University of Havana graduates over 2300 new professionals

The University of Havana (UH) graduated yesterday in its Aula Magna, 2 387 new professionals, 1 268 of them by the regular way, including students from 17 other countries.

Gustavo Cobreiro, rector of the institution, said that after this course, the UH, accredited as excellent in the current year, has graduated 129 534 students since January 1959.

With the presence of Rodolfo Alarcon, Minister of Higher Education, and Jenifer Bello, member of the State Council and national president of the Federation of University Student, the ceremony was dedicated to the 90th birthday of the historic leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, and the 40th anniversary of the corresponding ministry.

Antonio Herrada, best student in the diurnal course, said on behalf of the graduates that Cuba needs more trained people to build the future society, and noted the progress of science and social commitment as bases of the project proposed by the Revolution.

The best graduates by faculties signed the UH Book of Honor, and the house of higher learning made recognition for each sphere of university life.

(Cuban News Agency)

Over 30,000 Africans have graduated from Cuban universities

The University of Havana marked Africa Day, celebrated each May 25, with a panel discussion entitled “Rethinking Africa, its history and contemporaneity”.

During the event, the strong bonds of brotherhood that unite both peoples, stemming from solidarity efforts, and the benefits of cooperation in sectors such as education, health and sports were highlighted.

Clara Pulido, coordinator for Africa and the Middle East of the International Relations Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, noted that consolidating peace, independence and regional integration for development, are common goals.

Read more:

http://en.granma.cu/cuba/2016-05-25/over-30000-africans-have-graduated-from-cuban-universitie

The experience of a life-time

Gaining independence despite missing home, learning to cook, visiting the beautiful Varadero beach, and finding love have been the most significant experiences in the lives of Farwarz Amadou, Yanan Lin, Ya Jun Xu and Leandro, young second year Spanish as a Foreign Language students at the University of Havana (UH).

On this road toward adulthood must be added Megan Ferguson’s dream of becoming a translator, that of Yeshuang Wang to travel around Latin America, and Bo Zhu’s desire to work for a company, or as young Chinese student Qu Tia Shuai points out, the luck of finding so many students from different places in the same group. All are charting their own future from within UH classrooms.

Read more:

http://en.granma.cu/cuba/2016-05-04/the-experience-of-a-life-time

Cuban education: A Revolutionary achievement

1959 marked a watershed in Cuban history. Tyranny had left an unsavory legacy across all spheres of society including education: of a population of five and a half million, 23.6% people over the age of 15 were illiterate.

The Moncada Program, referenced by the leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, speaking in his own defense on trial for the attack on the Moncada Garrison, July 26, 1953, highlighted Cuban society’s most pressing problems, including universal access to free education – a feat later achieved by the Revolution. Today Cuba has met teacher coverage and literacy targets for basic education, outlined in the World Conference on Education Action Plan, held in Jontien (Thailand).

Read more:

http://en.granma.cu/cuba/2016-04-29/cuban-education-a-revolutionary-achievement

Posters and banners to light up plazas

This year, marking the 55th anniversary of the Revolution’s Literacy Campaign and the declaration of the country as free of illiteracy, May Day marches across the country will be led by educators.

“This constitutes recognition by the trade union movement of the sector closest to this great feat,” said Ismael Drullet Pérez, secretary general of the National Union of Educational, Scientific and Sports Workers (SNTECD), speaking with Granma.

He continued, “The Literacy Campaign came from the people, with the participation of homemakers, workers… so it is not only the legacy of the education sector. Cuba became a great school and all its children became teachers.”

Read more:

http://en.granma.cu/cuba/2016-04-26/posters-and-banners-to-light-up-plazas

Fidel Castro pays tribute to Vilma Espín

Cuban leader Fidel Castro attended an event honoring revolutionary heroine Vilma Espín, yesterday April 7, according to a Cuba television report.

He visited the Vilma Espín educational center located in the Havana municipality of Playa, where, along with preschool and elementary students and teachers, he participated in a tribute to the founder of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), held on the 86th anniversary of Vilma’s birth.

“I am sure that on a day like today, Vilma would be very happy,” the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution said.

“She would be seeing why she sacrificed her life, why those who die struggling for the Revolution leave energy along the way, leave strength, and struggle for this,” he added

Fidel, who will celebrate his 90th birthday in August, could be seen in the television broadcast spiritedly greeting the children and teachers, and discussing issues related to education, health and nutrition.

“Those of us who are here consider being in this school today a privilege, since this type of school is getting close to a kind of dream. I was trying to remember if I had known of a place where a school like this one existed. Such a place doesn’t appear,” Fidel said.

Boris Fuentes, the Cuban television journalist covering the event, reported that Fidel emphasized the school’s experience and its utility for rural areas.

Currently attending the Vilma Espín School are preschool and elementary children, while a middle school program is to be initiated next September.

The educational center was inaugurated April 9, 2013, with two classroom buildings, a library, as well as computer lab, and is staffed by a total of 43 individuals including teachers, assistants and service workers.

(Granma)

Why some students are ditching America for medical school in Cuba

When Sarpoma Sefa-Boakye, who grew up in southern California and went to UCLA, heard she could go to medical school in Cuba, she thought it must be a joke. Not that it existed—she met Cuban doctors while studying abroad in Ghana, so she knew about the country’s robust healthcare system. What was unbelievable was the cost.

“I called the office asking how much the program cost, how much the application fee was. They were just like ‘Free, free,’” says Sefa-Boakye. “How can it be free?” But indeed, the Latin American Medical School—ELAM, in Spanish—is free, charging no tuition, room, or board. In 2002, she packed her bags for Havana.

Read more:

http://progresoweekly.us/students-ditching-america-medical-school-cuba/

An institution known for excellence

Cuba’s flagship institution of higher learning was rated as excellent in the evaluation process carried out, this past October, by the National Accreditation Board (JAN). The accomplishment filled professors, workers and students alike with great pride, for good reason, since this is the first time a university in the country has been awarded the highest ranking.

The University of Havana (UH) leads the nation in scientific production, as evidenced by the fact that, in 2015, staff members received 21 prizes from the Academy of Sciences for their work, and in 2014, the number was 23.

The university offers 32 bachelor degree programs, 66 masters and 22 doctorates.

Unlike other institutions of higher learning which were also evaluated, all of UH undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate programs eligible for consideration were accredited.

Read more:

http://en.granma.cu/cuba/2016-03-23/an-institution-known-for-excellence

Cisco Networking Academic to partner in Cuba

Today, we are pleased to announce that Cisco will begin a new relationship with the Universidad de las Ciencias Informaticas (UCI) of Cuba, with the intention of bringing the Cisco Networking Academy program to UCI students.

Networking Academy is an IT skills and career building program for learning institutions and individuals worldwide. It is the first program of its kind to launch in Cuba since restoration of diplomatic relations in December 2014. As part of the Letter of Intent signed by Cisco and UCI, Cisco intends to donate equipment and to provide a grant to train initial instructors at UCI and provide the necessary operational support.

I had the pleasure of visiting Cuba in the fall of 2015. The people were welcoming and warm, and excited about the opportunity to collaborate. Like every country, every city, and every business around the world, Cuba is approaching the challenge of digitizing its economy as an opportunity for its country and its citizens. I met with the UCI leadership team, and their work to accelerate technology-based startups and incubate software applications was impressive.

Read more:

http://www.justmeans.com/blog/cisco-networking-academy-to-partner-in-cuba

Michelle Obama learns about Cuban education system

US First Lady Michelle Obama had a meeting this Monday morning with 10 young Cuban students where she learnt about educational experiences in Cuba, as part of the official visit to Cuba of President Barack Obama.

Two female students of the Saul Delgado senior high school, and others from the University of Havana, and the Higher Institute of Arts, answered questions raised by the First Lady.

The meeting was held at the Factory of Cuban Art cultural complex in the neighborhood of Vedado, in the center of the city, coinciding with the first anniversary of Miss Obama´s Let Girls Learn initiative that aims at bringing education to over 60 million girls from all over the world.
This campaign seeks to provide education to girls that cannot otherwise have access to education due to cultural, religious or race barriers. That initiative is something Cuba already implemented years ago, where all girls go to school free of charge without any regard to race, place of living, handicap or even if they are hospitalized.

Michelle spoke on the importance she gives education of girls and learnt about what Cuba has achieved on this regard, where the state, since the triumph of the Revolution guaranteed them full access to every aspect of life.

The young ladies told them about their experiences and their possibilities, while the First Lady wanted to know more artistic education since early ages.

(Cuban News Agency)