Canada-Brazil Language, Education and Workforce Forum report
With close to 100 participants from Canadian and Brazilian universities, colleges, government and industry, the 2nd Canada-Brazil Language, Education and Workforce Forum took place in São Paulo, Brazil March 21-22, 2016.
International education practitioners, language education experts, senior policy-makers and industry leaders discussed the needs of Brazil’s and Canada’s higher education systems and labour forces and identified common solutions to support both countries mutual internationalization objectives.
In light of the current political-economic context in Brazil and uncertainty around future Science without Borders/Languages without Borders funding, participants focused on identifying long-term, sustainable modes of collaboration as well as maintaining existing linkages and inciting new creative forms of partnerships.
With a forward-focused view on advancing Canada-Brazil collaboration and cooperation, participants explored:
- The role of internationalization of higher education in building a global workforce
- The role of institutions, industry and government in internationalization and opportunities for international/intersectoral collaboration
- The transition beyond the Science without Borders era to a deeper Canada-Brazil higher education relationship, through work-integrated learning, industry engagement and research.
The event was co-hosted by Universities Canada, Languages Canada, Colleges and Institutes Canada, the Brazilian Association for International Education (FAUBAI) and the Languages without Borders program of the Brazilian Ministry of Education. It was supported by the Canadian Embassy in Brasilia, the Canadian Consulate General in São Paulo, and the Government of Canada’s Global Opportunities for Associations program.
