From 2nd to 8th January, 2019 the delegation of Gzhel University was on a business visit to Republic of Cuba with the aim of developing cooperation with higher and secondary vocational schools, cultural institutions, to exchange experience in the field of decorative and applied arts.

The university has already concluded cooperation agreements with higher educational and government institutions in Latin America: Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. The trip to Cuba expands the international contacts of Gzhel University.

During the trip, a meeting was held at Ministry of Higher Education of Cuba with the director of the international department, Doctor of Philology, Prof. Barbara Karel Fure, and University of Design`s lecturer Gladys Parrado Cruz. GSU rector presented a report on the history of the university, its activities and prospects. The presentation demonstrated the creative work of university students. The meeting at Cuban Ministry of Higher Education dealt with the prospects for training qualified personnel, primarily for educational institutions and ceramic enterprises of Cuba according to the quotas of the Government of the Russian Federation, allocated annually for training foreign citizens, including Cubans. Gzhel University already has experience in teaching youth from Latin America: Cuba, El Salvador and Guatemala. Gladys Parrado Cruz expressed a desire to study at GSU magistracy with specialization in arts and folk crafts.

On January 5th, a meeting was held with the Rector of Arts University (Havana), Alexis Seijo García. This university was founded in 1959 and now unites in its large territory all forms of art, including fine art. Today it is an institution where students study in six faculties for 40 specialties. For example, at the Faculty of Fine Arts they study painting, sculpture, graphics, textiles, etc. The University of Arts heads an international network of art universities, which includes 39 educational institutions in America, Europe and Africa.

GSU rector B.V. Ilkevich told at the meeting about the multilateral activity of the Gzhel University. Alexis Seijo García noted that our educational institutions have common interests in the field of education, science and culture, including the exchange of knowledge and experience, the development of joint educational programs and creative projects. They discussed the conclusion of a cooperation agreement that will promote academic exchange, joint scientific conferences, festivals, seminars and other events.

On January 7th, a meeting was held with the lecturers of the “Colegio San Jeronimo” -a branch of Havana University. The University of Havana was founded in 1728 and became one of the first educational institutions in the Western Hemisphere. Today, 60 thousand students study at its 14 faculties. Professor Arhel Calcinez, a lecturer of Heritage Interpretation discipline, actively participated in the meeting. He is the chief editor of the Cuban almanac "Opus Havana", which is published by the Office of Havana Chief Historian. The journal publishes materials on the cultural and historical heritage of Cuba, published quarterly in an edition of 3,000 copies.

The meeting discussed the prospects for cooperation, in particular, “Colegio San Jeronimo” can develop joint research projects with the faculties of social and humanitarian education, fine arts and design of GSU on topics such as the preservation of cultural heritage in the field of arts and crafts and crafts. traditions of folk art, etc.

Cuban partners are invited to the international festival "Artistic Ceramics", which will be held in May 2019 and will be timed to the 120th anniversary of our university.

N.V. Barkalova,

Head of the International Cooperation Department