Cuban University Contributes to Science on an International Scale

Cuban universities are called to compete in a dynamic academic environment that now extends beyond the nation's geographical borders, as a way to achieve excellence among faculty and graduates.

“The University of Cienfuegos Carlos Rafael Rodríguez (UCf), like its Cuban counterparts, is currently heavily investing in international scientific projects as a means to keep our professors updated with the most recent research in each field, and for this to benefit their students,” commented Doctor of Sciences Víctor Millo Carmenate, Director of International Relations at UCf, to Prensa Latina.

According to Millo Carmenate, *“the university participates in 16 international academic and scientific networks and associations, among which the Ibero-American Environmental Network (REIMA), the Latin American Association of Neutrosophic Sciences (ALCN), and the Ibero-American University Association for Postgraduate Studies (AUIP) stand out.”*

“Our academics participate in projects at universities in Ecuador, Mexico, Spain, Honduras, France, and Colombia, primarily, in addition to contributing to the publication of scientific articles in high-level indexed journals and to academic mobility to and from Cuba,” Millo highlighted.

International Student Body and Sustainable Development Focus

The UCf is in high demand among foreign students, who come to Cienfuegos interested in studying for a Bachelor's degree in Economics, Accounting and Finance, or Mechanical Engineering, in addition to Master's and Doctoral programs in Local and Territorial Development. Currently, 106 international students are pursuing degrees and specialties at the institution.

*“Currently the University of Cienfuegos is participating in eight international projects that contribute to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, with such important themes as sustainable agroforestry food production, biodiversity conservation in vulnerable agroecosystems, energy efficiency and conservation, and capacity building in the agri-food sector based on agroecological principles,”* stressed Millo Carmenate.

Expanding International Collaboration

Precisely to extend these international collaboration ties, the Rector of UCf, Dr. C. Orquídea Urquiola Sánchez, recently signed important agreements with the Universities of Almería, Seville, Granada, and the Polytechnic University of Cartagena during the recently concluded XV Bilateral Meeting of Cuban and Spanish Rectors in Spain.

The UCf comprises seven Faculties and five Study Centers, in addition to having the Universo Sur Publishing House, which publishes four scientific journals indexed in various academic repositories.

In September 2025, the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies (CEEMA) of the University of Cienfuegos was awarded the OLADE Prize for Energy Excellence, granted by the Latin American Energy Organization, as a testament to the innovative work, scientific rigor, and commitment to sustainable development that characterize that center and the entire University of Cienfuegos.