Severo Aguirre del Cristo

Doctor Honoris Causa of the Superior School of Veterinary Medicine of Kosice, Czechoslovakia. Professor Emeritus. Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. Founder of the Center for Research in Animal Improvement. Historian and Pedagogue.

Born in Havana, Cuba. He was Vice Minister of the INRA. Member of the State Council. Deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power. Vice President and President of the National Assembly of People's Power, Ambassador of Cuba to the Soviet Union.

In 1930, he began his long and beautiful revolutionary trajectory, entering at age 18 into the League of Communist Youth, and by his courage, determination, and political clarity, he quickly distinguished himself to become, for life, a professional cadre of its Leadership, and to assume the first responsibility of the League, the position of General Secretary.

Without possessing scientific training, he had the vision of the importance of scientific development of human resources. From the moment he arrived at the University he raised the necessity of initiating scientific degrees despite being a carpenter by trade; his vision of human development as something fundamental was his motto. His principal achievement from the educational point of view was having had the foresight and in fact the initiation of doctoral programs in Cuban Universities.

Beginning in the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of Havana, the achievement of the first graduates with Scientific Degrees, at that time Candidate for Doctor of Sciences. An educational spirit that he expressed at all times, as a consequence of a long life dedicated to the revolutionary and communist struggle.

He initiated Marxism-Leninism courses for professors and applied active teaching methods with his continuous questioning. He insisted that professors prepare books based on the knowledge and experiences accumulated through research.

As Dean, he visited theoretical and practical classes to verify how they were being developed, which today is an integral part of methodological work. Promoter of postgraduate studies and research in universities as well as the involvement of students and professors in production units as part of their comprehensive education.

Distinctions and Decorations

Order "Frank País".
Order "Lázaro Peña".
Diplomas

Diploma from the Cuban Movement for Peace and Sovereignty of Peoples.
Diploma in recognition of work carried out and as founder of the Superior Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Havana ISCAH.