Real name: Reformatory of Torrens known as the room of horror because of the treatment that was given to the children who were in that place
History
With the vision of the future of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, the University of Informatics Sciences (known as UCI) emerges in the year 2002. The remodeling of old buildings in the area where the UCI is currently located and the construction of other buildings for the new student city was made in only 106 days. This allowed the University to open its doors to the first academic year on September 23rd, 2002 with 2,008 students and more than 300 professors from all over the country.
At the same time that the academic and productive activities were developing, the university faced a massive constructive work. The living and working conditions necessary for the development and expansion of their capacities were created.
Fidel, as a foundational strategist, recommended that the university should be conceived as a new type center, with national scope, atypical and with specific tasks in the computerization project of the Cuban society, with emphasis on software production. A center that would train its students from an outstanding political, cultural and sporting activity, objectives that have been fulfilled through the interrelation of training-research-production-university-extension as a unique and coherent system.
In these pages, we offer a trip for these 15 years through six essential points, results of the daily performance of all. We expect you can get even closer to our city.
An idea arises
It represents the time that has passed, how it made up its way from the ideas that defined it as the Future Project and turned it into the University of Informatics Sciences. Its horizon takes us until the visit of the Commander in Chief that historic December 12th when he named us Troop of the Future
1938 - 1959
Child Guidance Center
1964 - 2002
Exploration Center and Radioelectronic Listening " Lourdes Base "
"The Cuban intelligence did not absolutely need to follow the movements of a single US military equipment because it could observe from the space everything that was moving on our planet through the Radioelectronic Exploration Base Lourdes"
(Fidel Castro 1.3.2005)
December 14th 2000
Visit of Fidel and Putin to Lourdes Base
From this visit was born Fidel's initiative AMISTAD, seeing the poor conditions in which the Russian officers lived, their wives and children.
Octuber 2001
The President of Russia announced the closure of the Base
Octuber 17th 2001
Cuba responded with an official statement
Before March 2002 most of the Russian specialists left the Base, leaving a small group for different areas and services. The last contingent left the country on August 31st
March 23rd 2002
Fidel indicates the creation of a center of excellence
The new center would serve for the massive training of human resources in the branch of Informatics. Future Project started.
April 2002
The first two leaders in charge are designated to start
May 30th 2002
First coordination meeting
The meeting is attended by MINFAR, MICONS, MIC, MES and the National UJC organization.
June 2002
Remodeling begins
The works are in charge of the ECOI contingent of Pinar del Río.
Future Project was the first name with which the University was called before its opening
Contingents that built the University of Informatics Sciences
Blas Roca Calderío, Raúl Roa García, Antonio "Ñico" López, Julio Antonio Mella, Lázaro Peña, Leoncio Vidal, Antonio Maceo, Frank País García and José Mercerón.
Junio - Julio 2002
Training and Selection of professors and students
July 15th, 2002
Designations:
Rector: Melchor Gill Morel; Teaching: Alina Ruiz Jhones; Service Group: Technology, Security and Protection.
August 4th, 2002
Creation of 22 working groups with representatives from the Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Communications
August 7th, 2002
Fidel visited the place
He met with a group of colleagues and talked with the construction workers.
August 17th, 2002
Fidel approves the official name of the Future Project: University of Informatics Sciences (known as UCI).
August 19th, 2002
Fidel meets with the designated leaders to make and to put to work the University
September 23rd, 2002
The first course of the University starts
December 12th, 2002
Visit of Fidel
In the search of a dream
It draws the different university processes that allow a training model in accordance with Cuban pedagogical principles. Teaching, research, production and university extension unveil a canvas that continues to outline its lines
Training
“This university must be characterized by the great variety of different ways of teaching, of preparing. Must have a high level of flexibility. An experimental educational institution, a production and learning center,”
Fidel Castro Ruz
Acts of the beginning of the school year in the Regional Faculties of the University of Informatics Sciences
“From CUJAE institution came the professors who helped to organize this university.”
(Fidel Castro 23.7.2005)
Professors distinguished with Special Teaching Category of Professor of Merit of the University of Informatics Sciences.
Production
"The fundamental idea is that it becomes the most productive branch of resources for the nation"
(Fidel Castro 17.1.2003)
Research
“It is necessary to train students possessing a number of values that can be taught, they must be made aware that they belong to a committed scientific community"
(Fidel Castro 7.8.2002)
Research in the University enhances results in software production and training, with the decisive participation of students
University Extension
“They should be champions of integral culture, have a broad culture.”
(Fidel Castro 17.2.2003)
Arts
Festivals of Amateurs Artists to Art and Literature of the University Student Federation and University galas
Mella University Sports Games
Connected to the Revolution
Connected to the future is a collection of images that, from the enhancement of patriotic values, articulate the University with the main arteries of Cuba's future: The economic, educational and cultural development.
Commitment
“It is key element to working with students, to form a different person and not alienated”
(Fidel Castro 12.12.2002)
Unity
“The main challenge is to form more fully educated and more revolutionary young people capable of preserving and advancing the Revolution in the face of the most difficult adversities and the most powerful enemies, aware of the immense value of the ideas we defend and of the rich flow of the glorious history that accompanies us.”
(Fidel Castro 6.12.2005)
Unconditionality
It is that, when men carry the same ideal in their minds, nothing can stop them, not the walls of a prison, nor the land of cemeteries, because the same memory, the same soul, the same idea, the same conscience, and dignity encourages all.
Fidel Castro Ruz, Self-defense in the trial for the Moncada Barracks Assault, 1953
Connected to the future
It is a collection of images that, from the enhancement of patriotic values, articulate the University with the main arteries of Cuba's future: The economic, educational and cultural development
I asked the newly graduated sixth graders what they were going to study and many of them told me: "I'm going there for the UCI" (University of Informatics Sciences). What a tremendous institution that does not stop to progress!
(Fidel Castro 21.7.2005)
“This is a strategic university for the life and economy of the country.”
"...To be an educator of others it is necessary to know how to serve"
José Martí
Fertile land
It outlines the nutrients that shaped the cultural heritage we now possess. Sketches, irons, canvases and paintings merged into a universe that propitiated a collection of works essential in contemporary Cuban art. Its continuity is shown in the Artistic Heritage sketch of the Gallery in which the University became. City honored by Cuban and international art.
The University is a fresh gallery that treasures original works of a wide variety of genres of the visual arts. Wall paintings, ceramic murals, sculptures, squares and drawings of national and foreign outstanding artists allow a cultural environment that reveals the human essence of its inhabitants.
And everything, like the diamond,
Before light is coal.
José Martí, Simple verses 1891.
"los hierros se fundieron ya...; lo que queda –y queda más–, va por nosotros."
Silvio Rodríguez
Personalities
It gives a special space to outstanding figures of the contemporary history of Cuba and the world that have visited the university. They emphasize moments of Fidel and Raúl that show images worthy of remembering. In turn conform this section, figures of academic, scientific, political, sports, cultural figures.
