McMaster has taken another step toward building academic, research and cultural bridges with post-secondary institutions in Brazil.

Representatives from the Association of Brazilian Rectors of State and Municipal Universities (ABRUEM)* were recently on campus to explore opportunities to create and expand institutional partnerships between McMaster and Brazilian universities.

The delegation was led by Prof. Adélia Maria Carvalho de Melo Pinheiro, rector of the Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz and president of ABRUEM.

While at McMaster, the Brazilian delegation met with Allison Sekuler, Associate Vice-Presidnet and Dean of Graduate Studies, Lehana Thabane, Associate Chair in McMaster’s Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, and Peter Mascher, Associate Vice-President, International Affairs.

A broad range of topics were discussed including graduate student mobility and co-tutelle programs, problem-based learning and teaching approaches, capacity building in research and the involvement of the private sector in such initiatives.

“We were pleased to be able to welcome the Brazilian delegation to McMaster,” says Mascher. “The visit provided us with an opportunity to connect with individuals from a number of universities for the first time and to begin looking at areas of mutual interest that we anticipate will form the basis for future academic and research collaborations.”

The Brazilian government has invested heavily in post-secondary education over the past decade, doubling the number of students attending universities. Dr. Mascher notes that this has increased the potential for meaningful teaching and research partnerships.

“The post-secondary sector in Brazil has experienced extraordinary growth. There are tremendous opportunities to create mutually beneficial programs that promote international experiential learning and student exchanges while supporting Brazil’s emerging research capacity through the development of research and innovation partnerships.”

The ABRUEM delegation’s visit to McMaster was part of broader initiative hosted by the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce and Universities Canada to create a dialogue on university and industry partnerships that encourage innovation and mobility.

McMaster is currently engaged in a number of existing partnerships with Brazilian universities including the Science Without Borders and Mitacs Globalink programs.

*ABRUEM is a member-based association representing 46 Brazilian public, state and municipal universities, located in 22 states across Brazil, representing more than 700,000 undergraduate and graduate students.