Promoting higher education cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba

On the afternoon of April 15, at the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Phuc had a meeting and worked with Mr. Reynaldo Velázquez Zaldívar, Deputy Minister of Higher Education of Cuba.

Working scene

Attending the meeting were leaders of several units under the Cuban Ministry of HigherEducation , the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam; leaders and officers of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education and Training.

At the meeting, the two sides looked back at the long-standing and close tradition of cooperation in the field of education, and highly appreciated the achievements in training and student exchange.

Welcoming the Cuban Deputy Minister of Higher Education and the delegation to Vietnam, Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Phuc said: Vietnam and Cuba have always been a symbol of strong international solidarity. Further promoting cooperation in the field of education and training will continue to be a bridge of friendship and solidarity between the two peoples.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Phuc discussed at the meeting

The Deputy Minister said that the agreement on higher education cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the Cuban Ministry of Higher Education signed on October 29, 2019 has been implemented, with each year the two sides providing each other with 15 long-term and short-term undergraduate and graduate scholarships. However, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the total number of international students currently studying in Cuba under the Agreement is 14, and the number of Cuban students going to Vietnam is decreasing.

Emphasizing that Vietnam is committed to continuing to create favorable conditions for Cuban students, lecturers and scientists to study, teach and conduct research at domestic educational institutions, the Deputy Minister asked Cuba to provide additional financial support so that students can study in Vietnam conveniently. At the same time, Vietnam will also make efforts to send students to study in Cuba in a number of fields in which Cuba has strengths such as medicine , pharmacy, etc.

“Vietnam and Cuba have a very special relationship, with deep ties between the two countries, so in a very important field such as education, no matter how difficult it is, it must be overcome to be implemented,” Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Phuc expressed.

Cuban Deputy Minister of Higher Education Reynaldo Velázquez Zaldívar speaks at the meeting

Thanking Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Phuc and the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training for taking the time to welcome him, Cuban Deputy Minister of Higher Education Reynaldo Velázquez Zaldívar affirmed that he is ready to remove obstacles, expand the reception of Vietnamese students in key fields, and propose to increase cooperation between universities of the two countries.

Deputy Minister Reynaldo Velázquez Zaldívar also hopes to soon sign a Higher Education Cooperation Agreement between the two Governments, in order to create a favorable legal framework for long-term cooperation activities.

Members of both sides at the working session

At the meeting, the two sides expressed their strong commitment to developing education for sustainable goals, contributing to the training of a young generation with high knowledge, courage and international spirit, ready to contribute to the cause of national construction and further strengthen the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.                                                        

 

Source: https://moet.gov.vn/tintuc/Pages/tin-tong-hop.aspx?ItemID=10465