From February 6th to 8th GSU Acting Rector N. N. Uvarova and head of international relations division N. V. Barkalova, at the invitation of the Ministry of Higher Education of Cuba participated in the annual meeting of Russian and Cuban universities rectors in Havana.

The Russian delegation arrived in Cuba with 29 people representing 18 universities. For the first time, Gzhel University is participating in this event due to the fact that it successfully develops cooperation with Cuban educational and cultural institutions. In 2019, during a trip of representatives of GSU to Cuba, cooperation agreements were concluded with educational institutions and workshops in Havana and Varadero. Cuban ceramic artists take part in international festivals held at the university. Cuban students are studying in the direction of the preparation of arts and crafts and art crafts.

The meeting was opened by Cuban Minister of Higher Education Ramon Saborido Loidi. The issues of university integration for the purpose of scientific cooperation, the development of technology and innovation, as well as the relationship of universities and employers, the quality of higher education and the strengthening of its positions were discussed.

After the speeches of the meeting participants, the signing of the agreements took place. Gzhel University has signed a framework convention on international cooperation with the University of Matanzas (Cuba) for the purpose of scientific and creative interaction. Matanzas was founded in 1972, 32000 students study at its seven faculties and are taught by more than 300 teachers. The university provides comprehensive training for specialists in the field of technical, economic, agricultural and humanitarian sciences. The University was awarded 17 prizes by the Cuban Academy of Sciences, the Order of Carlos J. Finlay, awarded by the State Council of the Republic of Cuba EEPFIH, and national awards by the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA).

N.V. Barkalova met the Director of National Center for the Study of Art, Rolando Valentin Ortega Alvars, and the Director of the International Department of the Ministry of Culture of Cuba, Zuleima Armas Mohena at the National Academy of Fine Arts of San Alejandro. Lesmes Academy Director Larrofa González is interested in further training of the Academy graduates at GSU. They discussed the prospects of training Cubans in quotas, academic exchanges, participation in international festivals and competitions, etc. An agreement was signed with the National Center for the Study of Art on the exchange of experience and academic exchange of teachers and students, which is planned to be held first in Cuba during the International Art Festival at the Academy San Alejandro from April 13th to 19th and then, during the International Festival «Artistic Ceramics», at GSU (May 18-25, 2020).

Members of the delegation met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Cuba and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas A. A. Guskov. The opportunity to present your university contributed to the discussion of the prospects of cooperation with Cuban universities.

Undoubtedly, cooperation at the level of the ministries of higher education of Russia and Cuba will serve to strengthen Russian-Cuban inter-university relations in the field of education, science, culture and art, as well as effective training of scientific personnel.

GSU International Relations Division