Presentation by Prof Martinez at the Computer Society of Zimbabe-Software Development Community June 2016 function

2. PROFESSOR E. Y. V. MARTINEZ (edistioyoel@gmail.com)
Computer Science Department / Faculty of Science
Bindura University of Science Education

3. Roadmap
• Cuba, Information technology and blockade.
• Education and public policies.
• The First step and take off.
• Some reflexions.

4. Cuba
Health Services
Sports
Education
Habanos
Havana Club
Tourism
hospitality solidarity

5. One doesn’t usually associate Cuba with Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) start-ups. Cigars, classic
cars, salsa, yes, but a nascent technology center? The
answer is a resounding si! Cuba has embarked on
ICT revolution with the goal of becoming the Caribbean’s
digital hub.
http://hir.harvard.edu/silicon-island-rebooted-cubas-information-communications-technology-revolution/

6. Cuba, ICT and embargo

8. Education and public policies
•Education is free.
•Free Internet access from schools, research
centres, public health institutions and others
government organization.
•The use of ICT has as a goal “to computerize
the country”, this include education, health
and other processes.

9. ICT Education in Cuba
University
ICT technician
Youth Club of Computing
and Electronics

10. The Cuban Computer and Electronic Youth Clubs were created
by President Fidel Castro almost 30 years ago. There are about
600 such clubs in urban and rural Cuba, which aim to train the
Cuban people in the use of up-to-date technologies. Members
of the clubs have created new web resources including a Cuban
version of Facebook, "The Clothesline".
Youth Club of Computing and Electronics

11. Degrees
Engineering in
Telecommunications
and Electronics
(CUJAE, UCLV, UO)
Automatic
Engineering
(CUJAE, UCLV,
UO)
Biomedical
Engineering
(CUJAE)
Informatics
Engineering
(CUJAE, UPR,
UMCC, UC, ...)
Engineering in
Informatics
Science (UCI)
Bachelor in
Computer Science
(UH, UCLV, UO)
ICT Education in Cuba
Characteristics:
• Defined by a national committee headed by one university and members of the rest.
• 5 years (10 semesters full time) or 6 years (12 semester part time)
• Free of charge, all the educational system in Cuba is free, from kindergarden to PhD.

12. The first BIG STEP, ICT Revolution in Cuba
2002
Creation of the University of Informatics Sciences
University +
SW Production Centre
Russia military base
Cold war / USSR
A military centre transformed in a XXI century university

13. University of Informatics Sciences
Born as a project of the Cuban Revolution
called the "Future Project" which has
two objectives: to computerize the
country, develop the software industry
and to contribute to economic
development.

14. Professional's training model
Development
Training Research
This university should be
characterized by the different
ways of teaching and preparing
professionals. You must have a
high level of flexibility, must be
an experimental teaching
center, an educational center
and a producer center.
Fidel Castro Ruz

15. Some results
The Cuban state-sponsored Linux
distribution launched in February 2009.
Currently in its version 5.0.
GOAL
break the technological
dependence from private
technologies

16. UCI graduates
Conventional 13,481
Part time 91
TOTAL 13,572
Engineering in Informatics Science
Masters programs
Applied Computer
Science
161
Software Project
Management
115
Software Quality 24

17. International results
• Venezuela
• Mexico
• Panama
• Uruguay
• Angola
http://www.uci.cu/?q=entorno-productivo

18. ICTs marketing revenues
(public sector)
•2009
• Software - 1,376.40 thousands of pesos
•2010
• Software - 2,935.70 thousands of pesos
According to published data by the NSO.

19. Software made in Cuba
Freelance behind the facade
• The opening of self-employment had Cuban start hinking on how to create jobs that
wouldn’t focus only on bars and cafes.
• Among them is software development, an activity that appeals to more than one
computer professional looking for options that will provide them with some income.
• Anyone with a degree in IT where they have learned some programming language,
knows he has in his possession the ease of exercising a very popular activity in the
world today.
• Groups, in most cases, are formed between friends or acquaintances.
• sites like www.jobs.com , www.freelance.com and Revolico are used to conctact
customers.
http://oncubamagazine.com/economy-business/software-made-in-cuba-2/

20. Software made in Cuba
Freelance behind the facade
• Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro on December 17 made an historic
announcement that the adversaries, separated only by 90 miles, would work to reopen
diplomatic channels.
• “You have a highly educated workforce, excellent programming talent and a huge
amount of opportunity for companies that want to invest in the knowledge economy,”
• Faquiry Diaz Cala,Tres Mares GroupCEO
http://oncubamagazine.com/economy-business/cubas-tech-start-up-sector-people-are-hungry-to-work/

21. Some very personal reflexions
•For society
• Education is one the keys.
• Technological independence is the other key.
• Nothing is for free.

22. Some very personal reflexions
• For individuals
• Education is the key but not only the “university education” ICT industry
recognise first the skills and then the degrees, especially Certification
associated to the big names on industry.
• Promote yourself with a portfolio of products and services.
• Get some friend, make a team and start to work right now, the industry
have place for all.
• Learn to walk before running.

23. Some very personal reflexions
We need to be seen
The path is not easy but rewards are for hard working people
It is a knowledge industry,
it is all about the “knowledge”.

24. Sources
• http://reports.weforum.org/global-information-technology-report-
2015/
• http://www.mincom.gob.cu/?q=node/321
• http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/statistics/Pages/default.aspx

25. PROFESSOR E. Y. V. MARTINEZ (edistioyoel@gmail.com)
Computer Science Department / Faculty of Science
Bindura University of Science Education