This time a year ago, traveling, studying and teaching in Cuba was a distant thought, despite the fact that much of the rest of the world was quite accessible while the tiny Caribbean nation only 90 miles by water from the southern tip of Florida was off limits.
Today, with the United States announcing an end to its isolation of Cuba and agreement with Cuban leaders to normalize relations and formal ties between the two countries after more than half a century, public and private institutions of higher learning — large and small, public and private ― are lining up to establish ties with Cuba’s higher education community.
American and Cuban higher education leaders are exploring the possibilities of establishing ongoing relationships of all kinds to help teachers and students in both countries.
The possibilities got a boost last week when U.S. government negotiators announced an agreement on a broad plan to resume daily air travel between the United States and Havana and other area Cuban airports starting within months.
The air service announcement comes on the heels of several other business moves reflecting the emergence of an American presence across the Cuban landscape.
“As we embark upon globalization, Cuba cannot be excluded,” said Dr. JoAnn Haysbert, executive vice president and provost at Hampton University, echoing other higher education officials in discussion of Hampton’s pursuit of relations with Cuban institutions. “We’re preparing students to be global citizens,” Haysbert said in a recent telephone interview.
Hampton, working through its international office, has initiated discussions with top officials at three of Cuba’s major institutions, Hampton officials said, with a focus on science, pharmacy, nursing and several other areas.
