Cuba/Nouvelles dynamiques de la Francophonie scientifique à Cuba

As part of the Mois de la Francophonie celebrations, AUF Americas Deputy Director Myrline Vanessa Guillaume visited Cuba from March 18 to 20. This mission, carried out at the invitation of the French Embassy, enabled the AUF to be represented at the Salon des études francophones in Havana and to meet its key partners in the country.

The first day was marked by the Salon des études francophones organized at the Alliance Française de La Havane, during which she presented the AUF and promoted its range of services for French-speaking students and young people.AUF and promoted its range of services for French-speaking students and young people, arousing keen interest, in particular around the Clubs Leaders Étudiants Francophones (CLEF). It has also introduced the Programme international de mobilité et d'employabilité francophone (PIMEF), the pilot phase of which will begin this year with several member universities. Students' interest in mobility remained predominant.

The meeting with the Vice-Minister of Higher Education in charge of international relations, Dr. C. Reynaldo Velázquez, took place in an enthusiastic and constructive atmosphere, marked by a shared vision in favor of the development of French in Cuban higher education. The Vice-Minister reaffirmed his determination to make French a living, dynamic language in the country's universities. The discussion highlighted the Ministry's expectations, perfectly aligned with PIMEF's objectives. The idea of a scientific referent for the AUF in Cuba was welcomed, and a draft agreement is currently being prepared. This could be officially signed in February 2026, on the occasion of a major event bringing together numerous players in the French-speaking world in Cuba.

The mission also enabled us to meet several AUF member universities in Cuba, confirming their commitment to the Francophonie and their interest in strengthening collaborations. With Las Villas University (UCLV), exchanges highlighted the dynamism of the Club des Étudiants Francophones (CLEF) Les Francophiles de Las Villas. The CUJAE Technological University expressed a keen interest in developing French-language training for young teachers, with a view to mentoring French-speaking students, in collaboration with the Alliance Française. She also stressed the need to strengthen links between the academic world and the business sector. For its part, the University of Havana (UH) reaffirmed the intensive use of the Campus Numérique Francophone (CNF), while exploring synergies with the CNF in Las Villas. Finally, interest in AUF networks and initiatives, such as PIMEF and CLEF, was widely shared.

The mission also provided an opportunity to exchange views with the French Embassy in Cuba, with a view to strengthening cooperation in the development of French in higher education. Several avenues for collaboration were explored. These included the idea of using the Alliances Françaises to host university ODL exams, offering a practical solution for students enrolled in distance learning courses. The promotion of Alliances Françaises' French courses through the AUF network was also raised, to ensure greater visibility and attractiveness of the language offer. Synergies around youth initiatives were also discussed.

Finally, discussions with CLEF presidents highlighted the dynamism of these young people committed to the Francophonie. Their motivation and initiatives bear witness to the growing role of students in promoting the French language and the opportunities it offers.

The mission strengthened the AUF's presence in Cuba and opened up new prospects for cooperation in the years to come.

Source: www.auf.org/