The University of Manitoba will position itself to become an institution of choice for Brazilian graduate students during a mission organized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, President and Vice-Chancellor David Barnard announced today.

“Knowledge and talent knows no borders. We are proud to make historic investments to ensure Brazilian graduate students recognize they are welcomed and valued in Manitoba,” the president said.

Under the five-year agreement to be signed with the Brazilian Agency for the Support and Evaluation of Graduate students, the University of Manitoba will invest up to $880,000 over the next five years.

The funds will help cover the costs of tuition fees and English language education. The investments will be used to attract 20 Brazilian doctoral or masters students annually starting in 2012-13.

During the mission from April 25 to May 2, the University of Manitoba is signing three additional agreements that will help strengthen relationships and provide new research and learning opportunities.

In addition, he will be one of four university presidents from Canada who have been chosen to participate in a media briefing with Brazilian media highlighting the importance of the visit.

Educational and research cooperation between Manitoba and Brazil has been increasing in recent years.

The department of Advanced Education and Literacy has been working with their Brazilian counterparts to facilitate these types of agreements.

“The Manitoba government is pleased to see the University of Manitoba take the next step on this important initiative,” said Advanced Education and Literacy Minister Erin Selby. “International students help to grow our economy, enhance the recognition of Manitoba as an excellent source of high-quality, affordable education and training programs, and foster future links with a key regional economy.”

In 2011, the University of Manitoba was awarded federal funding to implement a three-year project that provides an international development internship experience for 18 Canadian students in Brazil.

In May, the first six University of Manitoba students under the direction of the Department of Human Ecology will work with students from Don Bosco Catholic University to strengthen food security, secure the future of children and youth, and promote sustainable economic growth within Kaiowá Guarani’s indigenous communities in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

“Both countries are committed to building prosperity through investments in research and higher education,” said Paul Davidson, AUCC president. “In the new university partnerships and scholarship programs announced this week and those just starting to take shape, we see that commitment transformed into action. The real success of this Brazil mission will be seen on our campuses and those of our Brazilian partner institutions in the coming months and years as our bilateral collaboration expands.”

The University of Manitoba initiatives will be included among new 64 new partnerships, Memoranda of Understanding and scholarship programs to be announced during visits to Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Campinas.

For more information contact Jay Doering, Dean of Graduate Studies, University of Manitoba, at 204-474-9887 (jay_doering@umanitob.ca)

Or Sean Moore, Marketing Communications Office, University of Manitoba, 204-474-7963 (sean_moore@umanitoba.ca).