23
Aug
An Abridged History of SUNY Potsdam and La Universidad de Cienfuegos
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The 2023 Cienfuegos Summer Session is the next step in a long history of collaboration and mutual learning between the State University of New York at Potsdam (SUNY Potsdam) and La Universidad de Cienfuegos. The two universities first started engaging shortly after the Governor of New York’s trade mission to Cuba in 2015. It was the first such mission of its type after Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro made their historic announcements which would begin the normalization of relations after 55 years.
Dr. Steven J. Marqsuee, Dean of Arts & Sciences for SUNY Potsdam, joined the US delegation of the first Workshop of Strategic Alliances for the Internationalization of Higher Education (Cuba TIES) in 2015. Cuba TIES invites educators from around the world to share ideas, network, and learn more about international education within a Cuban context. During the inaugural event, Dr. Marqusee and Civitas GES founder met with members of the office of international relations for La Universidad de Cienfuegos to discuss how they can develop an institutional partnership.
The following year, Marqsuee led two delegations for one-on-one meetings with UCf facilitated by Civitas GES. The first delegation was a small group with administrative, faculty, and student representation from SUNY Potsdam. The meeting served to create awareness and enthusiasm for the partnership among the varied stakeholders on campus.
The second meeting was a series of exchanges between faculty and deans to identify areas of mutual benefit and to plan potential faculty-led programs within all seven faculties of UCf over the next several years.
Motivated by the enthusiasm created on campus, SUNY Potsdam successfully executed three faculty-led courses with strong student participation. Two of the courses occurred simultaneously in January 2017; one in Agroecology and the second in Public Health. The programs were a combination of classroom instruction and experiential learning coordinated by Civitas GES and the UCf Office of International Relations. Agroecology students had an opportunity to visit various protected ecological sites and even work on a farm. Outside of the classroom, public health students exchanged with and observed practitioners of different institution of the Cuban health care delivery system. The goal being to gain firsthand knowledge of the care cycle for Cuban citizens.
In February 2017, the SUNY Office of Global Affairs led a delegation of university presidents and other executives to visit and exchange with various Cuban universities in three provinces. In Cienfuegos, La Universidad de Cienfuegos invited delegations from other provinces to participate in a series of one-on-one exchanges with the delegation. There were representatives of Cuban universities from five other provinces. The exchange was capped off with a signing ceremony for the memorandum of understanding between SUNY Potsdam and La Universidad de Cienfuegos.
Dr. Steven J. Marqsuee, Dean of Arts & Sciences for SUNY Potsdam, joined the US delegation of the first Workshop of Strategic Alliances for the Internationalization of Higher Education (Cuba TIES) in 2015. Cuba TIES invites educators from around the world to share ideas, network, and learn more about international education within a Cuban context. During the inaugural event, Dr. Marqusee and Civitas GES founder met with members of the office of international relations for La Universidad de Cienfuegos to discuss how they can develop an institutional partnership.
The following year, Marqsuee led two delegations for one-on-one meetings with UCf facilitated by Civitas GES. The first delegation was a small group with administrative, faculty, and student representation from SUNY Potsdam. The meeting served to create awareness and enthusiasm for the partnership among the varied stakeholders on campus.
The second meeting was a series of exchanges between faculty and deans to identify areas of mutual benefit and to plan potential faculty-led programs within all seven faculties of UCf over the next several years.
Motivated by the enthusiasm created on campus, SUNY Potsdam successfully executed three faculty-led courses with strong student participation. Two of the courses occurred simultaneously in January 2017; one in Agroecology and the second in Public Health. The programs were a combination of classroom instruction and experiential learning coordinated by Civitas GES and the UCf Office of International Relations. Agroecology students had an opportunity to visit various protected ecological sites and even work on a farm. Outside of the classroom, public health students exchanged with and observed practitioners of different institution of the Cuban health care delivery system. The goal being to gain firsthand knowledge of the care cycle for Cuban citizens.
In February 2017, the SUNY Office of Global Affairs led a delegation of university presidents and other executives to visit and exchange with various Cuban universities in three provinces. In Cienfuegos, La Universidad de Cienfuegos invited delegations from other provinces to participate in a series of one-on-one exchanges with the delegation. There were representatives of Cuban universities from five other provinces. The exchange was capped off with a signing ceremony for the memorandum of understanding between SUNY Potsdam and La Universidad de Cienfuegos.
In April of the same year, faculty led what would be the largest study abroad partnership of the year with a Cuban university. Students from the Crane School of Music Latin Ensemble visited Cienfuegos for a week of workshops from UCf department of music professors and professional musicians. The programmed was capped by a student performance for the UCf campus and a 2nd for the Cienfuegos community. (Read a reflection on the study abroad experience written by SUNY Potsdam student Will Allen.)In 2018, SUNY Potsdam launched another faculty-led program in art and art-history. Outside of the classroom, students exchanged with artists in Havana and Cienfuegos. The students exercised their skills with sessions at various UNESCO World Heritage sites in several cities.
Every year since 2015, at least one SUNY Potsdam faculty or administrator would participate in Cuba TIES. In addition to contributing to at least one of the various commission panels, the participant would work on behalf of the institution to further the relationship goals, advance future collaborations, or work on upcoming programs.
The 2023 Cienfuegos Summer Session is a bold new study abroad program. This study abroad program is a collaboration between the State University of New York at Potsdam and the University of Cienfuegos. All US students in good academic standing can apply to earn six credits from SUNY Potsdam. Students who successfully apply will travel to Cienfuegos, Cuba to take two study abroad courses. The session is five weeks long and will be taught by both SUNY Potsdam and University of Cienfuegos professors.
The courses are across a variety of disciplines in such diverse areas as health, business, music, history, and sustainability. There is something of interest for everyone.
Every year since 2015, at least one SUNY Potsdam faculty or administrator would participate in Cuba TIES. In addition to contributing to at least one of the various commission panels, the participant would work on behalf of the institution to further the relationship goals, advance future collaborations, or work on upcoming programs.
The 2023 Cienfuegos Summer Session is a bold new study abroad program. This study abroad program is a collaboration between the State University of New York at Potsdam and the University of Cienfuegos. All US students in good academic standing can apply to earn six credits from SUNY Potsdam. Students who successfully apply will travel to Cienfuegos, Cuba to take two study abroad courses. The session is five weeks long and will be taught by both SUNY Potsdam and University of Cienfuegos professors.
The courses are across a variety of disciplines in such diverse areas as health, business, music, history, and sustainability. There is something of interest for everyone.
Links:
1. https://civitasges.com/go-abroad-2/ucf-summer-session-2023/
2. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2015-04/21/content_20491411.htm
3. https://www.potsdam.edu/news/suny-potsdam-signs-agreement-universidad-de-cienfuegos
4. https://system.suny.edu/global/cuba/
5. https://sites.newpaltz.edu/news/2016/11/suny-new-paltz-hosts-historic-delegation-of-cuban-education-officials/
6. https://civitasges.com/president-obama-announces-sweeping-changes-in-relations-between-the-us-and-cuba/
7. https://civitasges.com/university-of-cienfuegos-opens-to-us-educators-for-the-first-time-in-history/
8. https://civitasges.com/international-educators-from-around-the-world-gather-to-make-history-in-cuba/
9. https://blog.suny.edu/2017/03/suny-makes-history-in-cuba-again/
10. http://readme.readmedia.com/SUNY-Potsdam-Faculty-Develop-Partnership-with-Cuban-University/13955734/print
11. https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/33952/20170517/suny-potsdam-s-crane-latin-ensemble-make-pilgrimmage-to-cuba-the-music-s-roots
12. https://civitasges.com/dance-meets-music-will-allen/
13. https://www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/depts/art/iggy-beerbower-cultivating-creativity
2. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2015-04/21/content_20491411.htm
3. https://www.potsdam.edu/news/suny-potsdam-signs-agreement-universidad-de-cienfuegos
4. https://system.suny.edu/global/cuba/
5. https://sites.newpaltz.edu/news/2016/11/suny-new-paltz-hosts-historic-delegation-of-cuban-education-officials/
6. https://civitasges.com/president-obama-announces-sweeping-changes-in-relations-between-the-us-and-cuba/
7. https://civitasges.com/university-of-cienfuegos-opens-to-us-educators-for-the-first-time-in-history/
8. https://civitasges.com/international-educators-from-around-the-world-gather-to-make-history-in-cuba/
9. https://blog.suny.edu/2017/03/suny-makes-history-in-cuba-again/
10. http://readme.readmedia.com/SUNY-Potsdam-Faculty-Develop-Partnership-with-Cuban-University/13955734/print
11. https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/33952/20170517/suny-potsdam-s-crane-latin-ensemble-make-pilgrimmage-to-cuba-the-music-s-roots
12. https://civitasges.com/dance-meets-music-will-allen/
13. https://www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/depts/art/iggy-beerbower-cultivating-creativity
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