The Ministry of Higher Education (MES) today guarantees all Cuban students the opportunity to access a university degree or a higher technical training programme, through innovative proposals. For the next academic year, the Ministry will offer more than 100,000 places, distributed in three academic modalities: daytime courses, by meeting and distance learning.

According to the general director of undergraduate education at the MES, Deysi Fraga, «the ministry is strengthening its efforts and measures to ensure that more and more young people, after graduating from high school, enter the country’s universities».

Fraga explained at a press conference that all the institutions attached to the MES are working on the comprehensive training of professionals in various fields and that, at the same time, they can act as agents of change in economic and social transformations, moving towards sustainable development, according to the newspaper Trabajadores.

On the other hand, René Sánchez, the national director of entrance and job placement at the MES, stated that «anyone who wants to access a university degree will be able to do so».

He explained that, currently, in addition to the application to the higher level through entrance exams, it will also be possible to access a direct place through academic merit and through direct routes for outstanding talents.

Another way of access for students is the university college, a variant that has already had more than 10 years of experience in the country and has been very successful.

The entrance exams for Spanish, Mathematics and History will be held on 6, 9 and 13 May in the first round respectively, and in a special second round on 23, 25 and 27 May for those who were unable to take the exams.