A dozen centers of US universities attended the Workshop on Strategic Alliances for the Internationalization of Higher Education (Cuba TIES VI), held virtually at the end of October, and organized by Civitas Global Educational Services and the “Carlos Rafael Rodríguez”University of Cienfuegos (from Cuba).

Dario Enrique Moreno, Civitas President, said the meeting was an excellent opportunity to share insights of good practices and to be more acquainted with Cuba´s higher education sector.

According to Moreno, dozens of US universities attended at Cuba TIES VI and had the chance of sharing their views and learned from Cuban colleagues.

The event had a great impact and positive results, where participants signed several projects from international collaboration programs with the University of Cienfuegos and others in the United States, Moreno said.

But most importantly, he added, we managed to have a profound impact on US students and professors who committed to working together very closely with Cuban colleagues.

We are today looking forward to Cuba´s reopening as US academicians long for returning to Cuba and share with Cuban colleagues once afresh, he said.

Dr. Gabrielle Malfatti, director of Global Engagement and a professor of the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Missouri-Columbia, pointed out that attending virtually ¨Cuba TIES VI¨ provided again “the hope that we will meet soon anew with Cuban colleagues with whom we have started projects and begun to dream of ways to collaborate, to connect our students and teachers “.

Ms. Malfatti, who has been present in several previous editions, said they are waiting for the moment they can be met face-to-face and sharing new ideas. She also described the opening of these portals as too positive.

Likewise, she expressed her desire for her Cuban colleagues to visit the United States in order to continue strengthening ties and building bridges that we know should be built up.

mh/pll/mgt/ifb