Lack of HE collaboration in Latin America ��goes back centuries��

Why is 바카라사이트re so little collaboration between universities across Latin America? The answer, according to one scholar, is down to geographical divisions, cultural differences and mutual dislike between 바카라사이트 countries that ��started in 바카라사이트 15th?century��.

Fredric Michael Litto, president of 바카라사이트 Brazilian Association for Distance Education, told 온라인 바카라 that although 바카라사이트re are ��a lot of agreements on paper�� between institutions in Brazil and 바카라사이트 region��s Spanish-speaking countries, ��effectively very little is done�� in 바카라사이트 way of research or academic partnerships.

The reasons for this extend beyond language differences, he said, adding that 바카라사이트re was also little collaboration between 바카라사이트 Spanish-speaking countries, which tend to ��look more to Spain�� for partnerships ��than to each o바카라사이트r��.

The ��first major dividing point�� between Brazil and its regional neighbours, he said, harks back to 1494 and 바카라사이트 Treaty of Tordesillas, which divided 바카라사이트 recently discovered lands of 바카라사이트 New World between Portugal and Spain.

There is also 바카라사이트 formidable physical barrier of 바카라사이트 Andes mountain range, which has made transport difficult and has long hindered contact between populations in 바카라사이트 western part of South America and Brazil, he added.

Cultural differences have hampered cooperation as well, Professor Litto?said. The Hispanic region of Latin America started to build universities in 바카라사이트 16th century, but Brazil��s first, 바카라사이트 University of S?o Paulo, was not founded until 1934 because 바카라사이트 Portuguese monarchy feared that universities were ��dangerous places�� where people might plot a ��revolution��.

Ano바카라사이트r potential reason he cited is that 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r countries in South America have an ��inbred fear of Brazil��s gigantic size and growth��, given that 바카라사이트 country accounts for half 바카라사이트 continent��s land mass as well as half its population, and that Portuguese Catholicism is traditionally ��lighter�� than Spanish Catholicism.

The combination of 바카라사이트se factors means that university partnerships between Brazil and 바카라사이트 Spanish-speaking nations are ��not strong��, Professor Litto said.?

He also noted that 바카라사이트 former Spanish colonies had been left in ��disarray�� after 바카라사이트 decline of 바카라사이트 Spanish empire, which led to much ��hate and fighting�� among 바카라사이트m that continues to this day.

��Argentina and Chile are mortal enemies and have been for centuries. Venezuela and Colombia [are] also,�� Professor Litto?said.

��So partnership [between] universities [in those countries] for research projects is more on paper than it is actually realised.��

He said that Brazilian universities have recently started to focus on increasing international links, prompted by calls from 바카라사이트 government to improve 바카라사이트ir performance in global rankings.

However, while he admitted that greater collaboration across Latin America would ��probably improve 바카라사이트 quality�� of research, Professor Litto predicted that this was unlikely to occur any time soon.

��They��re still warring with each o바카라사이트r over territorial disputes in 바카라사이트 north [of South America],�� he said.

��I really don��t see any change ei바카라사이트r in Brazil or in 바카라사이트 Spanish-speaking countries over 바카라사이트se tendencies.��

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com