Though I became familiar with multiple Universities and Institutes in Cuba, it seems best to describe these experiences as a single expose'.
Cuba has a fascinating educational system, from bottom to top. Solid primary education for all is often followed by competitive and rigorous (though perhaps sheltered) secondary education that then leads to a confusing choice of what to do next.
Talented scientific and mathematical minds are told by exam results (the exam, given in the final year of high school, is supplemented by a standardized book entitled "Que Quieres Estudiar?," or "What Do You Want to Study?," which supposedly helps encourage already focused students to take more relevant exams) what fields suit them best, but economic (and social) incentive is extremely lacking in Cuba to pursue higher level degrees, especially in the underfunded pure sciences. Coupled with an "information blockade" that makes relevant books, and most importantly, the Internet, completely inaccessible, the amount of minds prepared to eventually do scientific research is greatly depressed.
Those that do choose to pursue a career in science face a whole new course of obstacles. While the training is free, the choices of fields to specialize in are extremely limited, and one must commit to one to three years of civil service upon graduation(or sometimes before beginning University). For undergraduate students, all non-Cuban websites are blocked, and access to research journals is extremely limited.
At the University of Havana, students are granted a paltry 10mb data per month to download relevant content from a centralized university data system (full professors get 50mb). This is on a phone-line based network that conjures up memories from the first days of the Internet nearly 20 years ago, and the computers available to the students and professors are even older.
These students do receive very thorough and rigorous classroom educations, however, and while many graduate with less than comprehensive research experience, they are noticeably well-prepared in subject fundamentals.
Some advisers make major personal sacrifices for their students, in order for them to get more exposure and research experience. There's a sort of solidarity that seems to exist; everyone acknowledges that there are limitations, ranging from information access to resources to career advancement, but because all are in the same boat, they share what they do have (including their research data) to the best of their abilities. This is of course very different from typical highly competitive institutions around the world.
Due to the well-preparedness and the strong work-ethic of graduate-level science students in Cuba, some countries with far more resources, such as Brazil and Mexico, have taken an interest is forming "sandwich programs." Research is done by the Cuban students at institutes in these countries, and collaboration goes on between an advisor in Cuba and an advisor from the other piece of bread. The student then returns to Cuba and completes his masters or PhD degree. Somehow this works, even with the limitations of Internet and ancient data-processing systems in Cuba, and some significant internationally-recognized research is churned out (in physics, solid-state is of primary focus).
As a small aside, It's also worth mentioning that Cuba's biotechnology research is far more advanced than other sectors of scientific research and development, and is flush with foreign investment. Many students trained in physics and chemistry end up working in the biotechnology sector.
I'm avoiding specifics (any guesses why?), but there do exist progressively minded professors, and especially students, who are well aware of the deficiencies of their current programs. The things that need to be done to get Cuba up-to-speed and better included in global scientific research efforts are numerous and complex, but there is one glaringly obvious issue. Open and better Internet access must be available to students and professors (and everyone, but that's a separate and related issue) in order for them to achieve the potential that their rigorous training and keen and motivated minds allow.
This project stresses the consolidation and utilization of technology that is far beyond what exists in Cuba at present. I sincerely hope this changes. It would be a shame to see such capable scientists fall farther behind.
