http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2006/agosto/vier4/33becados-i.html
Havana. August 4, 2006 Cuba has trained more than 45,000 Third World professionals BY NAVIL GARCIA ALFONSO -Granma International staff writer- IN 1961 Cuba began to host youth from all continents to study and thus guarantee the future development of their respective countries. Today more than 45, 300 foreign students have graduated from Cuban higher education institutions as well as at basic and medium levels. The scholarship program of the Cuban government aims to provide free, high-level, professional training to students of the Third World, more than 70% of whom come from Africa. With the opening of the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) and that of Sports, the total number of foreign students in the 2005-2006 school year reached 31,000, a figure nearly equal to that of those graduated over the 45 years of the project, according to the Ministry of Higher Education (MES). Likewise, the balance has tilted toward countries south of the Rio Grande, thanks to the cooperation agreements established by the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA). Bolivia has 4,700 students on scholarships in Cuba and Venezuela 4,500, while from South Africa, to give one example, there are around 300. There are also students from the Middle East, Asia and even 77 U.S. low-income youth studying medicine. Of the Caribbean, Haiti is the country most represented with 960 students on scholarship. Although the majority study medical science disciplines at ELAM -general medicine, dentistry, nursing and health technology- several countries have established accords with Cuba to train specialists in different areas. Haiti, for example, has students of veterinary medicine, Bolivia in agronomy, Guyana in agriculture and stock breeding as well as in engineering. The Caribbean has benefited much from the training of information and telecommunication engineers, as well as architectural and civil engineering graduates. Cuba has guaranteed equality of conditions between foreign and Cuban students. Integration is also encouraged through scientific, sports and cultural activities and respect for multiculturalism. Professionals of great importance in the political and scientific spheres of their respective countries have graduated from Cuban educational institutions. Such is the case of the Angolan minister of education and culture, the ambassadors in Cuba of Bolivia, Republic of the Congo, Mali, Namibia, Saint Lucia, Vietnam and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. To these can be added three Caribbean ministers of public health, deputy ministers and parliamentarians. One of the fundamental conditions for granting scholarship to foreign students is their commitment to return to their country of origin once their studies are concluded. This guarantees that those countries will benefit from these professionals trained in areas of scientific-technological development most important to the Third World. According to the MES, this is due to the Cuba's self-sufficiency and the principles on which this cooperation is based; Cuba has no need to drain professionals from other countries. The National Commission for Degree Homologation exists to negotiate the validation of diplomas with foreign governments. Although most countries accept Cuban degrees with no problem, in some, medical and engineering schools refuse to recognize Cuban certificates. To guarantee the recognition of Cuban university degrees, the country has signed more than 3,000 cooperation agreements with prestigious academic institutions throughout the world. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) negotiates with governments to guarantee full recognition of studies in Cuba. However, in some countries such as the United States, students have to revalidate their university degree in order to practice their profession. The grants cover all expenses for a six-year university career apart from transportation to and from Cuba. Every year, the best all-round foreign students can apply to take a Masters' degree totally free of charge. Via Cuban embassies abroad, MINREX is in charge of authorizing the grants of these future professionals [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/