McMaster signs academic agreements with six Brazilian universities

McMaster's connections to its Brazilian counterparts are growing stronger this week as
president Patrick Deane and vice-president research Mo Elbestawi participate in a major
educational mission to the South American country.

Canada's Governor General David Johnston is leading a delegation that includes the
presidents of 30 Canadian Universities on the mission organized by the Association of
Universities and Colleges of Canada. Some will stay until May. 2

The mission, which kicked off Wednesday, is the largest ever such effort involving
Canadian university presidents.

In Brazil, the Canadian delegates are meeting with educational, government and
business leaders to discuss ways of strengthening educational and research connections
between the two countries.

On Thursday, McMaster signed agreements with six Brazilian universities for reciprocal
exchanges of students and academic co-operation, part of the 35 such agreements
involving 12 Canadian and 18 Brazilian universities.

“This mission is important to McMaster's commitment to extending its international
reach, and the agreements we have signed with our Brazilian partners will create vital
new conduits for the exchange of knowledge,” Deane said. “We are proud that McMaster
is part of this group of Canadian universities, and honored to be in the company of His
Excellency Governor General David Johnston.”

Canada is officially engaged in a focused strategy to increase its presence in the
Americas on several levels, with education being a high priority.

Brazil is expected to become one of the world's top five economies, and Canada's
investment there, valued at $11 billion in 2009, is already more than its investments in
India and China combined.

The government of Brazil recently announced a program called Science Without Borders,
under which it will fund 75,000 scholarships for students to study abroad and acquire
skills and experience the country needs to meet its new economic challenges. The
Brazilian private sector has pledged to fund another 26,000 scholarships.

Canada will welcome 12,000 Brazilian students at the undergraduate, doctoral and
postdoctoral
levels under the SWB program.

The university presidents' mission is meant to increase the profile of Canada's
universities in Brazil, to position Canadian universities as destinations of choice for
Brazilian students, and strengthen research collaborations between Canadian and
Brazilian universities.

The AUCC has a comprehensive website on the mission.

Republish this Article for Free

Republish this Article

We believe in the free flow of information. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivs 2.5 Canada (CC BY-ND 2.5 CA), so you can republish our articles for free, online or in print.

All republished articles must be attributed in the following way and contain links to both the site and original article: “This article was first published on Daily News. Read the original article.”

McMaster&#039;s connections to its Brazilian counterparts are growing stronger this week as <br />
president Patrick Deane and vice-president research Mo Elbestawi participate in a major <br />
educational mission to the South American country.<br />
<br />
<br />
Canada&#039;s Governor General David Johnston is leading a delegation that includes the <br />
presidents of 30 Canadian Universities on the mission organized by the Association of <br />
Universities and Colleges of Canada. Some will stay until May. 2<br />
<br />
<br />
The mission, which kicked off Wednesday, is the largest ever such effort involving <br />
Canadian university presidents. <br />
<br />
<br />
In Brazil, the Canadian delegates are meeting with educational, government and <br />
business leaders to discuss ways of strengthening educational and research connections <br />
between the two countries. <br />
<br />
<br />
On Thursday, McMaster signed agreements with six Brazilian universities for reciprocal <br />
exchanges of students and academic co-operation, part of the 35 such agreements <br />
involving 12 Canadian and 18 Brazilian universities.<br />
<br />
<br />
"This mission is important to McMaster&#039;s commitment to extending its international <br />
reach, and the agreements we have signed with our Brazilian partners will create vital <br />
new conduits for the exchange of knowledge," Deane said. "We are proud that McMaster <br />
is part of this group of Canadian universities, and honored to be in the company of His <br />
Excellency Governor General David Johnston."<br />
<br />
<br />
Canada is officially engaged in a focused strategy to increase its presence in the <br />
Americas on several levels, with education being a high priority. <br />
<br />
Brazil is expected to become one of the world&#039;s top five economies, and Canada&#039;s <br />
investment there, valued at $11 billion in 2009, is already more than its investments in <br />
India and China combined.<br />
<br />
<br />
The government of Brazil recently announced a program called Science Without Borders, <br />
under which it will fund 75,000 scholarships for students to study abroad and acquire <br />
skills and experience the country needs to meet its new economic challenges. The <br />
Brazilian private sector has pledged to fund another 26,000 scholarships. <br />
<br />
<br />
Canada will welcome 12,000 Brazilian students at the undergraduate, doctoral and <br />
postdoctoral<br />
levels under the SWB program.<br />
<br />
<br />
The university presidents&#039; mission is meant to increase the profile of Canada&#039;s <br />
universities in Brazil, to position Canadian universities as destinations of choice for <br />
Brazilian students, and strengthen research collaborations between Canadian and <br />
Brazilian universities. <br />
<br />
<br />
The AUCC has a comprehensive <a href="http://www.aucc.ca/brazil/">website on the mission</a>.

Media Enquiries

Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 24073
Email: comms@mcmaster.ca

The Communications and Public Affairs Office is staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

The University has a broadcast quality television studio to facilitate live and pre-recorded interviews with media. Learn more about our experts.