SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, Mexico.- The Academic Freedom Observatory (WAVE) denounced the participation of Lis Cuesta Perazawife of ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel, in high-level scientific events and obtaining her doctorate, facts that denote influence peddling and a cult of personality in the Cuban academy.
The wife of the Cuban ruler, recently exhibitor at the I Symposium on Sports, Environment and Society, held from September 18 to 21 in Varadero, grabbed lines in the press official for his participation in an event that sought to promote inclusion in physical activity and sports, as well as human development in a healthy environment.
However, as OLA highlighted, attention fell on Cuesta Peraza’s presentation “Social inclusion, a principle of the export of academic services from Cuba”, praised by the Castro press as a conference that “brought attendees closer to the defense of inclusion in the field of academic services linked to the sports movement.”
Last September, Lis Cuesta Peraza attended the I Symposium on Sports, Environment and Society, sponsored by the @InderCuba.
We open pic.twitter.com/ZXu0vgenjs
— Academic Freedom Observatory (@OLAcademica) October 8, 2024
“With a speech similar to that customary by the Cuban Government, the presentation is nothing more than the adaptation of Cuesta Peraza’s doctoral thesis, in which he discussed academic tourism managed by the Paradiso Cultural Tourism Agency,” the Observatory revealed. of Academic Freedom.
These types of participation benefits and obtaining degrees, to the detriment of the inclusion of academics who do have the knowledge and master the subject to attend events of this nature and receive academic titles, they demonstrate favoritism within the Cuban academy.
The OLA recalled that Lis Cuesta’s doctoral defense “is barely supported” by less than a dozen published articles, mostly co-signed with researchers. There is also no evidence that he masters the English language required to access a doctoral degree from the national academy, in accordance with international standards.
It is also suspicious that “presenting these irregularities, and just a few months after her husband, Cuesta defended her doctoral thesis before the astonished gaze of Cuban academics and professionals.”
In statements to OLA, the academic and journalist José Raúl Gallego said that the granting of the doctorate showed disrespect towards scientific degrees in the country, when figures from the political sphere, without verifiable scientific merits, have received it.
These are, in short, processes of legitimization of “their commanders”, “in the absence of a historical trajectory that supports their inclusion in the circles of power.” In this way, they have moved from one position to another and climbed a hierarchical scale, like Díaz-Canel, who was Minister of Higher Education with no other academic experience than his master’s thesis, “also resulting from a process far removed from transparency rules.” and investigative rigor.”
His wife, while he served in the previous position, arrived at the University of Havana in the 2009-2010 academic year and while he was already ruler, Cuesta obtained his graduate degrees.
Lis Cuesta defended her doctoral thesis in 2022 in which she presented a pedagogical model for the export of academic services in the Paradiso agency, an entity that promotes cultural tourism on the island and there she worked as head of Academic Services.
Cuesta studied at the Institute of Pedagogical Sciences of Holguín, where he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
Before meeting Díaz-Canel, he worked in the communications department of the Provincial Culture Sector, and then went on to direct the Provincial Book and Literature Center.
This year, the already doctor and wife of the Cuban president was awarded the Woman of Science award, during the closing of the third International Congress of Science and Education, held in Havana.
The award was presented by the World Council of University Academics and Researchers. During the ceremony, Lis Cuesta expressed: “there is still a fight to win against machismo, but within the Revolution we denounce it and move forward.”
He added that “many battle fronts are opening, not only in the fight for women, but to eradicate all types of discriminatory manifestations in our society.” His statements come in a context of increasing violence and alarming number of femicides in
Cuba.
