The Ministry of Higher Education (MES) has introduced Resolution 56/2026 this Friday, establishing a revamped procedure for assessing the performance of university professors in Cuba. This new regulation replaces the previous guidelines that had been in effect for over a decade.
Featured in the Official Gazette No. 78, Ordinary Edition of 2026, on pages 188 to 193, the resolution responds to a direct order from the recently enacted Labor Code—Law 189/2026, approved on July 30, 2026. The Labor Code's Second Final Provision tasked the MES with updating its regulations on teaching evaluations within a 45-day timeframe.
The new resolution supersedes Resolution 66/2014, which had governed university professor evaluations since June 2014.
According to the resolution, the primary responsibility for carrying out the evaluation process falls to the head of the teaching department or faculty, as well as directors of Study Centers, Municipal University Centers, and Municipal University Branches, as applicable.
Each calendar year, this responsible party must draft a results plan in collaboration with the faculty members. This plan should consider the general and specific duties of the teaching category, the institution's strategic objectives, and the various institutional processes.
The evaluation encompasses areas such as undergraduate and postgraduate education, science, technology and innovation, university extension, internationalization, and material and financial support, among others.
The plan must outline indicators with quantitative goals, tasks with designated leaders, participants, and start and end dates.
The resolution specifies that the document should be created in a spirit of mutual respect and cordiality, with active participation from the professors. It must be signed by both the evaluator and the professor and filed in the department or faculty, with a copy provided to the educator.
The evaluation process is structured around three key components: self-assessment by the professor, systematic oversight by the department head, and feedback from colleagues and students.
Final results are graded on a four-tier scale: excellent, good, fair, or poor.
The annual evaluation process is scheduled to occur between December and January of each academic year.
In the same issue of Gazette No. 78, the Ministry of Education published Resolution 31/2026, which establishes a similar methodology for evaluating non-university teaching staff, indicating a synchronized and comprehensive update of the entire teaching evaluation system in response to the new Labor Code.
This regulation comes at a time of severe crisis for higher education in Cuba. The 2026-2027 university academic year commenced on September 1 in a blended and distance learning format due to the ongoing energy crisis, and the education system continues to struggle with a significant shortage of teachers across all levels.
Key Aspects of Cuba's New University Professor Evaluation System
What prompted the update of the evaluation regulation for university professors in Cuba?
The update was prompted by a specific mandate from the new Labor Code—Law 189/2026, which required the Ministry of Higher Education to revise its regulations on teaching evaluations within 45 days.
Who is responsible for implementing the evaluation process?
The responsibility lies with the head of the teaching department or faculty, as well as directors of Study Centers, Municipal University Centers, and Municipal University Branches, depending on the context.
How is the evaluation process structured?
The process involves self-assessment by the professor, systematic oversight by the department head, and feedback from both colleagues and students. Evaluations are conducted annually, typically between December and January.