Cienfuegos Takes Initiative at NAFSA
A delegation of Cuba Scholars from La Universidad de Cienfuegos made a big impact at the NAFSA Annual Conference this year. The four-person delegation, headed by UCf Rector, Dr. Juan B. Cogollos presented at several sessions during the week in Denver. Dr. Cogollos presented an overview of the higher educational system in Cuba. It was the first time that the president of a Cuban university presents at the national conference.
The delegation which also included, Lourdes Pomares Castellon, Dayni Diaz Mederos and professor Dictinio Diaz from the Office of International Relations and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities shared best practices for effective partnership building and alternative strategies for program development outside of Havana.
The delegation also presented opportunities for collaboration with institutions including the Workshop of Strategic Alliances for the Internationalization of Higher Education, known as Cuba TIES. Last year, institutions from seven countries gathered to explore partnerships and share best practices for programs development in Cuba. NAFSA was among the 26 US institutions that attended the inaugural Cuba TIES.
NAFSA rolled out the red carpet for the Cuba Scholars as they were received with a warm welcome led by CEO and Executive Director Marlene Johnson. Sponsorship of the delegation is a part of NAFSA’s Cuba Engagement Initiative, which “focuses on creating sustainable partnerships between U.S. and Cuban academic institutions. The initiative builds on NAFSA’s longstanding focus on Latin America and Cuba and redoubles NAFSA’s commitment to the use of academic exchanges and partnerships to build a more globally engaged United States and develop new opportunities for U.S. and Cuban international higher education leaders to collaborate.”
The delegation’s participation at the NAFSA Annual Conference kicked off the delegation’s seven city, US summer tour, an effort coordinated by Civitas Global Educational Services.
NAFSA recorded an interview with the UCf delegation to get to get their thoughts and reflections on internationalization and the 2016 NAFSA Annual Conference. To view it, click here.
For more information and to register for Cuba TIES 2016, visit:
https://civitasges.com/go-abroad/cuba-ties-2016/
For more Information on NAFSA’s Cuba Engagement Initiative, visit:
https://www.nafsa.org/Programs_and_Events/Cuba_Engagement_Initiative/
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- The Delegation of La Universidad de Cienfuegos (from left to right), Dictinio Diaz, Professor of Philosophy and Coordinator for North American academic programs; Dayni Diaz Mederos, Specialist of International Academic Relations; Dr. Juan B. Cogollos, Rector (President); Lourdes Pomares Castellon, Director, Office of International Relations.
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- Marlene Johnson, CEO and Executive Director of NAFSA welcomes the UCf delegation. The invitation to attend is part of NAFSA’s Cuba Engagement Initiative which focuses on creating sustainable partnerships between U.S. and Cuban academic institutions.
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- Members of La Universidad de Cienfuegos delegation answer questions during their panel session on building effective Cuba Partnerships at the NAFSA Annual Conference
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- Dr. Juan B. Cogollos, Rector (President), Universidad de Cienfuegos delivers a comprehensive survey of the Higher Educational System in Cuba. He the first Cuba University President to present at the NAFSA Annual Conference
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- Cuba and US Scholars share reflections and follow up since their participation in Cuba TIES 2015. (from left to right), Michael Wilhelm, University of North Carolina Wilmington; Dr. Shannon Marquez, Drexel University; Sabrina DeVose, Drexel University; Dr. Juan B. Cogollos, Rector, University of Cienfuegos, Lourdes Pomares Castellon, UCf; Dr. Steve Marqusee, SUNY Potsdam; Dictinio Diaz, UCf; Matt Clausen, Partners of the Americas; Dr. Gabrielle Malfatti, University of Missouri; Dairo Moreno, Civitas GES; Dr. Michele Petrucci, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Dr. Kari Richtsmeier, Hamline University; Dayni Diaz Mederos, UCf; Joan Soluan, API; Jill Welch, NAFSA
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- The Universidad de Cienfuegos delegation with (from left to right), Lee Tablewski, Matt Clausen of Partners of the Americas, Dairo Moreno, President, Civitas GES and Jill Welch, Deputy Executive Director for Public Policy at NAFSA. The UCf delivered a presentation on opportunities for partnership.
