CODE OF ETHICS OF THE FOREIGN STUDENT AT THE EDUCATION CENTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA.

Cuba, despite being a small country economically blocked for more than 55 years by the North American government, affected by serious problems that are ongoing throughout the world economy, has achieved, with the effort of all its people a high level of social development, standing out in advances in the fields of education, health, culture and sport, among others, and has been able to share those modest achievements with other peoples who require it, under the principle of internationalism.

As part of the cooperation that Cuba offers, the training of foreign students stands out. Since 1961 to date, more than 70,000 students from 159 countries have graduated in their intermediate and higher education institutions.

The experience of so many years and the heterogeneity of the student community demand the existence of a code of ethics, with the purpose of contributing to its better development in and out of the educational centers.

This document sets out the values and principles that should characterize the student with respect to the institution where he/she is educated and the community where he/she develops, intending to awaken his/her conscience and to show him/her the need to comply with norms that structure and give coherence to his/her behavior, a moral commitment to his/her people and the Cuban people and his state.
In accordance with the foregoing, foreign students in Cuba are to adopt the following precepts:

Respect national laws, customs and traditions, as well as the norms of social coexistence.
Respect the differences of religious character, race, political orientation and others of each nation.

Be modest, austere and in solidarity with those around you.
Accept and share under conditions of equality the material conditions in which the Cuban people live, which, in a humble, altruistic and disinterested way, offers what it has to young people coming from fellow countries. This must be assumed as a moral commitment and an honor.

They will maintain an honest attitude, a high spirit of humanism and unrestricted respect for people, without distinction.
To achieve with personal effort and without resorting to academic frauds, qualifications that certify a high preparation, that allows them to return to the country of origin immediately after graduation to share the knowledge acquired for the benefit of its people.

Be disciplined and responsible.
Attend classes and scheduled extracurricular activities regularly and on time, complying with the teaching and disciplinary regulations; knowledgeable also about the duties and rights as a student.

RESOLUTION No. 26/12

WHEREAS: By agreement dated May 7, 2009, adopted by the Council of State, the Minister of Higher Education was appointed.

WHEREAS: The bonds of brotherhood and solidarity with other peoples are a palpable and developing reality that reaches a new stage with the disinterested gesture and cooperation with the granting of university scholarships to foreign citizens.

WHEREAS: The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment is the Central Administration of the State responsible for drawing up scholarship plans for foreign students in accordance with the Government’s policy, and also gives the corresponding indications, according to the established regulations, to Cuban missions abroad and to agencies and institutions on the procedure for processing applications for scholarships and self-financed studies in Cuban Education Centers.

WHEREAS: Agreement No. 4001 of April 24, 2001, adopted by the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers, established in its section TWO, paragraph 10, the power of the Ministry of Higher Education to coordinate and control the activities of Attention to foreign university students in Cuba, in accordance with the government’s policy and in coordination with the agencies of the Central State Administration, to dictate the provisions that guarantee the attention to foreign students and report on their management to the Executive Committee of the Council Of Ministers.

WHEREAS: Ministerial Resolution No.186 of July 18, 2007 approved the “Regulations for Foreign Students in Cuban Education Centers,” and through Ministerial Resolution No.51 dated March 23, 2009, the “Regulations for Foreign Graduate Students in Higher Education Centers and Authorized Scientific Institutions in the Republic of Cuba for Postgraduate Education” was approved.

THEREFORE: In exercise of the powers conferred on me in Section THREE, article 4 of agreement No. 2817, of the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers, dated November 25, 1994.

Guidelines for the selection process of students in Cuba for the 2017-2018 Undergraduate Course.

The policy of promoting other financing means for studies in Cuba is maintained.

It is important to emphasize the importance of the student selection process, as it has a direct impact on the results to be obtained in the training of the students.

Guidelines for the selection process:

 1.- Granting of scholarships

• The scholarships offered by the Diplomatic Representation must be convened by the Board of Directors of the Mission, and the Head of the Mission is totally responsible for the process.
• If a foreign organism or institution is in charge of the student selection process, our representation must be part of and be very aware of the process.
• Consult the Directorate of Collaboration that Cuba offers at MINCEX in case of any doubt that arises in the selection process. Emphasis should be placed on the social status of students and the fulfillment of the requirements, so that the candidates with scarce resources and socioeconomic conditions that prevent them from attending university studies in their country will really benefit and commit themselves to their community.

2.- Established Requisites

The requirements to be met by foreign students benefiting from a scholarship to study in Cuba are:

1. A) Be under 25 years of age.
2. B) Be a High School or College Graduate.
3. C) The student must come from a low income family, who cannot afford to pay for the studies and preferably come from communities in the interior of the country.
4. D) Certificate of Health with negative HIV tests. In the case of females, it is also required that they have a certificate that ensures they are not pregnant.
5. E) Documents certifying that he/she has no criminal record.

3.- Documents that must be included in the student file.

1. A) Copy of the High School Certificates. For the careers of Exact, Economic and Natural Sciences, students must graduates of Science or with a similar Certificate.
2. B) Copy of transcripts of the last year of High School.
3. C) Original Health Certificate, including negative HIV and a certificate that the females are not pregnant.
4. D) Original Certificate of Criminal Record.
5. E) 10 photos ID type 1 x 1 cms.
6. F) New Student’s Accreditation Form with commitment inclusive of payment of return ticket in case of withdrawal, for whatever reason. (Attached to this information).
7. G) Code of Ethics.

4.- Process of legalization of the documents that make up the Student record.

• The Embassy should thoroughly review the documentation of each student, who must provide a photocopy of the Certificates and transcripts, and originals of the rest of the documentation.
• The documents must be duly legalized by the Ministries of Health, Education and Justice – as appropriate – and all by the Foreign Ministry of that country, to be later legalized by our Diplomatic Mission, exempt from payment.
• The student will have to travel with his documentation and upon arrival in Cuba he will deliver it to his Study Center.
• The Cuban mission is responsible for the fact that no student travels without the documents indicated in Rule number 3, otherwise the young person will return to his / her country.

5.Career change Prohibition.

The Diplomatic Mission will inform students that career changes will not be permitted, according to the rules established in the Regulations of Foreign Scholarship Holders, only in very exceptional cases, duly evaluated (Resolution 26/2012 of the MES). In this case, the students, as well as the Head of the Mission, must sign the original and copy of the Accreditation Form. The original will be delivered by the student upon arrival in Cuba to the official who is in charge of the reception of the students and the copy will accompany the other documents that make up the student’s file, duly stamped, and delivered by the student to the Teaching Secretariat of his/her Study Center.

6.- Rules that Scholarship Holders must be aware of.

• Students should read the Code of Ethics and sign it certifying that they are knowledgeable about its contents and that they must abide by it.
• At this stage of the process, it is imperative that our Missions inform and update students about the situation in our country. It should be emphasized to them the effort made by our people and Government to maintain for more than 45 years the Scholarship Program.
• The student will be given a copy of the Regulations for Foreign Students at the Higher Education Centers in Cuba (Resolution 26/2012) of the Ministry of Higher Education and a copy of the Customs Regulations.

7.- Arrival of selected students.

Spanish-speaking students who will undertake medical courses must arrive in Cuba during the last week of February and non-Hispanic speakers during the last week of August.

Non Spanish-speaking students who undertake MES careers must arrive in Cuba between September 20 and 30 of the current year.

The Missions must inform the Directorate of Collaboration that Cuba offers at MINCEX of the names, surnames and sex of those selected at least 10 days before their arrival in Cuba.

The missions must inform the training agencies responsible for receiving these scholarship holders about the route, time of departure and arrival in Cuba, as well as the airline that is used, with a copy for the Collaboration Directorate that Cuba offers at MINCEX, a week before arrival.

8.- Visa granted to foreign scholarship holders.

The Visa to be granted by our Mission is the type D-2, exempt from payment. This entry permit is authorized by the Collaboration Directorate that Cuba offers at MINCEX, once the names of the students have been received.

Returning your application

1.  Along with your application you must return the following original documents:
   1. 10 photos 1 X 1
   2. Criminal record
   3. Birth certificate
   4. High school certificate
   5. High school transcript
   6. Medical results (pregnancy test, HIV, Body X-ray)
2. Your application is then forwarded to St. Kitts for further assessment and approval.

Upon notice of approval

1. A travel ticket to Cuba will be prepared for you
2. A stipend will also be given to you (this will be transferred to your bank account so please ensure you provide this information)
3. You will need two guarantors and these guarantors will have to sign your bond at the Legal Department
4. Therefore, ensure you prepare a letter giving full name, address, occupation and contact information of both sureties/ guarantors and deliver to the Human Resources Department
5. Human Resources Department will alert you when it is time for you and your guarantors to sign the bond

The student must present the original and one copy of this document at his arrival in Cuba, and it must be in his/her file.