The José Antonio Echeverría Technological University of Havana (CUJAE) held its graduation ceremony for the 2025-2026 academic year this Thursday, awarding degrees to more than 300 engineers and 33 advanced technicians in a ceremony steeped in official symbolism yet overshadowed by the harsh realities of a nation in turmoil.
Presiding over the event were Walter Baluja García, the Minister of Higher Education, and Martha Dunia Delgado Dapena, the university's rector. They were joined by representatives from the Communist Party, the Havana government, the National Assembly of People's Power, the provincial Union of Young Communists, and the national University Student Federation.
The graduation was dedicated to significant anniversaries: the 100th anniversary of Fidel Castro's birth, the 50th anniversary of the Ministry of Higher Education, and the 94th birthday of José Antonio Echeverría Bianchi, after whom the university is named and whose birthday coincided with the event.
Award presentations during the ceremony included honors for scientific merit, gold diplomas, and recognition of the most well-rounded graduates, alongside the FEU CUJAE Distinction, the highest honor awarded by the University's Student Federation.
The Breadth of Engineering Disciplines
The engineering degrees spanned various fields including industrial, chemical, computer, electrical, biomedical, automation, civil, hydraulic, geophysical, mechanical, metallurgical, and telecommunications. Advanced technicians were trained in specialties such as Logistics, Water and Sanitation, Metrology, and Maintenance, according to Radio Reloj.
CUJAE's official social media post captured the essence of the event: "To each graduate: thank you for pouring your heart into every practice, every exam, and every late-night study session. Today, Cuba wins with what you have built here. The CUJAE spirit will accompany you wherever you go."
The Harsh Reality of Cuban Migration
However, the phrase "wherever you go" holds unintended weight in today's context. Cuba is experiencing the largest migration wave in recent memory, with over a million people leaving the island since 2021. The population has dwindled from 11.3 million to between 8.6 and 8.8 million by 2025, according to independent estimates. Most of the emigrants are between 20 and 40 years old.
Newly minted engineers face monthly salaries unlikely to exceed 7,000 Cuban pesos, less than $15, while living expenses surpass 90,000 pesos, according to unofficial economic estimates. This economic gap turns a university degree into a ticket for emigration rather than a tool for national development. Indeed, more than 90% of young people remaining on the island express a desire to leave if given the chance, based on 2026 data.
Education in Crisis
The Cuban university system faces a severe energy crisis as well. Power outages lasting up to 50 hours forced the regime to cancel entrance exams for the 2026-2027 academic year, replacing them with accumulated high school grades, and to end the school year early.
Faced with inadequate conditions for in-person education, universities like the University of Oriente implemented hybrid learning modes from February 2026. In March, University of Havana students staged a sit-in on the steps to protest blackouts, lack of connectivity, and the impact of the crisis on their education.
Cuba also grapples with a shortage of over 20,000 teachers, and those who remain earn wages insufficient for a dignified life. Additionally, more than 30,000 doctors have emigrated between 2021 and 2024. In the first half of 2025, over 5,500 Cubans, including engineers, doctors, and nurses, had their degrees recognized in Spain, surpassing the total for all of 2024.
In July 2025, CUJAE graduated 697 professionals, marking its largest recent graduation. Although this year's figure is lower, it comes amid tougher material and social conditions, prompting many to question how many of these new engineers will remain in Cuba to practice their profession.
Challenges Facing Cuban Graduates
What fields have CUJAE engineering graduates specialized in?
CUJAE engineering graduates have specialized in areas including industrial, chemical, computer, electrical, biomedical, automation, civil, hydraulic, geophysical, mechanical, metallurgical, and telecommunications.
Why is emigration a significant issue for recent graduates in Cuba?
Emigration is a major issue due to low wages and high living costs in Cuba, making a university degree more of a path to leave the country rather than a tool for local development.
How has the energy crisis affected the Cuban education system?
The energy crisis has led to prolonged blackouts, forcing the cancellation of entrance exams and the adoption of hybrid learning modes, significantly disrupting the education system.