Moscow, Russia.- Deans from Russian and Cuban universities assessed on Friday specific issues of cooperation and student training, especially in strategic areas for the island which it needs for its development.

During a roundtable discussion in the presence of more than a dozen leaders of higher education centers from both countries, options and proposals were presented to Cuba from the Russian side to train students and teach postgraduate and doctoral courses.

Viktor Sadovnichni, Dean of ‘Lomonosov’ Moscow State University, considered that one of the main guidelines of the teaching collaboration refers to biotechnology.

A second guideline would be agricultural techniques, with the preparation of professionals and joint scientific works. A third guideline would be the training of specialists in medicine and pharmacology, as well as joint work in both branches, Sadovnichni said.

The fourth meeting of deans from Russian and Cuban universities seeks to advance concrete proposals made in the previous gathering in Havana, he said. During the Havana meeting the establishment of a high-study center network between the two countries was agreed, he recalled.

Vladimir Lebanov, Dean of Kuban State Technological University, highlighted his institution that is now celebrating its 100th anniversary is training 30 Cubans.

Havana University’s dean, Gustavo Cobreiro Suarez, expressed his satisfaction for the restoration of cooperation bridges.

Our countries are in a position to boost collaboration based on Cuba’s needs and Russia’s potentialities. In that sense, he recalled the development of Cuba’s pharmacological industry that produces 80 percent of its medications, he said.

The meeting of pedagogical specialists from both countries takes place within the framework of the 3rd Ibero-American Deans’ Forum, opened in Havana on Thursday, October 11.