Guantanamo.- The Vice-Rectorate for University Extension at the University of Guantánamo (UG) has forged a strategic partnership with the Interuniversity Commission for Social Service and Volunteering (CISS) from Mexico, positioning eastern Cuba as a pivotal hub for discussions surrounding the role of university social service in Ibero-America.
This collaboration is set against the backdrop of the inaugural International Scientific Convention UG 2026, which will take place from May 20 to 23. For the first time in Cuba, the event will host the 43rd National and 17th International Congress on University Social Service and Volunteering, themed “We Think to Progress and Act to Transform through Multidisciplinary and Multisectoral Approaches, Managing Alliances for Social Development.”
The hybrid format of the congress will bring together over 40 Mexican universities alongside the Guantánamo institution, all united by a common goal: to reconceptualize social service not merely as a curricular obligation but as a genuine catalyst for transformation within vulnerable communities.
In an interview with Venceremos, CISS President Juan Martínez Martínez emphasized the organization’s commitment to coordinating university social service initiatives that ensure quality processes benefiting both students and the communities they serve.
He underscored the importance of fostering a robust synergy between universities and society, which is essential for promoting social service as both an academic and social practice.
A significant topic of discussion at the congress will be the restoration of in-person engagement following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Martínez highlighted that one of the congress’s primary objectives is to establish guidelines that ensure the quality of social service across affiliated institutions, promote projects tailored to the specific needs of communities, and facilitate the exchange of students and faculty among universities.
The International Scientific Convention UG 2026 not only enriches the educational experience but also deepens the understanding of local realities, ultimately enhancing the impact of social service initiatives.
Source: Venceremos Newspaper
