Workshop system based on historical and heritage values to strengthen the general culture of cadets at the José Martí Military Technical Institute

Abstract

Introduction: The training of cadets at the José Martí Military Technical Institute (ITM) demands not only excellent technical and professional preparation, but also the development of a comprehensive general education that allows them to understand the national reality and fully embrace their commitment to the defense of the nation. The ITM, housed in the former Belén School—a building declared a National Monument—is itself a space imbued with historical and cultural significance that can be leveraged pedagogically. However, the ITM's rich heritage is not always systematically utilized in the cadet training process, highlighting the need to design pedagogical strategies that integrate historical and cultural values. The objective of this article was to propose a system of workshops based on historical and cultural values to strengthen the general education of ITM cadets. Materials and methods: This research employs a qualitative, descriptive-propositive approach, utilizing document analysis, participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups, with data triangulation to ensure the validity of the results. Results: The diagnostic assessment revealed insufficient pedagogical use of the institution's heritage, limited integration between curricular content and heritage education, cadets' limited knowledge of ITM's history, and the absence of a structured system of activities. A workshop system is proposed, structured around three thematic axes (institutional history and heritage, Martí's thought and traditions of struggle, and the defense of heritage as a patriotic duty), with a total duration of 12 sessions. Discussion: The proposal is based on the conviction that heritage education is a privileged means of strengthening comprehensive general culture, taking advantage of ITM's exceptional status as a National Monument. The participatory methodology combines presentations, guided tours, debates, research, and practical work to promote meaningful and experiential learning. Conclusions: The comprehensive training of cadets requires pedagogical strategies that go beyond technical and professional preparation. A workshop system based on historical and cultural heritage values is a relevant way to strengthen historical knowledge, a sense of belonging, patriotic values, and skills for protecting the nation's cultural legacy. A pilot implementation of this system and a subsequent evaluation of its impact on cadet training are recommended.