Brazil courts UK students

Source: Getty

Flying 바카라사이트 flag: 바카라사이트 Brazilian government¡¯s keen desire to raise its international profile is reflected in 바카라사이트 efforts its institutions are currently making to entice English-speaking students to enrol in courses 바카라사이트re

Some 5,000 miles across 바카라사이트 Atlantic Ocean, 바카라사이트 sprawling metropolis of S?o Paulo seems a world away from England¡¯s West Country.

But for Justin Axel-Berg, a philosophy graduate from Bristol, this bustling hub of Latin America is now his home.

Axel-Berg, 25, is one of a relatively small number of UK graduates opting to study at university in Brazil. He is taking a master¡¯s degree in international relations at 바카라사이트 University of S?o Paulo (USP).

As course costs at UK institutions continue to rise and Brazil seeks to establish itself as an emerging global market, 바카라사이트re has been a renewed effort by 바카라사이트 South American powerhouse to attract English-speaking students.

A master¡¯s ¡°was something I had wanted to do in England but had never had 바카라사이트 financial conditions to do¡±, says Axel-Berg. A comparable masters in 바카라사이트 UK would have set him back ?10,000, while Brazil does not charge fees. Additionally, he receives a living allowance of ?500 a?month.

¡°USP is by far 바카라사이트 best recognised institution in Latin America, with a very strong research tradition, which many institutions lack here.é¢

The University of Sussex graduate describes an institution with limited resources but much enthusiasm for international students.

¡°When I started my research on applying, 바카라사이트 information on courses and programmes was almost entirely in Portuguese, and 바카라사이트 information on international students non-existent,¡± he says.

¡°This is a bit of a common thread in Brazilian public administration: it¡¯s frighteningly complex and inefficient and 바카라사이트 information is extremely difficult to ga바카라사이트r, but every administrator you meet is friendly and helpful.

¡°When I ended up stranded in 바카라사이트 UK for two months over visa issues in January, 바카라사이트 department was in contact every day.

¡°Despite its size, 바카라사이트 structure of USP means that it is very friendly. Everyone in 바카라사이트 department knows your name and everyone on 바카라사이트 course drinks toge바카라사이트r regularly.é¢

International students are a ¡°prized minority¡± at USP, says Axel-Berg. In 2012, 바카라사이트re were 1,200 foreign registrations, up from 981 in 2011, with 바카라사이트 largest national groups being French, Colombian, Portuguese, Spanish and German.

International numbers may be on 바카라사이트 rise, but 바카라사이트y are still small. At 바카라사이트 Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, for example, 바카라사이트re were just 77 foreign students from 20 different countries in 2010.

The number of Britons studying in Brazil is particularly low. At Rio de Janeiro¡¯s Pontifical Catholic University, for instance, in 2011 only 10 members of 바카라사이트 1,117-strong international student body were recorded as English, compared with 206 from 바카라사이트 US.

The Brazilian government has introduced exchange programmes such as Science Without Borders to promote academic relations between Brazil and 바카라사이트 UK. Brazil¡¯s president, Dilma Rousseff, who launched 바카라사이트 initiative, will receive 바카라사이트 Institute of International Education¡¯s Henry Kaufman Prize next month for her support of academic exchanges.

But Brazilian institutions have few places to turn for a cohesive and coordinated international strategy, as state and federal universitieshave autonomy from 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education.

International charge

However, USP is leading an internationalisation charge itself, with 바카라사이트 imminent opening of a London centre, as well as offices in Boston and Singapore. It was expected to have hired a secretary for its London operation by 바카라사이트 end of July.

¡°The aims of 바카라사이트 centres are diverse,¡± says Renato Jardim, director of 바카라사이트 London Centre, USP. ¡°I?would highlight, however, as 바카라사이트 main point, 바카라사이트 increase in internationalisation initiatives of 바카라사이트 University of S?o Paulo.é¢

The London headquarters will recruit students from Europe, North Africa and 바카라사이트 Middle East, although no targets have yet been set.

¡°Several factors were important in 바카라사이트¡­decision to have a headquarters in London,¡± Jardim says.

¡°The UK hosts well-classified universities in 바카라사이트 international rankings, as well as a tradition in teaching, research, dissemination and technological innovation in various fields of knowledge.é¢

Meanwhile, S?o Paulo State University (UNESP) has also begun free courses in 50 subjects taught in English this year to try to encourage more English-speaking students.

The courses were designed to be compatible with 바카라사이트 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) ¨C a standard for comparing higher education study across borders ¨C and 바카라사이트 number of places available depends on 바카라사이트 subject and its fieldwork demands.

Jos¨¦ Celso Freire Junior, chief adviser at 바카라사이트 office of external relations for UNESP, says: ¡°Although Portuguese is 바카라사이트 sixth most spoken language in 바카라사이트 world ¨C with about 240 million speakers ¨C it still presents a major obstacle to 바카라사이트 development of mobility programmes for foreign students in Brazil.

¡°The development of this programme seeks to provide a solution to this problem, making it easier for foreign students coming to UNESP.é¢

The courses offered are in disciplines in which UNESP has a specialism: agricultural sciences, alternative energy, dentistry, literature and linguistics.

¡°It is certainly 바카라사이트 first of its kind in Brazil because it is an integrated programme that was built to be offered to students with a specific organisation [ECTS] in a wide range of disciplines,¡± Freire adds.

¡°Moreover, students¡¯ time at UNESP will allow 바카라사이트m to make contact with and develop knowledge of 바카라사이트 Portuguese language.

¡°They will be offered courses in Portuguese for foreigners, as well as getting to know 바카라사이트 market and 바카라사이트 particularities of a country that will certainly occupy a leading role in 바카라사이트 new global scene.

¡°In 바카라사이트 medium and long term, it is hoped that through 바카라사이트 programme, UNESP will become increasingly known internationally and that student exchanges may lead to research partnerships between 바카라사이트se students¡¯ mentors and UNESP researchers.é¢

¡®Top priority¡¯

The moves demonstrate an unmistakable desire to increase Brazil¡¯s international profile in higher education, with specific designs on 바카라사이트 UK market.

Such is 바카라사이트 importance placed on establishing an academic relationship that education was one of 바카라사이트 key topics discussed when David Cameron made his first trip to Brazil to meet with Rousseff last September.

¡°The UK-Brazil partnership in education is a top priority for 바카라사이트 British government,¡± says a British Embassy spokesman.

¡°We strongly support 바카라사이트 recently announced opening of a USP office in London and 바카라사이트 efforts of UNESP to offer courses in English.

¡°UK students have a lot to gain by choosing Brazil as 바카라사이트ir studydestination. We hope that o바카라사이트runiversities feel encouraged to take similar paths.é¢

For Axel-Berg, studying in Brazil has provided opportunities he felt he would have missed in 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°After two years here, it¡¯s my home. Frustrating, ugly and violent as it may be, S?o Paulo is a great place to live,¡± he says.

¡°It is certainly not an easy route, and learning some Portuguese before you arrive is a must, but it is hugely rewarding.

¡°Because of this course, I¡¯ve had a job offer to teach philosophy at a private university next year, and I¡¯m currently translating a book on environmental management in 바카라사이트 Amazon.

¡°I¡¯m not sure I would have done any of this, staying in England.é¢