PedidosYa and Chamber of Deputies sign agreement in Santo Domingo to boost STEM talent

Santo Domingo. – PedidosYa Dominican Republic and the Chamber of Deputies signed an inter-institutional cooperation framework agreement this Tuesday to strengthen “PeYantías STEM”, an initiative aimed at connecting students and graduates of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs with practical training and professional development experiences in a real corporate and technological environment.

The alliance, promoted by the Permanent Commission on Information and Communication Technology, chaired by Deputy Vicente Sánchez Henríquez, will facilitate the participation of students and graduates from STEM fields in the platform’s internship program, known as “PeYantías,” with the purpose of helping to overcome one of the main barriers to accessing a first job: the lack of work experience.

“With PeYantías STEM, we want to offer the opportunity for more young people to complement their academic training with practical learning, innovation, and professional development experiences within a leading technology company in its sector. This partnership reflects our commitment to young Dominican talent and to building opportunities that contribute to the country’s digital future,” said Iván Valdez, managing director of PedidosYa Dominican Republic.

The agreement is supported by the Permanent Commission on Information and Communication Technology of the Chamber of Deputies and is part of the efforts aimed at strengthening the technological training of Dominican youth and generating a more effective connection between universities, the private sector, and the job opportunities demanded by the digital economy.

For Sánchez Henríquez, one of the fundamental objectives of this alliance is to contribute to breaking down one of the most difficult barriers that thousands of young people face when they finish their university studies: the requirement of prior work experience to be able to access their first job.

“For years we have seen a reality that is contradictory for our young people: they finish a university degree, they leave prepared and eager to work, but when they look for their first opportunity, they are required to have work experience that no one has yet given them the chance to acquire. We have to break that cycle. With PeYantías STEM, we want our young people to be able to leave university not only with a degree, but also with real professional experience that opens the doors to their first job,” expressed Deputy Vicente Sánchez Henríquez, president of the Permanent Commission on Information and Communication Technology.

We recommend reading: PedidosYa delivery workers report a wave of robberies and demand greater security on the streets

In that sense, Sánchez Henríquez highlighted that the value of the initiative lies in the fact that participants will be able to develop that experience within PedidosYa, a multinational technology company with a regional presence. This will allow young people to incorporate into their professional trajectory an experience directly linked to the dynamics and demands of the current labor market.

“We want to eliminate that disastrous barrier of ‘you need experience to get experience’. A young person should not find a closed door after years of university preparation simply because they have not yet had their first job. These internships seek to change that reality: to allow them to gain experience within a renowned technology multinational like PedidosYa and for that experience to become an advantage when they go out to compete for their first job opportunity,” stated Sánchez Henríquez.

Through the agreement, the Permanent Commission on Information and Communication Technology will contribute to disseminating among university students and graduates in STEM fields the possibility of participating in the selection processes for STEM Fellowships, creating a bridge between young Dominican talent and the professional development opportunities offered by the technology sector.

Deputies Nelson Saulo Vega Báez and Tayluma Monserrat Calderón Fortuna, members of the Permanent Commission on Information and Communication Technology, also highlighted the importance of the agreement to continue bringing young people closer to opportunities that facilitate their transition from university to their first professional experience.

The parties indicated that this initiative is part of the national push for STEM education and Law No. 89-25, which declares November 8th of each year as National STEM Day and through which the private sector is encouraged to participate in activities that strengthen innovation and scientific-technological development in the Dominican Republic.

About PedidosYa

PedidosYa is a technology company specializing in delivery and quick commerce in Latin America. It is a platform that connects millions of users, merchants, and delivery partners with a wide variety of products and services.

The company operates in 15 Latin American countries and in 2020 launched PedidosYa Market, a 100% digital market that delivers food and household items in a few minutes after placing the order.

PedidosYa in the Dominican Republic has more than 5,000 merchants affiliated with its platform and more than 6,000 delivery partners nationwide.

About PeYantías

PeYantías is PedidosYa’s professional internship program, created to offer students and graduates learning and development opportunities in a real corporate environment.

PeYantías STEM strengthens this purpose through a formal application channel for talent linked to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines.