In his inaugural speech at the XIV International Congress on Higher Education, the minister said that the values, competencies and capacities fostered in higher education institutions will allow them to continue promoting prosperous, sustainable and fair development.
He emphasized that the adoption of the Science and Innovation-Based Governance Management System has placed the Cuban universities and its community at the center of attention.
He stressed that this system of government work seeks to strengthen the role of science and innovation as a permanent method in the search for creative solutions to problems and challenges that arise in the process of the country’s economic and social development.
The Cuban minister referred to how, since the implementation of the program, relevant results have been obtained in food production, the energy program, water resources, social sciences, industry, construction, biotechnology and sustainable development.
He highlighted the creation of two Science and Technology Parks with decisive participation of universities, eight Science and Technology Interface Societies, the Foundation of the University of Havana as a non-profit institution, and two small companies for consulting and advisory services.
In another moment of his speech, Baluja referred to the results obtained since the last edition of the conclave in 2022, which allowed diversifying the relations of the Cuban Ministry of Higher Education with international associations and organizations.
For her part, the executive secretary of the organizing committee of the event, Mercedes Medina, explained that 2,225 papers will be presented at the Congress, in the virtual and on-site modalities in its various formats.
On Monday, as part of the forum’s activities, some 30 stands belonging to 24 universities were inaugurated at the Convention Palace in the capital, in the presence of President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
Under the premise “Higher Education of the Future: social transformation, quality, relevance and sustainability”, the conclave will be in session until the 9th.
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