In a move designed to strengthen research collaborations and educational resources, Michigan State University, Federal University of Para (Universidade Federal do Pará), Federal University of Bahia (Universidade Federal da Bahia) and University of São Paulo have joined to launch The Brazil Partnership Program.

The program was made official in October 2010 with the signing of agreements for cooperation in research, teaching and outreach by representatives of the three institutions. The partnership covers academic collaboration in three key areas: global development and bioeconomy; global environmental change; and human health and the environment. Other collaborations, such as collaborative degree programs, faculty hiring and external funding proposals, will also be part of the partnership.

Geared toward offering Web-based courses, leveraging each institution’s capacity and strength to address emerging global research topics MSU hopes the program will help students see language and culture as a construct of knowledge.

An initial project for the partnership is Globalization: Socio-economic, Political, and Environmental Interdependence, an education and research exchangebeing led by Cynthia Simmons, associate professor ingeography. This project earned nearly $500,000 fromthe U.S. Department of Education and Brazilian Ministryof Education and brings together expertise from MichiganState University, Kansas State University, Federal Universityof Para and Federal University of Bahia. The collaborationwill make a certificate program available to students at allfour institutions.

“World leaders have come to recognize that the global extent of our social, economic, and environmental challenges require global solutions based on global partnership,” said Lou Anna K. Simon MSU President. “MSU, in collaboration with our Brazilian colleagues, is uniquely situated to make important contributions in this regard.”

In keeping with the University’s mission, the Brazil Partnership is an interdisciplinary effort seeking to build partnerships with Brazilian institutions in order to address the critical issues of our time, and to advance educational exchanges between MSU and Brazilian universities and other institutional partners.

“The partnership will enhance our ability to blend our teaching, research and outreach activities in Brazil in ways that are relevant and important in today’s global context,” said Sherman Garnett, dean of James Madison College.

The Brazil Partnership Program reflects a vision and input from more than 50 faculty and administrators. It is also a result of more than 60 years of engagement in Brazil. MSU was involved in projects leading to the creation of three Brazilian business schools during the 1950s and 1960s and has been collaborating with faculty in several Brazilian institutions over the last several decades. It is anticipated that other MSU partners in Brazil including Getulio Vargas Foundation (Fundação Getúlio Vargas), the top MBA school in Latin America in 2010 (EAESP, São Paulo Business School or Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo) and one of the leading institution in science, technology, teaching and extension in Brazilian agriculture will also become part of the new partnership program.

MSU colleges and units that are currently engaged in the Brazil Partnership are James Madison College, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource, College of Arts and Letters, College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Social Science, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and MSU Institute of International Health.