Media Releases 2005

27 April 2005

Australian and Brazilian universities to sign MOU

Australian and Brazilian universities have agreed to sign an MOU to further develop relations and opportunities between respective higher education sectors, the Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee (AVCC) said today.

The AVCC delegation is in Brazil on the third leg of the Latin America visit and has met with its counterpart organisation, the Council of Rectors of Brazilian Universities (CRUB) whose members comprise of 138 federal, state, municipal and private universities. The two groups will meet again late in 2005 to formally sign the MOU and to discuss further opportunities to collaborate and build on the agreement.

AVCC President Professor Di Yerbury said that the signing of the MOU would significantly enhance relations between the two countries and would provide many opportunities for Australian students and universities.

“Currently Australian and Brazilian universities have nine active agreements in which seven Australian universities are involved. The signing of the MOU will increase this number of cross-institutional links,” Professor Yerbury said.

“Higher education in Brazil is a major area of growth for the nation and has been expanding rapidly since the mid 1990s, today approximately 2.5 per cent of Brazilian tertiary students enrolled to study abroad study in Australia.

“The number of students enrolling in a higher education degree in Brazil is rapidly increasing and Australian universities are looking to increase the number of Brazilian students studying in Australia, as well as engaging in more staff and student exchanges, and increasing collaboration in research and teaching between universities.

“An important aspect of providing opportunities for Australian and Brazilian academics and students to engage is the development of long term contacts and networks that will be beneficial for both nations well into the future,” Professor Yerbury said.

On the previous day the AVCC delegation witnessed the signing of an MOU between the Minister for Education, Science and Training Dr Brendan Nelson and the Brazilian Minister for Education Minister Tarso Genro.

-ENDS-

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