A universe ready for change, intelligent, that today even welcomes children and teenagers in a new type of school, and that remains faithful to the founding ideals of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz. That is what the Cuban University of Computer Sciences (UCI) is today, where the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, arrived this Wednesday morning.

After holding several discussions and touring a unique school and laboratories where talent is being nurtured, the dignitary reflected before a group of young people: “Amidst so much bad news arriving every day regarding the pressures of U.S. policy against Cuba, waking up here today at the University of Computer Sciences (UCI)—with the little school, with the new school model, and now with this development you (the young people) are experiencing—fills one with happiness and, above all, with confidence that, even in the midst of the most complex situation, we will prevail.”

“And if we can overcome this situation, what won’t we be able to do in the future, in other kinds of situations?” the Head of State reasoned, before recalling that what was seen on Wednesday morning is part of creative resistance, “which isn’t just about enduring,” but also about developing while experiencing the act of resistance: “That expresses a will, a priority for all of you, and a talent.”

“Congratulations, and we expect a lot from you,” said the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, during a visit in which he was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Eduardo Martínez Díaz; the Ministers of Education and Higher Education, Naima Ariatne Trujillo Barreto and Walter Baluja García; and the Rector of the University of Computer Sciences (UCI), Raydel Montesino Perurena.

The first part of the tour took place in a central building of UCI, where Rector Montesino explained that “our mission has always been to contribute to the digital transformation of Cuba, in many ways.” The first task, he said, “is to train undergraduate and graduate professionals” while conducting scientific research. The director also referred to software development as an activity that is part of the UCI model and has an international reach.

The Rector recalled that UCI began with one degree program and now has four undergraduate programs—three bachelor's degrees and one associate's degree. He stated that “in 23 years, we have already had more than 18,000 graduates” and emphasized the impact that UCI graduates have had on the country's digital transformation.

There, students study Computer Science Engineering, Bioinformatics Engineering, Cybersecurity Engineering, and an Associate's Degree in Network Administration—a specialization, Montesino said, “that the country desperately needs.”

Among other ideas, the Rector stated that they have “proposed to accelerate doctoral training significantly.” He said that UCI has six faculties and seven development centers, and 2,554 undergraduate students—a number, he noted, that they are poised to increase. Regarding the current energy crisis, he emphasized that UCI's principle is to leave no student behind.

On this point, the professor, who is also currently teaching, referred to efforts to achieve some in-person instruction and commented on adjustments to the curriculum. This year, he stated, 554 students will be able to graduate—one hundred more than last year.

According to its Rector, the transportation situation has been the biggest challenge for UCI. However, there are experiences there that demonstrate how a flexible and bold mindset can prevail amidst great difficulties.

The result is an institution that remains true, in practice, to the words of that special founder, Fidel: “This University must be characterized,” the Commander-in-Chief had declared, and the words appear on a wall of the UCI, “by the great variety of different ways of teaching, of preparing… an experimental teaching center, a teaching-production center.”

There is a buzz of children

The UCI has given shelter to a beautiful experiment: children and teenagers study there; there, the university atmosphere is contagious to these new generations who benefit while acquiring knowledge such as English, Art Education, and other subjects in the world of Exact Sciences.

Amidst very young children who extended messages of gratitude and love, President Díaz-Canel Bermúdez wanted to know if the students felt comfortable there. “We second-grade pioneers love it very much,” said one child. As he said goodbye, the dignitary told the children, “Thank you very much, and I wish you success in your studies. Prepare yourselves well so that you can be of service to the country.”

As the visit was leaving, a child said, “Goodbye, Minister…” He was addressing Naima Ariatne Trujillo Barreto, whom he had obviously seen. This has been seen at other times. It was precisely the minister who shared with journalists the details of the unique school that emerged at the University of Computer Sciences (UCI) when times became very difficult due to the intensified blockade, leaving many children unable to attend their usual schools.

"It's an experience," she said, "that is unique in the country right now. When the time came to decentralize registration, children who live at the UCI, with their parents who are teachers and staff here, were in different institutions in La Lisa district (in the capital), with no way to relocate. We have between 17,000 and 23,000 children and teenagers who have been left in this situation, very isolated."

"Here, then, was the exclusive opportunity to have a university faculty," the minister explained. She said that “we were then able to establish what we call ‘Proyecto Pioneros.uci.cu,’ which is now a fully functioning school. It was approved that children progress through the grades, from preschool to ninth, and can even be assessed.”

Naima spoke of classrooms where “there might be children from three different schools”; of a “unique faculty, but one with huge potential.” In her view, the important thing is “having taken advantage of the existing potential here.”

The head of the school recalled that “children and teenagers, when they arrived, came from different backgrounds and remembered their teachers,” who, incidentally, have maintained a connection with the new school: “The municipality of La Lisa, the methodologists personnel there, the provincial education department, and our colleagues from the Ministry of Education have focused on documenting this pedagogical experience.”

Naima often tells the Rector that a university is usually quiet, but at the UCI (University of Computer Sciences), "there's a buzz of children, there are teenagers we've guided, they hold their morning assemblies; in other words, there's been a lot of heart behind this experience."

Perhaps, she told reporters, "we can't replicate a school like this at every university in Cuba, but we can certainly use its potential in other places." She emphasized, "We don't know how long this reality imposed on us will last"—referring to the situation created by the fierce blockade—"and look how long we've been at it, and everyone is going to graduate. That's one of the greatest achievements we've had in this period, here."

President Díaz-Canel Bermúdez rightly said this Wednesday at the UCI that the new school's experience "is a model to defend and replicate"; it's evidence that "we're not standing still." “I wish we had this in all universities.”

“It’s commendable,” remarked the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.

Cuban Talent

The Software Export Laboratories were the final stop on the tour of the University of Computer Sciences (UCI). In one of the facilities, Dr. Reynaldo Rosado Roselló explained to the dignitary that the university boasts a large and significant productive workforce.

He detailed that there are more than 600 software development specialists. This workforce is comprised of students, professors, and specialists dedicated to this type of work. Roselló later stated, in a separate conversation with reporters, that this “workforce is ready to continue contributing to the country’s digital transformation.”

He further told the press that they, who had already been contributing to software exports, have intensified this activity in the most recent phase. And that this has allowed for increased export revenue.

"In a model where the country wins, the institution wins, and the people win," explained the Doctor of Science, who told reporters that "everyone involved in software exports is paid in foreign currency, working from here, from the University."

Reynaldo spoke at the meeting with the Head of State about the strength of a recently established company, only about three years old, but already generating revenues exceeding 150 million pesos in national currency, and which last year had access to more than half a million pesos in foreign currency: "And this is the way we have," he told reporters, "to catalyze, to transfer all the knowledge, and to close the cycles in the commercialization of everything generated in software development at the institution."

Towards the end of his remarks, Reynaldo reflected: “I believe that if there’s one area where UCI should be more aggressive and achieve superior results, it’s in software exports. And that is what we are focused on right now: transforming software exports. We believe we have the necessary conditions and that the numbers can grow, because Fidel envisioned UCI training professionals, contributing to the country's digital transformation, and also becoming a hub for innovation.” “It would become an important source of foreign currency income.”

During the visit, President Díaz-Canel told professors and students: “Now, all the contributions you can make are important for our goal of advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the country and bringing AI to all aspects of life in Cuba.” He shared his aspiration: “That the UCI be the first ‘Smart University’ we have in the country; and we have to accelerate all of this.”

At the end of the tour, the president approached a plaque that read: “In this place, on December 12, 2002, the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, spoke to the workers and students of the UCI. That day he said: ‘This is a school that has just been founded.’”

Someone explained to reporters that classes at the University of Computer Sciences (UCI) began on September 23, 2002, but Fidel, although he had visited the construction sites, had not been at the university with the students. Therefore, the date of his first visit to the UCI was December 12, 2002, which was later considered the founding date of the institution.

When the Commander-in-Chief spoke with the students, he called them "the troops of the future"; and that phrase gave rise to a motto that has marked the institution to this day, always loyal to one strategy: "Connected to the future, connected to the Revolution."

Translated by Amilkal Labañino / CubaSí Translation Staff