On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, following a rigorous recruitment process, Dr. Ernst Pierre Vincent was appointed Rector of the Public University of the West (UPO) and formally installed in the role by Vijonet Déméro, the Minister of National Education.

Minister Déméro expressed his confidence in the new rector’s capabilities, expertise, and experience to successfully lead this university institution. Its primary mission is to train technicians and professionals capable of understanding local challenges and addressing the various facets of regional realities. The Minister called upon Professor Vincent to ensure academic excellence and equitable access, to establish exemplary and transparent governance, and to position the Public University of the West at the heart of regional development.

Dr. Joram Vixamar, President of the Council of Rectors of Departmental Public Universities (UPD), congratulated Dr. Vincent. He took the opportunity to draw his new colleague's attention to the magnitude of the task ahead, which—in keeping with the Council's vision—must be structured around the fundamental pillars essential to the university's genuine development. He highlighted, among other things, academic consolidation, deep-rooted territorial and social engagement, and the well-being of the community.

For her part, Dr. Carole Berotte Joseph, a member of the commission responsible for establishing the UPO, expressed satisfaction with the successful conclusion of the process. She voiced her hope that the new rector would have a successful tenure and that this nascent university institution would confidently take flight. For his part, after the customary expressions of gratitude, the new Rector pledged to do his utmost and spare no effort to remain worthy of this trust—which he views as a call to action—despite acknowledging the immense scale of the tasks assigned to him.

"The tasks may be heavy, arduous, and difficult, but they are not beyond our capabilities. I commit to fulfilling this responsibility with determination, integrity, expertise, and dedication," declared Vincent, who expressed his eagerness to work toward making UPO a benchmark in higher education.

He outlined the guiding principles of his tenure as Rector, based on seven key pillars: institutional integration and governance; the quality and relevance of academic programs; practical learning and employability; research and innovation serving society; local engagement and partnerships; rigorous resource management; and outreach to the Haitian diaspora.

IH/ iciHaiti