Sancti Spíritus, January 10 (RHC)-- Students from France's Université de Franche-Comté will travel to Cuba to learn first-hand about the country's educational system. The visit is as part of a recent cooperation agreement signed between the European nation's higher education center and the José Martí University of Sancti Spíritus, in central Cuba.

In statements to the press in Sancti Spíritus, Caille-Cantin, dean of the pedagogical faculty of the French region of Besançon, pointed to high expectations with the signed agreement, which will materialize with the arrival in Cuba of three students from Université de Franche-Comté in late January.

“We are very happy with the welcome offered to us here in Cuba and the meetings and exchanges we've had with our Cuban colleagues,” said Caille-Cantin.

She added that exchanges focused mainly on professional training, scientific research, special education, educational programs for the elderly and the role of higher education in environmental protection.

Zaida González, dean of the pedagogical faculty at the José Martí University in Sancti Spíritus, said the agreement provides new opportunities for academic and scientific exchanges between the two higher education centers. 

The Cuban education official recalled that the José Martí University of Sancti Spíritus is the first Cuban university to have signed a cooperation agreement with  the Université de Franche-Comté and the Université de Montpellier –both in France.

She added that the Cuban university also maintains cooperation relations with Lehman College - a senior liberal arts college in The City University of New York.