or with live interpretation.
ABOUT CUBA SUMMER IMMERSION 2024
The State University of New York Potsdam and the Universidad de Cienfuegos are delighted to extend you an invitation to join the Cuba Summer Immersion 2024 study abroad program. This unique opportunity allows students to learn, give back to the community, envelope themselves in Cuban culture, and earn six credits from SUNY Potsdam.
Students who successfully apply will travel from Miami International Airport to Cienfuegos, Cuba, a UNESCO World Heritage site, known as the Pearl of the South. In Cienfuegos, students will take one three-credit course taught by a blend of Cuban and US professors. The courses will take place on the campus of the University of Cienfuegos, in outdoor settings, and at historic sites across the province. Courses vary by session.
Delegates will earn another three credits by embarking on an immersive one-week study abroad Road Course throughout Cuba. This journey will take them to different provinces and towns, where they will learn from Cuban professors, local experts, and community members. The Road Course will focus on contemporary Cuban society.
Delegates will give back to the local community by volunteering with various local non-governmental organizations and the University of Cienfuegos Extension Department. Cuba Summer Immersion 2024 transcends the typical study abroad experience by giving you the opportunity to learn and give back through these experiential learning activities.
Throughout their stay, delegates will reside with a host family in their private residence. Students will stay in a private air-conditioned room in the house with an ensuite bathroom. Days will begin and end with a deepening immersion as they share breakfasts and dinners with their hosts.
Cuba Summer Immersion 2024 is a journey that invites you to become an integral part of the local community. Each year, we strive to create fresh opportunities for learning and engagement, providing you with a chance to forge lasting connections with each visit.
If you are an undergraduate student in good standing, actively enrolled in a US college or university, we encourage you to apply for our comprehensive study abroad program in Cuba.
The application deadline has been extended until March 30, 2024.
IMPORTANT DATES
- Application & Deposit Deadline – March 30, 2024
- Notification Deadline – April 3, 2024
- Final Payment Deadline – April 21, 2024
- Flights Depart Miami for Session One – May 22, 2024
- Flights Depart Miami for Session Two – June 11, 2024
- Flights Return to Miami After Session One – June 19, 2024
- Flights Return to Miami After Session Two – July 10, 2024
The journey begins at Miami International Airport, when we travel together as a group on a commercial airline into the resort town of Varadero, Cuba. Once you clear immigration and customs, the Civitas GES team will be waiting to greet you on the other side of security.
We will travel together on dedicated air-conditioned buses south by southeast for two hours to the City of Cienfuegos. Also, known as the Pearl of the South, Cienfuegos sits on the Caribbean coast and will be your backdrop for the semester. Cienfuegos was declared a UNESCO World Heritage City in 2005.
Click here to learn more about the city, and why it’s so beloved by Cubans everywhere.
Despite economic hardships and its overall low GDP, Cuba still invests 17% of its GDP in education. Cuba’s governing philosophy prioritizes education. Educators are revered and campuses and learning facilities are considered a precious resource. Just stepping foot on the campus of a Cuban University as an international visitor is an exclusive privilege.
As an international student, you get the exclusive opportunity to learn on campus and interact with Cuban faculty, staff, administrators, and students. However, you will also be a part of a Cuban student’s international experience. As a representative of the United States and your home campus. You are also contributing to the international experience of others. This is a mutually beneficial program by design that will not only impact you but our Cuban hosts as well.
Learning during your session doesn’t end in the classroom. Delegates will give back to the community by volunteering twice a week with one of various non-governmental organizations or university extension projects dedicated to local development. The work you do could make an immediate impact on the community. Click on any of the icons below to learn more about our organizations that are a part of our one community.
Stay with a welcoming host family and immerse yourself in Cuban life and all its complexities. Delegates will stay in the private home of the family. All host families are licensed bed and breakfast operators who have gone through the training process and have homes that are inspected and approved by the Cuba Ministry of Tourism. Rooms are air conditioned with a private ensuite bathroom.
During your stay, you’ll enjoy your own private room with an ensuite bathroom, though you may share the house with fellow classmates. Our host families are not just gracious hosts but integral members of the local community. Among our hosts, you’ll find doctors, teachers, engineers, and retirees all eager to share their life experiences and stories with you. Engaging in daily breakfasts and dinners within the warmth of their homes, you’ll have the opportunity to form lasting bonds with your hosts, fellow housemates, and friendly neighbors.
The lessons you learn will extend far beyond the conference room. Our cultural exchanges will plug you into the community. You’ll learn from NGO’s trying to make a difference in daily life. Our full time schedule of activities are designed to make you feel like you’ve lived 4 months in 4 weeks.
ABOUT THE SESSIONS AND COURSES
Each session will consist of a three-week on campus course for three credits plus a one-week Road Course for three credits, totaling six credits. You can read a summary of each course by rolling your mouse over each course card (Click on it, if you’re on a mobile device). For more details on each course, you can click on the link on the back of the card or continue to scroll down until you reach the course section.
SESSION ONE
If you enroll in Session One, you will depart on May 22, 2024, and stay until June 19, 2024.
Choose one of our three-credit courses being offered for the session. Classes are taught by both Cuban and US professors on the campus of the University of Cienfuegos, in the field, and at historic locations around the province. There is no Spanish requirement. All classes are taught in English or in Spanish with English translation.
The courses for Session One are:
The Cold War: Ideologies,
Geo-Politics & Material Interests
ABOUT THE COURSE
Lean Manufacturing
For Cuban Industries
ABOUT THE COURSE
Road Course: Contemporary Cuban Cultures
ABOUT THE COURSE
Classes will take place on the campus of la Universidad de Cienfuegos. Depending on the unit for the day, classes may include field trips off campus to other locations within the province. Students who complete the course successfully will earn three credits from SUNY Potsdam that they can transfer to their home institution.
As a part of the session, all delegates will experience field trips to the Capital city of Havana, the city of Trinidad, a preserved town that is over 550 years old, and the town of Girón, a resort town in what is commonly known as the Bay of Pigs.
As part of this session, students will also take our intensive Road Course: “Exploring Contemporary Cuban Cultures.” The Road Course runs June 12-June 19. Successful completion earns students another three credits.
SESSION TWO
If you enroll in Session Two, you will depart on June 11, 2024, and stay until July 10, 2024.
You choose one from two three-credit courses being offered for the session. Classes are taught by both Cuban and US professors on the campus of the University of Cienfuegos, in the field, and at historic locations around the province. There is no Spanish requirement. All classes are taught in English or in Spanish with English translation.
Contemporary Spanish:
Song & Society
ABOUT THE COURSE
Business Process Analysis:
Cuba
ABOUT THE COURSE
Road Course: Contemporary Cuban Cultures
ABOUT THE COURSE
Classes will take place on the campus of la Universidad de Cienfuegos. Depending on the unit for the day, classes may include field trips off campus to other locations within the province. Students who complete the course successfully will earn three credits from SUNY Potsdam that they can transfer to their home institution.
As a part of the session, all delegates will experience field trips to the Capital city of Havana, the city of Trinidad, a preserved town that is over 550 years old, and the town of Girón, a resort town in what is commonly known as the Bay of Pigs.
As part of this session, students will also take our intensive Road Course: “Exploring Contemporary Cuban Cultures.” The Road Course runs June 12-June 19. Successful completion earns students another three credits.
ROAD COURSE
In addition to your course at the University of Cienfuegos, delegates will earn another three credits with our Road Course which takes place from June 12 – June 19, 2024. If you are a part of Session One, the Road Course will be your final experience in Cuba. If you are a part of Session Two, the Road Course will be your first experience.
The course will be co-taught by La Universidad de Cienfuegos and SUNY Potsdam professors. There will be class sessions, guest speakers, and exchanges with experts and representatives of various communities as we make our way through Central and Western Cuba to experience elements of today’s Cuban culture.
Contemporary Cuban Cultures
ABOUT THE COURSE
APPLY NOW
The Cuba Immersion 2024 application consists of four parts:
- The Online Form
- Academic Reference Form
- New York State Judiciary Review Form
- Application Fee which counts toward the full cost of the program
To complete the Online Form, you will also need:
- A color scan/photo of your valid passport. Click Here to see a sample of a correct scan.
- An unofficial copy of your transcript
You will be asked to upload each document when you complete the Online Form.
Delegates of this intensive 8-day course will venture off the beaten path as we explore towns throughout Cuba that highlight Cuban culture and society today.
Students who complete the course successfully will earn three credits from SUNY Potsdam transferrable to their home institution.
There is no Spanish language requirement, as all courses are offered in English or with English translation.
STEPS TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION
STEPS TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION
PROGRAM COST
The travel program for all US travelers is handled by Civitas Global Educational Services. Civitas GES has been building Cuba-US partnerships and facilitating programs for US institutions since 2014. A portion of the proceeds from the travel program will be used to provide logistical support for Cubans delegates who will participate in the program. All delegates will have the support of our resident coordinators and La Universidad de Cienfuegos throughout the experience in Cuba.
- Roundtrip Airfare from Miami to Cuba
- Cuba Entry Visa
- US and Cuba Tuition
- Access to All Program Events and Activities
- Ground Transportation to and From Cuban Airports
- A Home Stay in Private Accommodations
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Daily
- Cuba Health and Repatriation Insurance
- English Speaking Guides
A portion of the proceeds from the travel program are used to support participation of Cuban delegates from other provinces, activities, and materials for the conference,
Logistical services for US travelers are provided solely by Civitas Global Educational Services in full compliance with the United States Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control. Click here to see the full OFAC Regulations related to travel to Cuba.
Invoicing and payments for the Application Fee are processed by Squareup.com. Deposits for accepted delegates become non-refundable. The deposit counts towards the full cost of the program. The remaining cost of the program will be collected by SUNY Potsdam. Click here to view our full terms and conditions.
QUESTIONS? CONTACT US
COURSE DETAILS
The Cold War: Ideologies, Geo-politics, and Material Interests
This class examines the Cold War from a global perspective through the prism of ideological, geo-political, and economic contestation. We approach the Cold War as a conflict with complex and long-term roots that stretch back to the 19th century and will focus in more detail on the era between 1914-1917, all the way to 1991 and beyond. Thus, the grand historical “markers” for our class will be World War I and the Russian October Revolution at the beginning and the dissolution of the USSR at the end. However, given that not all post-capitalist states disappeared with the USSR, we will also look at how much of the Cold-War policies and mindset continues after 1991 into our present.
We will look at cases involving Cuba including the missile crisis of 1962 to Internationalist missions in Africa. Cuba post USSR, The Cuban Five, the Blockade, and Cuba after Fidel.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES
- Students will learn to identify relevant historical source materials commonly used to understand the past: Primary & Secondary Sources. (Applying)
- Students will learn to critically evaluate the uses and limitations of a range of Primary & Secondary source materials for understanding the past. (Evaluating)
- Students will learn to engage with evolving scholarly conversations about how we understand and remember the past. (Creating)
- Students will demonstrate student learning outcomes 1-3 in research-oriented writing assignments. (Creating)
- Students will be exposed to global and cross-cultural perspectives that are not primarily derived from the US. They will learn to connect the political, economic, historical, cultural, and international dimensions of the Cold War from more than one perspective.
Contemporary Spanish: Song & Society
This class in Cienfuegos will acquaint you with Cuban and Latin American songs —Cienfuegos Benny Moré, among them – and with key present tense structures in Spanish. We will listen to songs by several well-known singers, watch and discuss video clips showcasing outstanding performances, and translate segments of lyrics. These selected lyrics will reinforce grammatical structures and pronunciation patterns. The class is an invitation to appreciate and reflect on the cultural contributions of Cuban and Latin American musicians. Students will be encouraged to sing segments of the songs.To go in detail over the patterns of the present tense we will cover chapters 1 to 5 from the Puntos de Partida textbook. We will also use homework handouts for daily individual practice of the vocabulary and grammar content. You will have ample time to practice your Spanish in Cienfuegos outside of the classroom and will also have opportunities to enjoy live Cuban music by local musicians.Spanish 101 is a class designed for true beginners.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES
After the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Recognize distinct cultural features of at least one non-English language community. (Remembering)
- Develop pertinent reflections on cultural features of non-English language communities. (Applying)
- Identify sentences in present tense in the new language. (Applying)
- Use present tense verbs to discuss basic topics. (Applying)
Lean Manufacturing For Cuban Industries
Cuba is known uniquely for various industries like sugar, tobacco, and rum. This course exposes students to an applied learning experience by introducing them to manufacturing specific to Cuba. Students will experience the full manufacturing cycle of a product from raw material to finished goods. The course identifies challenges in today’s manufacturing environment which can be alleviated by incorporating lean manufacturing principles to recognize areas of scrap and waste. By the end of the course, students will present potential cost savings programs to minimize scrap and waste and/or potential new revenue streams for by-products to the company of study.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES
- Map a manufacturing process of a Cuban manufacturer/producer of goods
- Identify processes generating scrap or waste or potential new by-products of a Cuban manufacturer/ producer of goods and incorporate Lean Manufacturing principles to minimize areas of scrap and waste
- Collaborate with management of a Cuban company to understand today’s challenges of manufacturing
- Develop possible plans of action to reduce waste or scrap, and/or present new revenue streams for byproducts, which will be presented as a class to the company’s management team.
Business Process Analysis
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Business Process Analysis course introduces students to the fundamentals of business process management and its role in driving efficient and innovative organizations. The course emphasizes the use of technology as an integral part of business process optimization. To this end, each student or group has to evaluate an organization and data for efficiency issues and apply process improvement methods and tools to identify and present a problem. Students or groups use their individual cases to examine business process mapping, workflow, change initiatives, process improvements with particular emphasis on effective change initiatives, and adoption of IT solutions that solve specific business needs. Students conclude this course by providing a single document that they develop from the commencement of the course to complete their business objectives.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES
After the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Develop new or improved innovative business processes from gap analysis through process design in support of a company’s strategic objectives in a socially responsible manner.
- Articulate the impact of proposed changes to all major stakeholders and levels of the organization.
- Identify the steps required to manage change in a practical and achievable fashion.
- Integrate appropriate information and other technologies, both existing and emerging, in developing business processes and business models.
- Deliver a project in a timely manner using project management tools and techniques.
Contemporary Cuban Cultures
19th Century Cuban Anthropologist, Fernando Ortiz, was the first to use the popular Cuban dish “el Ajiaco” as a metaphor to describe Cuban society and culture. Unlike a melting pot where the finished dish is homogenous, the ingredients of Cuba’s national stew are very much present when served.
Students of this intensive 8-day course will venture off the beaten path as we explore with the Universities of Artemisa, Pinar Del Rio, Matanzas, and Sancti Spiritus. There will be interactive sessions in the field, guest speakers, and exchanges with experts and representatives of various communities as we make our way through Central and Western Cuba.
There is no Spanish language requirement, as all courses are offered in English or with English translation.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES
These outcomes emphasize a holistic approach to learning about Cuba’s contemporary culture and society while encouraging students to actively engage with local communities and gain valuable intercultural skills. By the end of the course, successful students will:
- Develop a deep understanding of Contemporary Cuban culture, including its art, music, dance, cuisine, and everyday life. They will be able to identify and appreciate the nuances, influences, and diversity within Cuban culture. We will explore the impact of women and the Afro Cuban diaspora.
- Critically examine the sociopolitical landscape of Cuba, including its historical context, government structures, and the impact of international relations. They will be able to discuss and analyze key social and political issues facing Cuba today.
- Actively participate in intercultural dialogues with local Cubans in various towns, fostering cross-cultural communication skills. They will be able to reflect on their own cultural perspectives and engage in respectful and meaningful exchanges with Cubans.
- Gain a broader perspective on global environmental issues and the challenges of sustainability and their interconnectedness through the lens of Cuba. They will be able to apply their knowledge of Cuban culture and society to analyze global challenges and propose potential solutions with a focus on cultural sensitivity and diplomacy.
This Road Course takes place from June 12 – June 19, 2024. Students who complete the course successfully will earn three credits from SUNY Potsdam transferrable to their home institution.