach and through a documentary analysis strategy, allowed for a critical examination of organizational development in higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country. The technique used was the literature review, consulting sources indexed in Scopus, SciELO, Redalyc, Google Scholar and Dialnet, which allowed access to specialized and updated literature. The analysis revealed a marked orientation of universities towards teaching, to the detriment of functions such as research, extension and innovation. Weaknesses were identified in knowledge management, institutional governance and articulation with the productive and social sectors. The findings reinforce the need to implement structural reengineering processes, foster organizational learning and promote institutional resilience as key strategies for strengthening the system. The findings indicate that Dominican higher education faces structural challenges that limit its quality and relevance. Organizational learning, knowledge management, and organizational restructuring are key to strengthening institutional transformation. These approaches offer concrete guidance for improving university management, innovation, and sustainability.