Brazil Initiative

For the 21rst century, MSU has engaged in a strategic and transformative journey to become the model land-grant university, a destination that has been called "World-Grant," making global awareness and engagement of our students, faculty, staff, and other constituencies an institutional priority. To reach this goal, MSU is focusing energy and resources on several strategic imperatives; among the top five of these imperatives is the Expansion of MSU's International Reach through academic, research, and economic development initiatives and global, national, and local strategic alliances. As part of this effort, Brazil has been identified among four countries with which MSU seeks to expand and deepen strategic partnerships.

To achieve this goal, International Studies and Programs and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies have launched the Brazil Initiative. This initiative draws on MSU's historical legacy of engagement with key Brazilian universities and MSU's current strength in Brazilian studies. Currently, our faculty includes one of the largest concentrations of expertise on Brazil among U.S. and European universities with considerable existing programming in the form of faculty research collaborations, study abroad programs, and internships. The primary objectives of the initiative are to (1) build and strengthen partnerships with Brazilian scientists and educators in research areas necessary to address pressing social, economic, and environmental changes of our time, and (2) create dual degree programs between MSU and Brazilian partner institutions.