Observatory of Academic Freedom denounces honorary doctorate title for Esteban Lazo.

The Observatory of Academic Freedom (OLA) publicly denounced the award of the honorary title of Doctor of Social Sciences to Esteban Lazo Hernández, member of the Political Bureau and president of the National Assembly of Cuba.

The University of Matanzas awarded the academic distinction to Lazo last week, recalling that the political leader graduated years ago with a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the institution.

The Observatory expressed concern about the credibility of this recognition, alleging that the Cuban state seeks to provide its leaders with academic titles to endorse their staying in positions of power, both at the national and international levels.

They indicated that Esteban Lazo has an eminently political background, with a bachelor's degree in Economics for which there is no evidence of postgraduate development.

In 2023, the academic community had already expressed concern about the imminent granting of a doctorate to Lazo, arguing that the politician did not meet the minimum requirements to apply for this scientific category, such as academic publications or language proficiency.

The OLA (Higher Learning Institution) reminds that an Honorary Doctorate is a distinction that should be awarded to outstanding individuals for their significant contributions in a specific field or for their distinguished service to the community, according to international standards.

However, the University of Matanzas, especially its Faculty of Social Sciences, does not have the necessary categorization or accreditation to issue an academic order of such magnitude.

Of the five degree programs based in that faculty, four only have the basic category within the System of Evaluation and Accreditation of University Degrees (SEA.CU), and less than 25% of their faculty hold a doctorate.

The Observatory also criticizes the reasons given by the chancellor Leyda Finalé de la Cruz for conferring the Honorary Doctorate to Esteban Lazo.

In the words spoken by the dean during the ceremony, the arguments lack scientific weight and could be applied to any political leader.

Dr. Alina Bárbara López Hernández, an academic and former member of the institution's faculty, has pointed out that the merits presented to justify the title are futile and not specific to Lazo's work.

The University of Matanzas has not made public the requirements to confer an Honoris Causa degree. The Observatory denounces that while an important figure of the Cuban regime is being celebrated, prominent researchers such as Alina Bárbara López Hernández are being harassed.

The complaint also calls on international academic organizations to speak out against this act, which they believe undermines the credibility of the Cuban academia.

Esteban Lazo, for his part, thanked the University of Matanzas, Raúl Castro, and the university faculty for his professional training. Additionally, he handed the rector one of the notebooks he used during his student days, recalled his work in the field, and his participation in various organizational and agricultural activities.

This event has generated a significant controversy and has brought into question the integrity and credibility of the academic distinctions awarded by Cuban educational institutions.