[NYTr] Cuban Community-Based Universities Hold First Graduation

[nytr at olm.blythe-systems.com]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles


Cuban Community-Based Universities Holds First Graduation

Havana, Jul 23 (acn) More than 470 youths received their bachelor 
degrees this Monday in the first graduation of the Community-based 
University program that started in Cuba 2002. It is part of the 
government's effort to further expand higher education nationwide.

Cuba's Higher Education Minister Juan Vela Valdes said the alternative 
has proven sustainable and effective, noting that the retention rates 
and the number of students who complete studies are very high. He 
recommended that the program be used in those countries that need to 
increase their number of professional workers.

Valdes said the first graduation is only the beginning of a much more 
ambitious program that seeks to further increase the number of 
community-based university sites.

Carlos Alberto Perez, one of the graduates, said he was grateful for 
the opportunity given by the government to become a professional. He 
highlighted the quality of professors.

Present at the ceremony were also Lazara Mercedes Lopez Acea, member of 
the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party, and Julio Martinez, 
first secretary of the Cuban Young Communist League. The meeting was 
held at the Jose Marti Anti-Imperialist Square across from the US 
Interest Section in Havana.