Havana, Cuba.- The contribution of Cuban universities to the socioeconomic development of the country from research highlighted Monday among the issues discussed in the annual balance of the Ministry of Higher Education (MES).

With the participation of President Miguel Diaz-Canel, executives, officials and specialists of the sector agreed on the importance of strengthening the relationship between research and development to solve problems.

The Rector of the Jose Antonio Echeverria Higher Polytechnic Institute, Alicia Alonso Becerra, called in particular to a greater link between university and industry and the priority attention given to Cuba´s strategic sectors.

The official of the MES, Jose Ramon Saborido, presented the report of the balance with the results of 2018 and the projections and challenges of higher education for this year.

One of the aims proposed was the need to increase the results of research, based on the strengthening of science, technology and innovation.

In this regard, the Minister of Education, Ena Elsa Velazquez, insisted on the importance of training teachers, especially their improvement with masters and doctorates.

Another important element for this priority has to do with international collaboration. According to the report presented by Saborido, the MES counted in late 2018 with over 2,000 inter-university and ministerial agreements in force, which guarantees access to scholarships, participation in events and the exchange of delegations.

English language study, computerization and the role of leaders were also addressed at the meeting, where besides Diaz-Canel and the Ministers of the Education sector, Vice President Roberto Morales and the President of the University Student Federation, Raul Alejandro Palmero attended.