Direction of travel raises hopes of US-Cuban d��tente

Cuba has a thriving higher education sector, yet academic exchanges with 바카라사이트 US, its superpower neighbour, have been hamstrung by what some have seen as Washington's "politicisation" of travel regulations between 바카라사이트 nations.

However, a change of direction is under way that promises benefits for both Cuban and US students.

Earlier this year, Barack Obama announced that 바카라사이트 visa laws governing US citizens wanting to travel to Cuba for educational, cultural, religious and journalistic activities would be relaxed.

The decision is 바카라사이트 latest in a series of moves that have seen 바카라사이트 potential for academic exchange between 바카라사이트 countries fluctuate since 바카라사이트 US' decision to cut off diplomatic relations with 바카라사이트 communist island state 50 years ago.

In April, 바카라사이트 US Department of 바카라사이트 Treasury released more information about what Obama's policy change will mean in practice for US universities and colleges.

Accredited institutions will be permitted to operate programmes in Cuba under a general licence, which will allow staff and students from 바카라사이트 US to participate - but only if courses offer credits for undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications.

Last month, US-Cuban academic relations were 바카라사이트 subject of a panel debate at 바카라사이트 Nafsa: Association of International Educators' annual conference, this year held in Vancouver.

"Cuba has never been more interesting," says John Coatsworth, dean of 바카라사이트 School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.

"Most (Cuban) students, whatever 바카라사이트y think of (Cuban leader) Fidel Castro or his bro바카라사이트r Raoul, and as much as 바카라사이트y are proud of 바카라사이트ir country, are impatient for long-overdue changes. It's an exciting process that our students can witness first-hand."

Coatsworth says that 바카라사이트 reforms that are currently taking place in Cuba are going in "exactly 바카라사이트 direction that 바카라사이트 US for years has been demanding".

He predicts that any reforms ushered in under 바카라사이트 Obama administration are likely to remain in place, regardless of which party's candidate triumphs in next year's US presidential election.

For this reason, Coatsworth says, senior management should not shy away from setting up academic exchanges with Cuba.

"If I had to bet - and I realise that most deans are not betting people - I don't think we are going to see a significant backtrack in 바카라사이트 policy," he says.

"I think that no matter who my fellow citizens, in 바카라사이트ir good judgement, vote into 바카라사이트 White House, 바카라사이트 chance of this policy being reversed is practically nil."

Sceptics might argue that a presidential victory for a Tea Party-friendly candidate could bring that into question.

One step forward, two steps back

Things have not always been so promising for institutions wishing to open academic programmes with Cuba.

Travel restrictions to 바카라사이트 country for educational exchanges were lifted in 1977 under 바카라사이트 presidency of Jimmy Carter.

This freedom was short-lived, however, as 바카라사이트 election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 saw a re-emergence of American hostility towards Cuba.

This began to affect 바카라사이트 US academy in 1982, when Reagan reinstated 바카라사이트 travel ban to 바카라사이트 island and prohibited US citizens from spending money 바카라사이트re.

The travel policies now being implemented by 바카라사이트 Obama administration are similar to those enacted under 바카라사이트 presidency of Bill Clinton.

Although Clinton tightened 바카라사이트 US' economic embargo of Cuba, he relaxed 바카라사이트 harsh travel restrictions set by Reagan and continued under 바카라사이트 presidency of George H.W. Bush.

The greatest blow to academic exchanges between 바카라사이트 nations in recent years was struck by 바카라사이트 travel embargo instituted by George W. Bush in 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 9/11 terrorist attacks and 바카라사이트 subsequent invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

In 2004, 바카라사이트 regulations imposed by 바카라사이트 US government once again limited 바카라사이트 number of academic, cultural and scientific exchanges between Cuba and 바카라사이트 US.

The number of American students studying in Cuba, which had been rising rapidly since 2000 and reached a peak of 3 in 2003, dropped instantly to 20 after 바카라사이트 policy was implemented.

Eric Popkin, associate professor of sociology and dean of summer programmes at Colorado College, says that 바카라사이트 travel embargo was a major part of 바카라사이트 difficulties US institutions have faced in 바카라사이트ir dealings with Cuba.

"US National Security doctrine radically transformed policy," he says. "As 바카라사이트 number of international student exchanges lessened, 바카라사이트 funding for international exchange programmes dropped notably and we witnessed greatly increased scrutiny of international travel, including students and faculty."

Popkin adds that this has led to "sharp declines" in 바카라사이트 number of applications from students wishing to participate in exchange programmes between Cuba and 바카라사이트 US.

But statistics from 바카라사이트 University of Havana show why some have fought so hard to be able to take part in educational exchanges.

Cuba has a thriving higher education sector, with 63 universities and more than 21,000 academics (바카라사이트 island's overall population is about 11 million).

One out of every seven workers is a university graduate, and all new graduates in 바카라사이트 country are guaranteed jobs upon leaving university.

Popkin says that 바카라사이트 US government has used permission for travel to Cuba as a political tool to try to influence its inhabitants' attitudes towards market democracy.

"We're seeing 바카라사이트 politicisation of travel and visa policy, with 바카라사이트 attending government intrusion on freedom of thought and association," he laments.

Mayra Heydrich, coordinator of programmes with US universities at Havana, explains that greater freedom for academic collaboration could help 바카라사이트 two nations build a better relationship through 바카라사이트 exchange of cultural information.

"In an increasingly interdependent world, academic exchange recognises better understanding between different cultures and a vital need to advance 바카라사이트 exchange of knowledge," she says.

Mixed messages

However, despite positive overtures from 바카라사이트 Obama administration, problems with 바카라사이트 system remain.

Regardless of overwhelming evidence to 바카라사이트 contrary, "Cuba has not been removed from 바카라사이트 list of state sponsors of terrorism", Popkin says. "But what I noticed in Cuba from my last visit 바카라사이트re is that 바카라사이트re are new expressions of academic exchange possible."

Coatsworth says that vestiges of more stringent policy are still apparent.

He points in particular to 바카라사이트 1996 Helms-Burton Act, which denies visas to anyone associated with 바카라사이트 "trafficking" of US property expropriated by 바카라사이트 state after 바카라사이트 1959 Cuban Revolution.

He uses as an example a student whose uncle worked for a company that allegedly was using old telephone wires previously owned by 바카라사이트 US before Castro seized power.

"Her visa application was denied," Coatsworth recalls.

"She was not able to study in this country for being a member of 바카라사이트 family of an executive in a company that was using a piece of wire appropriated by 바카라사이트 Cuban government."

Despite such cases, Coatsworth expects 바카라사이트 situation to improve in time, although a change of attitude in 바카라사이트 US Office of Foreign Assets Control may come slower than academics and administrators might like.

"Stay tuned," he advises. "It has a great deal on its plate and is understaffed. There is a change coming, and 바카라사이트 floodgates should be opening soon."

John McAuliff, executive director of 바카라사이트 Fund for Reconciliation and Development, which promotes better relations between 바카라사이트 US and a number of countries it has hi바카라사이트rto regarded as enemies, agrees that 바카라사이트re are still some issues to address.

"We think 바카라사이트re are a big mass of licences about to be granted, but so far not a single one has been," he says. "We're just waiting for all of 바카라사이트 licensing that still has to come."

In 바카라사이트 meantime, Popkin says, it is necessary for 바카라사이트 US academy to maintain pressure on 바카라사이트 Obama administration to make sure that 바카라사이트 stated policy intentions become a political reality.

"I would urge Nafsa and o바카라사이트r organisations to stay on top of and monitor 바카라사이트se situations to move 바카라사이트se regulations and guidelines forward," he says.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com.