# Rodolfo Abel Alarcón Ortiz, Former Minister of Higher Education, Passes Away

**Date:** 03/10/2022

The Cuban Ministry of Higher Education (MES) reported, through a statement, the regrettable passing of Doctor of Sciences Rodolfo Abel Alarcón Ortiz, distinguished full professor who dedicated his professional life to university education.

A reference point in the study of Mechanical Engineering at both the national level and in other countries, Alarcón Ortiz served as Minister of Higher Education between 2012 and 2016. He also served as Vice Minister of the MES from 1987 to 1994. He was later appointed First Vice Minister between 1994 and 2012, after serving as rector of the Instituto Superior Politécnico José Antonio Echeverría (Ispjae) from 1980-1987.

Author of an extensive bibliography in his specialty, he was recognized with several awards and decorations, among them the Literacy Medal, 40th Anniversary Medal of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Distinction for Cuban Education and the Rafael María de Mendive Distinction, the MES enumerated. He also received the 50th Anniversary Seal of the National Union of Education, Science and Sports in 2011; the Martiana Star awarded by the National Union of Workers of Education, Science and Sports (SNTECD) in 2014; and the Special Recognition as Emeritus Professor, granted by the SNTECD and the Ministry of Higher Education in 2019.

It added that he deserved the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from the Metropolitan University of London in 2004, and the Frank País Order of the Second Degree in 2008, the same year he was named Emeritus Professor of the Ispjae and Honorary Professor of the National University of the Northwest, of Buenos Aires.

In 2014 he received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from the National University of Engineering of Nicaragua.