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A commemorative event in Havana has celebrated the 40th anniversary of a scheme that has brought tens of thousands of foreign students to Cuba.

In 1977, on the initiative of Fidel Castro, an initial contingent of students from Mozambique became the first to take part in an ¡°internationalist education programme¡± based on a philosophy of ¡°being educated to be free¡±.

Since then, more than 35,000 students of 33 nationalities from Africa, Latin America and Asia have followed in their footsteps.

To mark the anniversary, representatives and former students from Ethiopia, Ghana, Namibia and Nicaragua (which alone has sent more than 25,000 students to Cuba) all gave speeches at the celebratory event held in the Memorial El Pinero Square.

matthew.reisz@timeshighereducation.com