consortium: emms speaker: ana barros workshop 6 01/12 latin america and north america

Consortium: EMMS Speaker: Ana Barros

Workshop 6 01/12

Latin America and North America


Institution & Country co-operation with Portuguese speaking regions

Main Points to address: Portuguese speaking regions• Main obstacles:

– Official language to be adopted by a EMMC? – Academic standards

• Special grants for undergraduate students from PALOP countries

• Other existing programmes/initiatives: • How can Erasmus Mundus Programme contribute


Portuguese speaking regions• Emigrant communities in North America Limited interest in

coming to study in Europe.

• Latin America large potential BUT only Brazil.geographical coverage constraints do not allow for relevant recruitment.

• Africa large potential (Angola, Mozambique; Guiné Bissau São Tomé and Cabo Verde).

• East Timor smaller community.


Official language to be adopted by a EMMC?

English = Scientific Lingua Franca impossible to

implement a high standard EMMCs using a mixture of

Portuguese & another European Language.

Proficiency in English is a critical requirement

automatically a handicap for a significant nº of potential

candidates.


Academic standards

• Latin America i.e. Brazil Very good academic standards but geographical coverage

constraints do not allow for relevant recruitment.• Africa still low academic standards.• Timor still low academic standards.

Very difficult for such candidates to be familiar with Erasmus Mundus programme and to be accepted.


Small nº of grants for undergraduate students from PALOP countries

From: Science & education MinistriesUniversities

Objective: to contribute to raise academic standards but necessarily a very slow process


Other existing programmes/initiatives for postgraduate courses: Alβan programme – opened to Latin American Countries

Via ministry (Grices) – Grants for postgraduate studies

Gulbenkian foundation – Grants for postgraduate studies

Some Universities - Small nº of grants for postgraduate studies

Need to liaise with these programmes


How can Erasmus Mundus Programme contributeAction 3 can really be an asset for Latin American Countries

- However, limited participation of European students in programmes is the key limitation.

Liaise with UNESCO Centres and Sponsor EMMC Consortia to carry out intensive Summer courses

- Either in Europe or in specific regions to help raising academic standards of potential candidates.

Alumni Association can also help:- attract interest from potential candidates- encourage EMMC graduates to coach potential candidates at local level


Conclusion• For Latin America & North America Action 3 seems to be a good tool to explore. Liaison with Alβan programme and UNESCO Centres may help.• Plenty to do as regards the remaining Portuguese speaking countries all efforts will have to be combined!

consortium: emms speaker: ana barros workshop 6 01/12 latin america and north america

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