The idea -which arose in the midst of covid-19- was promoted by the Union of Informatics of Cuba and developed by the Eureka Scientific Group of the “José Antonio Echeverría” Technological University of Havana (Cujae), led by Professor Joaquín Pina Amargos.

The pilot test began in Playa and Marianao, and based on the positive results, it was generalized to the rest of the municipalities of the capital.

In what context does Cola.CU arise?

Due to the shortage of essential products in Cuban chain stores, caused by the global crisis due to the pandemic and the tightening of the United States blockade, hoarders, coleros and resellers increased in the country; figures whom the government set out to eliminate.

“Foreign and Cuban software that allows queue management does not have the ability to specify the products offered and to alert the organizer if a customer has recently registered in any other queue according to the number of days declared by the local government. ”, Joaquín Pina Amargós, also president of the Union of Computer Scientists of Cuba in Havana, explains to Cubadebate.

Precisely, these two functionalities are the main advantages of Cola.CU, software that consists of two versions, mobile and desktop, to achieve integrated queue management in a given region.

According to data offered by the development team, Cola.CU has worked daily without interruption since September 1, 2020, with more than 1.25 million different people registered and more than 250,000 beneficiaries who have been able to buy thanks to the detection of recent buyers.

How does Cola.CU work?

In this software system you can specify the products that are offered and alert the organizer of the queue if a customer has recently registered in any other queue. It consists of two computer applications that work offline (in this first version) but are synchronized daily by exchanging files.

For its part, the version for Android mobiles, Cola.CU Apk, allows the daily management of the queue for a given store. On the other hand, the desktop version Cola.CU App, allows unifying all the information of the stores where it is established that the same person buys only once during a certain period.

Thanks to its flexibility, it is possible to establish specific work rules that are dynamically approved by the Defense Councils of each municipality, for example, the frequency of the purchase of a certain electronic product or those with a high consumption cycle such as chicken or detergent.

The parameters are configured from the desktop version so that all mobile applications synchronized with the first one have the same information.

In a second version that is developed from a Computer Engineering diploma thesis, the possibility of connecting to the cloud is incorporated to achieve the exchange of information without the need for physical files.

A hundred students, professors and volunteers from the Joven Club of all the municipalities of Havana and other entities of the Fight Against Coleros (LCC) operation groups have joined this task.

This application can be applied in the future in any region where several establishments are concentrated and people are free to buy from them.

Economic, social and environmental benefits

“The main novelty of Cola.CU is that it preventatively limits, in situ and without the need for a connection to the mobile data network, coleros, hoarders, resellers and illicit commercialization that may be carried out”, explains Professor Pina Amargós.

Based on the products that a person has bought, based on his purchase history, the queue organizer can reject this customer, informing him of his situation. In this way, it allows access to other people who until now had not been able to acquire them.

Likewise, Cola.CU allows realistic queue management as the organizer can mark those who buy, abandon, rejoin, go through a certain priority, or are rejected for having registered or bought in other recent queues. “This enables real-time operational work,” I added.

Also, the software guarantees the registration of all people because the primary key is the number of any of the existing identity documents: Identity card, military card or passport. “The identity is verified by means of the date of birth and the control digit, providing greater reliability of the identities.”

Optionally, the municipality of residence of each client can be added to be able to carry out a demographic analysis of mobility, says the professor.

Among the main functionalities is that of exporting, importing and adding data from other queues, including the possibility of integrating data from nearby queues to achieve better control on the same day.

In addition, taking into account the rules established by the Municipal Defense Council, the apk allows the entry of the same person to be limited to a set of stores during the time that is set. Control of the movement of people and the demand for products is also achieved, allowing CDMs to make decisions about distribution adjustments.

In Cola.CU there is a scanner system created, but it is not yet deployed in all stores (only half are reported).

According to Fermín Rivas Sotomayor, one of the developers, there are interesting data but they are not yet used by the authorities to direct the distribution, take measures with the hoarders that are detected and unite with the data of the oficodas.

Among the plans of the application development group is the deployment of a dashboard on the web that includes the main reports and helps managers in decision making. Also, develop a version of the application for iOS devices.

Main figures of Cola.CU

More than 2 years of exploitation in all the municipalities of Havana,

+540 thousand people benefited from the detection of others who have made recent purchases,
700 stores,
+130 thousand queues,
+20 million records,
+1.5 million different people

(By: Thalia Fuentes Puebla/ cU)

The group waiting included university students; teachers; farmers; health workers, service workers… and also self-employed, with representation not only of young people from the capital, but from all of Cuba.

This is how they were introduced by the first secretary of the National Committee of the Young Communist League, Aylín Álvarez García, beginning of the meeting, when she expressed her certainty that “we are who must contribute, transform, support, participate…”

The meeting provided an encouraging display of sincerity and commitment, as the President of the Republic conversed for almost four hours with those present, taking notes on the comments and proposals made by a variety of participants.

Concluding the dialogue, the President commented, “For me it is clear that there are a number of challenges in society, in life today, challenges to what we want to do… Those who have the strength, the energy and the capacity (to overcome the challenges) are young people – without denying anyone’s contribution, because here everyone must participate and we must give all generations their space – but the future lies in our youth.

“I am convinced of this… I believe in our youth,” and there is always a task for the young, there is a task calling them, engaging them, because we know that if it is in your hands, it will be stronger, it will be more developed and it also engages you and provides you a space to participate, he said.

(Taken from Granma)

On his Twitter account, the president congratulated teachers, workers and students of this education and recalled the years when he worked in that body.

That period of work there brought me closer to universities, the Head of State wrote on the social network, adding that this stage allowed him to reaffirm the conviction that the country’s future also lies in them.

According to the Minister of Higher Education, José Ramón Saborido, the Caribbean nation has a powerful educational system created by the Revolution, which is steered towards the development of the country.

The island has a network of universities and science and technological innovation entities committed to the Cuban social project, within which 50 higher education centers with 113 specialties.

Most institutions of this level in Cuba were created after 1959, and since then they have undergone various transformations seeking greater quality and efficiency in the training of new professionals.

MES was founded on July 19, 1976, due to the growth and strategic importance of university development.

Currently its work is focused on finding solutions to the main problems of the country, students and professors are in the front line of work in tasks of social impact, such as fighting Covid-19-

(Taken from Prensa Latina)

Establishing a more coherent relationship between supply and demand of qualified workers, promoting professional development and updating of knowledge, as well as improving the innovation system and income distribution, are strategic guidelines intended to address employment problems in the country.

Toward this end, a total of 57 measures to be implemented immediately, in the short and medium term, proposed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and the University of Havana’s Economics Department were recently evaluated by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, during a review of employment programs.

According to the Presidency’s official website, during the meeting, Díaz-Canel stressed the need to consider offsite work, with adequate supervision and contracts adhering to the Labor Code. He called for studies to determine in which sectors of the economy this modality would be feasible.

Revolutionizing our thinking about employment issues and applying research findings were emphasized by the President.

Programs addressing the country’s demographics were also discussed, including efforts to provide medical support to infertile couples who would like to have children.

Marino Murillo Jorge, head of the Policy Implementation and Development Commission, reported that there are 113,148 such couples identified within the Public Health system, who are of childbearing age, have stable sexual relations, and have tried to have a child for more than a year without success. Of that number, some 102,900 have been assisted, with 7,080 pregnancies achieved.Also discussed was progress on approved government measures to provide financing to mothers with three or more children under 12 years of age, for the rehabilitation, maintenance, and construction of their homes, in 32 municipalities where the population is not growing. Some 50 million pesos were allocated, but implementation of the plan has been slow.

IN CONTEXT

With 20.4% of Cuba’s population 60 years of age or older, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics and Information (ONEI), the country is experiencing accelerated aging.Between 2011 and 2025, the population is projected to decrease in absolute numbers; and almost 26% of the population will be 60 years of age or older, with a absolute growth of those aged 80 years or more. By 2030, the population will include 3.3 million older adults, directly impacting families and the workforce.SOURCE: Ministry of Labor and Social Security, Granma.

(Granma)

In addition to the official opening of the Congress at Havana’s Convention Center, the structure of the National Council and the candidacy for the national secretariat of FEU will be presented and approved today.

Later, the delegates will work in five commissions: Organic functioning, Political-ideological work, Teaching and research, University extension and Communications.

The congress will conclude on Sunday with the presentation of the elected national secretariat, a tribute to the historic leaders of the FEU and the Cuban Revolution, and the final declaration of the event.

University students participated yesterday in pre-congress meetings with representatives of several government institutions.

A student march to the University of Havana was also held on Friday night, to pay tribute to the FEU’s martyrs.

The delegates ratified their support for the Revolution and its historic leader, Fidel Castro, and the organization’s commitment to the ideals of independence.

(Prensa Latina)

We don’t live in a perfect society, it would be absurd to think so, but based on our reality, we have built a system superior to that which outside forces have hoped to impose on us, ever since the revolutionary triumph of January 1, 1959, stated Yusuam Palacios Ortega, president of the Martí Youth Movement.

This was the focus of debates during the “Governability, democracy, and social conquests” panel, one of the three held during the Forum, and in which the essence of the Cuban socialist system, built and defended by the people, was highlighted.

“This is our strength, the morality with which Cubans can stand on any platform in the world to defend their political system, to talk about democracy and human rights,” Lil Peichs, a member of the Martí Youth Movement, told Granma International.

Thus, the representatives of Cuban civil society who will travel to Peru next month “can do so with dignity,” the young woman stressed.

For historian Dr. Elier Ramírez, Cuban civil society differs from that established in other countries. “Ours is diverse, active, broad… Not like the dirty “civil society” that calls itself Cuban and is promoted by the Organization of American States, composed of mercenaries.”

The development of Cuban science would not have been possible without the active participation of young people. Photo: Ariel Cecilio Lemus
Our people learned a long time ago that within the logic of capitalism, it is impossible to eliminate corruption, because the capitalist system naturalizes it. That is why we have decided to defend what is ours, not to return to those years, before 1959, when young people who fought for freedom were murdered on the streets of any city on the island, the historian explained.

“We are open to debate, but we will never permit an imposition, a single vision of democratic governability,” Ramírez stressed.

Meanwhile, Rubiel García, president of the Hermano Saíz Association, noted that he has no problem with stating that as a representative of civil society, he also has a representative in the Cuban parliament, emphasizing, “How many in the world can say that?”

Cuban poet Cintio Vitier once said, “We have had to build a parliament in a trench.” Therefore, “Cuba will continue to respond to provocations and injustices as did the Cuban Ambassador to Peru, Juan Antonio Fernández. The youth will not allow anyone to mess with Cuba,” he added.

REALITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CAPITALIST WORLD

Many of the unemployed in the capitalist world are young people, noted Dr. Faustino Covarrubias, head of the Economics Department at the Center for Global Economic Research, in the panel discussion “Participation of young people in economic development.”

The reality for young people in the capitalist world is much more critical and complex than portrayed by the global mass media, as they are the population segment most exposed to unemployment, even in developed countries.

Statistics confirm that unemployment rates for young people aged between 18 and 35 are sometimes triple that of rest of the adult population. Not to mention the number of “demotivated” youth, who don’t even attempt to enter the labor market for fear of not finding options open to them, Dr. Faustino explained.

On the other hand, he highlighted that imperialism is currently cornered, in a moment of hegemonic decline, threatened by other powers such as China and Russia. “Capitalism today is digging its own grave,” he concluded.

GROWING YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN CUBAN SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT

The development of Cuban science was one of the great challenges faced following the triumph of the Revolution, and these efforts would not have been possible without the active participation of young people, experts speaking during the Forum agreed.

Under the leadership of the young Fidel Castro Ruz, the triumphant Revolution devoted significant energies to the development of this sector, which have continued despite the economic conditions in Cuba, exacerbated by the tightening of the United States economic blockade, imposed for more than half a century, emphasized M.Sc. María Luisa Zamora Rodríguez, expert of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (Citma).

Speaking during the panel “The role of young people in the development of the country’s science and technology,” she explained that “The Literacy Campaign of 1961 was the first step – more than a million Cubans were illiterate at that time.”

Later, she added, the country “began to create various research centers, such as the Cuban Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Geography, and Citma, which showed the political interest in promotion of this sector, and the recognition of the role of science as a necessity to achieve sustainable development.”

Currently, according to Ricmar Rodríguez, national president of the Youth Technical Brigades and moderator of the panel, more than 86,000 Cubans are employed in the scientific sphere, and more than 600 million pesos have been allocated for the development of the sector, representing 0.91% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

“This demonstrates the interest of our state in continuing to increase the development of this area every year,” he said.

Among the main activities promoted by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment, are Cuba’s adaptation to climate change; the sustainable use of natural resources, with priority given to water; medical-pharmaceutical production; and research in nanotechnology, among others, Zamora added.

However, the experts and young people gathered agreed that there remains much to be done.

During the current year and those to come, the science, technology, and innovation sector “needs to strengthen its impact on the development of the country’s economy, preserve and develop our human potential, and work within institutions to safeguard our professionals,” the Citma expert noted.

In this regard, Evelixe Linares Rodríguez, a researcher at the Cuban Academy of Sciences, explained that the institution “also promotes and disseminates activities, such as festivals, conferences, workshops… in order to attract more young people to the sector, and ensure their motivation and permanence. We currently have 63 young people working with us, and of them, more than half are women.”

Meanwhile, Liset Martín, a researcher at the Center for Molecular Immunology, told those gathered that “Young people in the science sector in Cuba are very motivated in our work, because of the contribution we make every day to our country.”

Even so, she added, “It is a priority to eliminate, once and for all, the unjust economic blockade that prevents not only the technological development of the island, but also our professional development, by limiting our access to the scientific knowledge that is already available globally, and to which we Cubans have no right.”

Nonetheless, Evelixe Linares concluded: “Nothing stops the incorporation of young people to the study and practice of science in Cuba. It grows every day, and will continue to do so.”

(Granma)

Those armed actions were carried out by a group of youth from the Revolutionary Directorate, armed wing of the University Students Federation.

The aim of the attackers was to disconcert the regime with the execution dictator Fulgencio Batista while Fidel Castro was leading the liberation guerrilla war in eastern Cuba.

Then, the weapons of the Palace garrison would be delivered to the people, who would be summoned by the national radio station ‘Radio Reloj’ and thus, attack other sites of the city such as the main police barrack to occupy its arsenal.

According to historical notes, part of the mission was to attack other police stations and barracks to dominate the capital.

The Revolutionary Directorate set out to carry out an action that beheaded Batista’s tyranny, which had launched a very unpopular bloody campaign of repression.

The president of that organization, Jose Antonio Echeverria, prepared the action, following the strategy of hitting the top.

After taking over ‘Radio Reloj’ and reading the message, José Antonio Echeverria went to the University of Havana.

The car he was traveling was intercepted by a police vehicle near the university campus and the student leader was gunned down when he was only 24 years old.

Fidel Castro described the attack on the Presidential Palace as ‘a well-organized operation, an act of extraordinary boldness and courage, in which there were also some imponderable failures.’

Despite the objective was not achieved, the March 13, 1957 students action has a great historical importance, because it shocked the popular conscience and increased the repudiation to Batista’s tyrannical regime.

(Prensa Latina)

Providing a space to share knowledge and exchange between different higher education institutions from around the world, the slogan for this year’s Congress is “The University and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” This is one of the main regional events in the field, according to Cuban Minister of Higher Education José Ramón Saborido Loidi, not only because of the high number of participants and the quality of the works presented, but because of the novel themes that are discussed.

More than 2,000 international participants from 60 countries, and more than 500 Cuban researchers, are set to attend Universidad 2018. The event will also see the attendance of Education ministers and deputy ministers, public policy secretaries, more than 300 rectors of some of the leading universities in the world, directors of international organizations and academic networks, and more than 100 speakers, according to María Victoria Villavicencio Plasencia, director of International Relations of the Ministry of Higher Education.

Speaking during a press conference this Monday, February 5, she noted that among the main personalities to participate are the Argentine political scientist Atilio Borón; Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet; General ecretary of the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture, Paulo Speller; and David Atchoarena, director of the Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems at UNESCO, among others.

An extensive program published on the event’s website (www.congresouniversidad.cu) includes the holding of keynotes lectures, round tables, panels, workshops, courses, visits and an associated exhibition, which reveals the work of international organizations and Cuban and foreign universities, as revealed by the Organizing Committee.

In addition to the broad scientific exchange, Villavicencio said the event is a space to sign agreements, identify opportunities for cooperation, and establish alliances between different Higher Education institutions.

It was also reported that the selection process of papers by Cuban researchers was conducted across the universities and provincial workshops of the entire country; while the nations with the largest participation are Nicaragua, Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, Panama, Peru, Venezuela, Germany, Spain, France, Angola and Mozambique, while more than 70 delegates from the United States will attend.

Marta del Carmen Mesa, deputy minister of Higher Education, commented on the relationship between the themes of Universidad 2018 and the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, which demonstrates Cuba’s will to ensure the sustainable development goals are met, as “one of the few countries that came close to meeting all the Millennium Development Goals.”

On the centennial of the Argentine university reform of 1918, Saborido added that Cuba is preparing its framework of action to present to the Regional Conference on Higher Education, to be held in Argentina in June, and for which this event will undoubtedly be a fundamental step.

(Granma)

At end of 2016, graduates from Venezuela, Mexico, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic represented the largest number of international Masters and PhD students at the university, followed by those from Angola, Djibouti, Burkina Faso, and Vietnam, according to a data report from the UC’s Management Department.

Among its postgraduate courses the institution offers degrees in Educational Sciences, Architecture, Business Administration, and Mathematics Instruction.

Speaking to ACN, Elio Pérez Ramírez, UC director of postgraduate studies, explained that Masters Degree programs are curriculum based, with students required to take certain compulsory modules related to their specialty, and write a final thesis.

PhD degree courses include a tutorial provision, in which researchers conduct research into a specific issue related to their specialty, he added.

The UC’s international collaboration program is also benefiting 91 students from Africa and Asia, on scholarships studying subjects such as Civil Engineering, Veterinary Medicine, and English Language.

Iliana Delgado Crespo, the university’s international academic relations specialist, told ACN that the institution has been receiving foreign students since 1970, when its international cooperation program was first launched.
The presence of students from other nations in Cuban universities allows for academic and professional exchanges, and the continual modernization of institutions.

(ACN)

“I will be returning to my city of Las Tunas in a few months as a civil engineering graduate and in these five years our Revolution has guaranteed all my studies, free of charge, which is why we don’t need any scholarships from the U.S.,” stated Orestes Martínez Guerra, speaking to Granma at the demonstration.

In addition to Martínez Guerra, the over 14,000 students enrolled in the 55 degree courses offered by the University across its 13 faculties, outlined the true intentions of the supposed scholarship programs launched by the “non-governmental” organization World Learning, at a country with one of the best education systems on the planet.

Young people from various educational institutions in Ciego de Ávila joined in protests against new schemes by the U.S. government. Students from the José Assef Yara Faculty of Medical Sciences gathered in the university’s Ernesto Che Guevara Park to denounce the project.

Second year Dentistry student and a member of the faculty’s Federation of University Students (FEU) secretariat, Pedro Miranda Hernández condemned the subversive and manipulative nature of U.S. scholarship programs aimed at creating supposed opinion leaders and agents of change which have nothing in common with the Cuban Revolution’s social project.

Meanwhile, FEU President Abel Mayea categorically stated: “There are no ulterior motives in the scholarships awarded. It’s clear that they want to subdue us.

“Cuba is not opposed to exchanges, but these must be undertaken with respect and with complete adherence to institutionality. They won’t be able to offer us more than what the Revolution has given us in 58 years,” he stated.

(Granma)