Historical trend analysis of academic talent management in the cuban university context

Abstract

Introduction: This article presents a historical-trend analysis of academic talent management in Cuban higher education, focusing on the Industrial Engineering program since 1959. It is based on the premise that the training of competent professionals is a strategic factor for national development, and that the concept of academic talent has evolved toward dynamic and inclusive approaches. Materials and methods: The research employed a non-experimental, descriptive, and qualitative design. Historical-logical, analytical-synthetic, inductive-deductive, and hypothetical-deductive methods were used. Sources included 32 regulatory documents from the Ministry of Higher Education (MES) and 15 semi-structured interviews with founding professors and administrators with more than 20 years of experience, selected intentionally. The analysis established a periodization into five stages, evaluated using indicators such as curriculum improvement, methodological work, professional development, research, computerization, internationalization, and university extension. Results: Five historical stages were identified: Organization (1959-1975), Improvement (1975-1989), Adaptation (1989-2002), Universalization and Integration (2002-2016), and Contextualization (2016-present). The analysis revealed an evolution from models focused on technical training toward comprehensive, flexible, and contextualized approaches that integrate teaching, research, and engagement with the productive sector. Interviews highlighted curricular flexibility and internships in companies as key factors, although challenges such as curriculum updates and a lack of resources were also noted. Discussion: The proposed periodization reflects the adaptation of talent management to the country's political, economic, and technological changes. The need to strengthen talent identification and development systems, promote equity, and align training with the demands of territorial development was evident. Challenges persist related to competency-based training, keeping pace with Industry 4.0, and strengthening mentoring programs. Conclusions: The management of academic talent in Industrial Engineering in Cuba has undergone a significant evolution toward more comprehensive models. It is recommended to strengthen identification and development mechanisms, integrate research and innovation into training, and consolidate partnerships with the productive sector to reduce the gap between education and the labor market, thus contributing to national development.