Cuba’s educational innovation and methodological commitment have featured prominently at the 2026 edition of IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language), one of the world’s leading forums in this field.
One of the highlights was the presentation by Professor Eduardo Garvey Savigne, entitled “Assessment of English for Medical Purposes in Cuba: Perspectives from Within”, which highlighted the strength of language training in the island’s healthcare sector.
The Cuban delegation also included lecturers from the universities of Matanzas, UCLV and Cienfuegos, as well as Yuliet Pons – English Methodologist at the Havana Provincial Directorate – sponsored by the British Council in Cuba.
The delegation also addressed highly topical issues such as social inclusion and the gender perspective in language teaching, through the presentation “Teaching English and promoting gender awareness: training Cuban teachers to meet the challenge”, which aroused considerable interest among the participants.
The event also served as a platform to share the progress of the “Kinship: Learning English as a Family” project, an initiative led by the Association for the Promotion of Culture and the Teaching of English (APCELI), in collaboration with talented young people from the Enrique José Varona University of Pedagogical Sciences. This project, which won an award in the previous edition, continues to establish itself as a successful example of methodological innovation and community-based learning.
Since its foundation in 1967, IATEFUL has established itself as one of the most influential global networks in English language teaching. In this context, the Cuban delegation’s participation has been widely recognised for its innovative approach, its spirit of collaboration and its commitment to the continuous improvement of language teaching.
Cuba’s presence at this prestigious event reaffirms the progress made towards sustained methodological renewal, as well as the strengthening of international ties in the field of education, helping to position the country as a benchmark in the training of English language teaching professionals.