Cuba visit and upcoming welfare conference

In April 2023, three representatives from UiS visited Cuba. Heidi Lie Eriksen, associate professor in qualification, reflects on the visit and the upcoming welfare conference.

Publisert Sist oppdatert

Ni mennesker i sommerklær står utenfor en bygning ved sjøen og med en pir og et fyrtårn i bakgrunnen.
In the back from the right: Heidi Lie Eriksen, Siv Oltedal and Ayan Handulle with the Cuban project group during their visit to Cuba.

Heidi Lie Eriksen, project leader of the welfare conference, along with Ayan Handulle and Siv Oltedal, all from the Department of Social Studies at University of Stavanger, had a ten days-stay in Havana in the beginning of April 2023. In an open meeting, the social welfare work in Norway and Cuba was presented. In addition, five internship students from the social work study programs at UiS met UNICEF at The Norwegian embassy. Several meetings were held on student exchange and research.

Further on, researchers from University of Stavanger and University of Havana will collaborate on development and research projects within “Youth and work” and “Transnational families”. The Norwegian School of Hotel Management at University of Stavanger has also established a cooperation with University of Havana to do research on “Fair work” and “Sustainable tourism”.

Cuba is currently facing difficulties. There is a lack of food and goods. Many have lost their hope of a better future. Especially youths are leaving the country, and many of them go to the US. University collaborations, like the Norpart project, can make a difference. Norway and Cuba have collaborated for 20 years with social work at a university level.

It is time to further invest in social work in Cuba. Master and PhD exchange students who come from Havana to Stavanger, gain knowledge which can contribute to the further development of social work in their home country. In 2022, 11 Cuban students came to UiS. In 2023 and 2024, eight students will come to UiS, four each year.

Welfare conference

The University of Stavanger and The University of Havana are co-arranging the conference Comparative Welfare – People’s experience of the welfare system 27th November-1st December 2023. The conference is a part of the Nortpart project «Cuban and Nordic Welfare» (2019-2024).

The deadline to submit an abstract is 18th April. Please send your abstract to professor Siv Oltedal.

The deadline to register for the conference is 26th May 2023.