Study Mission Havana - February 2022 - Eastwest European Institute

Cuba, the largest Caribbean island, gained its independence in 1898, after more than four centuries of Spanish domination. Since 1959, when the revolution lead by Fidel Castro won, Cuba has been a historical and geopolitical reference for socialist countries and, after the end of the Cold War, still holds a strategic role on a regional level and through all of Latin America.

In the mid-nineties, Cuba embarked on a process of renovation of its economic model and opened its doors to international tourism. Presently, Cuba defines itself as a socialist country. Its new president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, promoted a series of economic reforms which, while maintaining the central role of state-owned enterprises, open up to small and medium private enterprises as elements of diversification of the whole system.

Thanks to a solid structure in the fields of public healthcare, education and biotechnology, Cuba was able to confront the COVID pandemic efficiently and developed (only case in all of Latin America) nationally produced vaccines that ensured protection for its whole population. Undoubtedly, the combined effect of the pandemic, the collapse of tourism and the United States embargo – which intensified under the Trump Administration – determined a critical situation from an economic point of view, with consequences that also reached internal politics.

The Study Mission project will increase the student’s knowledge and awareness of the role of Cuba at a regional and global level, also delving into the most sensitive issues, such as poverty, economic problems, the recognition of civil and political liberties.

The stay in Havana will be a unique occasion to meet with senior Cuban officials and representatives of the international community. At the end of the program, the participants will master the knowledge of the Caribbean and Central American dynamics and at the same time they will have a broad vision of the relations between the Country and the two old antagonists of the Cold War, the United States and Russia.

The ambition of the project is to allow participants to broaden their horizons and leave preconceived visions behind. Shedding light on the Cuban experience will be the ideal starting point to fully understand contemporary issues and future prospects from a point of view other than the European one.

Last but not least, the participants will have the opportunity to discover in practical terms what dialogue and cooperation represent for a country like Cuba in relation to the major international actors, including the European Union, and in its bilateral relationship with Italy.

The structure of the Study Mission is divided into three parts:

a webinar course held by experts, organized in 4 lessons with special focus on current issues;
Havana, 6 days of meetings with Institutions, diplomats, managers and opinion makers;
Site-visits to historically important areas of the city, exploring secrets and peculiarities of the local communities, religion and culture.

For more informations, please download the Brochure Study Mission Havana 2022

What is included in the participation fee?

Preparatory course
Hotel stay
Breakfast
All meetings listed in the itinerary
Certification of participation

What is not included in the participation fee?

Round-trip airfare to/from Havana
Cost and Support to obtain Visa
Lunches and dinners
City tours and museum fees
Airport-hotel transfers

The goal of eastwest European Institute is to involve students, selected on merit, providing them with specialized training, finalized to a career in diplomacy, international affairs, advocacy and international business.

EWEI scholarship credits will be awarded on the basis of the following criteria:

Previous participation to an EWEI or Associazione Diplomatici course;
Interview on general knowledge of International relations;
English language at C1 level;

It will not be asked any documents to prove the indicated criteria, but we will count on the responsible statements of the candidates.

The Institute will eventually ask for certificates only randomly.

Within 48 hours from the interview, candidates who pass this phase of the application process will receive:

confirmation of the success of their application
indication of the moneraty value of any scholarship credit awarded
additional instructions to complete the enrollment process.

To participate to the Study Mission, candidates must successfully pass a selection interview. Selection criteria will include the candidate’s motivation to participate in the program, their interest in international relations and a good level of English.

Interview results will be communicated to the applicants within 48 hours.

Candidates who successfully pass the interview will receive the Study Mission Contract via the email address indicated on their application form.

The student undertakes to pay the amount referred to in the contract (net of the scholarship awarded), by paying the above amount to the following bank details within 72 hours of subscription:

Wire transfers should be sent according to the following instructions:

Wires sent to:

UNICREDIT Bank S.p.A. – account number: IBAN IT 23 T 0200 8032 92000104987144

Beneficiary: “European Diplomacy” (the operative company of the EWEI Institute)
Transfer Funds for: “First and Last Name of the participant, Down payment WiP Havana 2022“
Proof of Wire Transfer sent to [email protected]

Any bank charges related to the cost of the transfer are charged to the student.

It is possible (upon request) to pay in installments the cost of participation. The installment payment method for the student will take place only via Wire transfer.

Study Mission Havana – February 2022

Why Havana?

Target

Program

Participation fee

Scholarship Credits

How to Participate

information