Brazil and Cuba sign cooperation agreement during CRES+5

On Wednesday, March 13th, during CRES+5 – a follow-up meeting to the III Regional Conference on Higher Education (CRES) – Brazil and Cuba signed a new cooperation agreement in the field of higher education, facilitating the resumption of academic mobility for students from both countries. The Brazilian Minister of Education, Camilo Santana; the Cuban Minister for Higher Education, Walter Baluja García; and the president of the Brazilian Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes), Denise Pires de Carvalho, were all present at the meeting and signed the agreement.    

This aligns with the Brazilian government's policy, which aims to reintegrate Brazil into the international community, with a particular focus on the field of education. "A comprehensive strategy is in place to reposition the country in global discussions and take on a leadership role. We need to put Brazil back on the international stage and on the subject of education," said Minister Camilo Santana.   

He also said that he hopes for closer relations with Cuba and that the partnership will benefit both countries. "I hope for a closer relationship with Cuba, a country that has historically shared strong ties with Brazil. We will both benefit from strengthening cooperation between countries," he added.   

The Cuban Minister endorsed Camilo's speech and stressed that the historical and cultural similarities between Brazil and Cuba contribute to the collaboration between the two nations. "Our concerns are similar when it comes to renewable energy, university sovereignty, culture and other topics. So these are aspects that we are certain we can collaborate on with institutions and academics in Brazil and other countries," said Walter García.   

CRES+5 – CRES+5 is the follow-up meeting to CRES III, which took place in Cordoba, Argentina, in 2018. The event is organized by the Brazilian Ministry of Education (MEC) through the Higher Education Secretariat (Sesu) and Capes, in partnership with the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNESCO-IESALC) and the Latin American and Caribbean Space for Higher Education (Enlaces). 

Program – The Conference is being held at the International Convention Center of Brazil (CICB), located in Brasília (Brazil). The event's activities will span from March 13th to 15th, featuring thematic seminars, round tables, conferences, a forum, and a plenary session. See the entire program. 

MEC Communications Department