For socially active universities, with no elite perspective
- Written by Yenia Silva Correa
- Published in Cuba
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Cuba’s 13th International University Congress is set to take place February 7-11 in Havana, focused on the theme “University and innovation for sustainable and inclusive development,” opening with a presentation entitled: “Government based on science and innovation: Progress and challenges,” by Party First Secretary and President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
Ensuring that the academic work of universities is expressed, with increasing impact, in the consolidation of effective, efficient socialist state enterprises, and helps to strengthen new economic actors, is urgently needed to support the country’s creative resistance and accelerate development with full sovereignty.
These topics will be discussed at the 13th International University Congress set to take place February 7-11 in Havana, with the theme “University and innovation for sustainable and inclusive development,” opening with a presentation entitled: “Government based on science and innovation: Progress and challenges,” by Party First Secretary and President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
The event's program includes five thematic forums, 25 workshops and seven symposiums, in which some 140 delegates from 23 countries will participate, in addition to ministers and deputy ministers from several nations, including Russia, Venezuela, Mexico, Ukraine, Spain and China.
Intellectuals of the stature of Frei Betto and Atilio Borón will lend authority to the event, in which Frances Pedró, director of Unesco's International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean, will also give a lecture.
The size of the Cuban delegation attending in person will be reduced, given the country’s epidemiological situation, but thanks to virtual connections, many professionals from all of universities on the island will participate.
In addition to insisting on rigorous compliance with sanitary protocols, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, DSc Miriam Alpízar Santana, commented that University 2022 will provide an opportunity to "share experiences and best practices, to learn and teach, including what the university has contributed to the COVID-19 battle," with its students and professors directly involved in supporting isolation centers, evidence of the active social role of these institutions, far removed from any elite, ivory tower perspective. /Granma
