The Luis Urquiza Jorge Pre-University Vocational Institute of Exact Sciences (IPVCE in Spanish) in Las Tunas has once again become a space for encounter and commitment, where former students return to support the preparation of new generations. Amid the temporary closure of universities, young people currently pursuing science-related degrees have voluntarily decided to return to the school that trained them and contribute their knowledge and experience.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- One of them is Paula Milagro Sayas Vega, a Nuclear Physics student at the University of Havana. Paula explains that, due to the current situation, the university indicated that classes would continue remotely and that students should return to their home provinces.

“The guidance we received was to reintegrate ourselves into our IPVCE (Pre-University Vocational Institutes) or the local high schools so we wouldn't lose our connection to our studies. This initiative is called 'Educating with Love' because of its importance; it's a way for me to continue my studies while also doing something productive with the knowledge I'm gaining,” she explains.

Her return to the IPVCE has been a natural fit, since the curriculum for the first two years of her degree coincides with the content covered in the competitions. “We started a week ago, after we returned home,” she says.

For her, being back at the IPVCE means more than just an academic exercise. “It's good to be here because you have a purpose; I like teaching, and I feel good.”

Alongside Paula is Raúl Daniel Téllez Ramírez, a final-year student of Electronic Telecommunications Engineering. He recounts that, like his classmates, he returned to his province due to the university closures.

“I happen to have a work placement in March at ETECSA. But while I was here, Professor Orestes Landrove contacted me to help with the training, and in the meantime, I can prepare the students for the national competitions. For example, today they have a competition, and they don't have a coach, so I had to prepare them in just a few days so they could compete with the necessary skills.”

Raúl is no stranger to the IPVCE (Pre-University Vocational Institute of Exact Sciences). He was a competitor and then a coach for two years before dedicating himself fully to university. “It's like going back to where I was before. I feel comfortable coaching the students. When I graduate, I'm going to work for Etecsa; I have a job there. I'd like to have the opportunity to have a contract at both places; I would love that.”

Both testimonials reflect the spirit of commitment and dedication that characterizes the young people trained at the IPVCE. Paula and Raúl, from their respective university careers, have returned to contribute to the training of the students currently studying at the center, demonstrating that a passion for science and education can flourish even in times of crisis. The IPVCE, as a breeding ground for talent, is still a place where knowledge becomes a transformative force.