Dr. Hipólito Carvajal, local leader of the VLIR-IUC programme presented in detail the academic schedule of the upcoming scientific workshop "Bringing knowledge into practice" to be held at the Universidad de Oriente from November 6th to 11th, before leaders of the 12 research lines, directors of Study Centers, members of the Board of Directors and Vice-Deans.
Dr. Carvajal required the attendance of 50 doctoral students, 15 out of whom do not participate directly in the VLIR programme. "Our institution is being visited by doctoral students from Granma, Moa, Camagüey," he said, "We have a project of another VLIR modality in their cities. That provides an overall idea of the impact of our project on other universities in the country."
The attendance of members of the Cuban Society of Pharmacy, institutions that work directly with each of the projects and important scholars of the five universities that are part of the Flemish Interuniversity Council, is expected at the event. "We hope that members of the 24 existing VLIR programmes in Cuba will also attend, since we invited them," said Dr. Carvajal.
An important space of this workshop is the Technology Transfer Workshop, to take place on November 6th and 7th. "Lectures will be given by experts from Cuba, Belgium and Ecuador and the experience of the UO will be shown in the transfer of technology". The local coordinator of the VLIR programme pointed out that, during the second day, they will work on joint technology transfer projects and, at the same time, they will be subject to competition, so that at least one of the projects can be placed in the Free University of Brussels with the purpose of attracting international financing.
Regarding the Workshop on Systemic Thinking, scheduled for the same days, Dr. Carvajal pointed out that the experience undoubtedly provides the doctoral students with important elements to face new research topics, having the use of the English language as the main support.
In general, the bulk of scientific activities are reserved for Wednesday, November 8 and Thursday, November 9, when the three work commissions will review topics related to medical health services and the production of pharmaceutical products associated with natural components. Moreover, the results of the Medical Biophysics collective and the Medical Imaging Network will be displayed. The second commission will analyze the energy and environmental services reports. Finally, the commission of Social and Humanistic Sciences referred to Heritage is announced, where works related to computer services at the service of society will also be evaluated.
The visit to the Rum Factory that responds to a sub-project of the P5 referred to the generation of activated charcoal, also the celebration of the Day of the Belgian Culture in Santiago de Cuba on Saturday, November 11th, and an attractive meeting between students and scholars at the Arte Soy art gallery, are among the collateral activities of the event.
The last work sessions of this workshop - says Dr. Hipólito- are aimed at a joint work of the project leaders that will leave all the necessary documentation ready for the already close evaluation process of the programme, scheduled for 2018.
Translator: Lilia Sanz Gámez