UVic Forges New Partnerships In Brazil

The University of Victoria is partnering with three universities and a major research foundation in Brazil to facilitate the exchange of students and faculty, and to increase research collaboration.

The agreements come during Canada’s largest international mission of university presidents to travel abroad, to Brazil April 26 to May 2.

Brazil will soon be one of the world’s top five economies and shares some important research priorities with Uvic, including climate change, sustainable development, green energy and ocean science.

“We are building international as well as intercultural capacities and skills for a global society and economy where innovation and knowledge are more important than ever,” says UVic President David Turpin. “The exchange agreements allow students to gain international experience, be more employable and become better global citizens.

“Also, strengthening research collaboration can benefit both institutions as well as society by expanding research findings and applications.”

Turpin has several key roles during the mission. On April 26, he moderated the Presidents’ Roundtable “Funding our Cooperation,” held in Rio de Janeiro, on how increased collaboration between Canadian and Brazilian institutions can be funded and supported.

On April 27, he was a panelist at the Canada-Brazil Innovation Forum in São Paulo on successful university-industry partnerships that advance research and innovation. The Consul General of Canada in São Paulo specifically requested that Turpin participate and talk about UVic’s ocean research as a notable example.

In addition, Turpin is signing several memoranda of understanding to co-operate on research, and student-exchange agreements with three top universities: Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), the Universidade Estadula Paulista (UNESP) and the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). The UNESP agreement is a “hybrid” student exchange that offers co-op work terms for UVic students in Brazil and study terms for Brazilian students in Canada.

UVic plans to host up to 50 Brazilian students per year, starting with a smaller number this September.

UVic also signed an agreement April 27 with the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) to secure matching money for projects between UVic researchers and those at universities and research centres in São Paulo State.

Organized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, the Brazil mission is led by Canada’s governor general and includes 30 university presidents.

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