It's Different: A Case Study of Objectives in Career Development in Cuba and the US

• In Event: Academic Exchanges: Their Role in Promoting International Understanding and Inclusion

Abstract

In spite of the fact that the Cuban and American university education systems are conceptually different, considering the political configuration prevailing in both nations, they share one same purpose: to provide highly qualified individuals to significantly different labor markets. Simply put, Cuban and US undergraduate and graduate schools are not only responsible for educating their students, but helping them to obtain satisfactory employment at the end of their study programs. Careers Services departments in both countries are often in charge of this mission by bringing high-tech career resources. As part of their main responsibilities, they work with students to identify satisfying career options, build professional networks and develop hard skills through workshops, panels and career talks. This document focuses on the peculiarities of the work of the Careers Services teams in the Cuban and US university education systems. In addition and considering the educational background of the author of this paper, this document takes the University of California San Diego and the Higher Institute of Foreign Relations as a case study.

Author

• Jesus Noel Boucourt Vega, UCSD's School of Global Policy and Strategy