The internationalization process in the Cuban university. Case study: Agrarian University of Havana

Abstract

The internationalisation of higher education has become one of the key processes for the development of university institutions. This process has become consubstantial to university activities and the international dimension is becoming more and more integrated into the substantive functions. This work is based on the recognition of the progress of the internationalization process at the Agrarian University of Havana "Fructuoso Rodríguez Pérez" (UNAH), as part of the institution's improvement strategy. The objective of this work was to socialize the key learning factors in the implementation of the internationalization strategic plan in the UNAH derived from practical examples, with emphasis on the Erasmus+ IMPALA and ACCESS projects. The need was identified for a project of national scope aimed at strengthening the internationalisation process in Cuban higher education institutions: "Internationalization of Cuban higher education post-Covid 19. Best Practices and Sustainability (INTESCUBA)." The implementation of the strategic plan for internationalization in the UNAH has been characterized by the articulation between the university missions necessary for the consolidation of the university as a key actor in the economic and social development of Cuba and the region. It was found that the key learning points from the cooperation networks formed showed the need to reshape the role of the internationalization process in higher education in the current context marked by the serious consequences of the Covid19 pandemic.