Successful education mission to Brazil with Minister for Education

Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has recently signed partnership agreements with two of Brazil’s leading universities; the Universidade de São Paulo (USP) and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). The agreements were signed during an Edu

WIT has recently signed partnership agreements with two of Brazil’s leading universities; the Universidade de São Paulo (USP) and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). The agreements were signed during an Education mission to Brazil as part of the St Patrick’s week celebrations led by Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan TD.

The Institute was represented in Brazil by Dr Ken Thomas, Head of School of Engineering and Don O’Neill, Office for International Relations. “These additional agreements are of significant importance to WIT. They provide opportunities for staff and student exchange and most importantly open the possibilities for our research groups to work with colleagues in Brazil’s leading universities” commented Dr Thomas. “Collaboration has already started” added Dr Thomas. “For example, over the next two weeks, Dr Paul O’Leary from our School is visiting three of our partner universities to advance a range of innovative joint research projects relating to wireless communications and dielectric analysis.”

Relations with Brazil in the area of higher education are of increasing importance to Ireland. Minister O’Sullivan and a delegation from Irish universities and Institutes of Technology attended a number of engagements in Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, São Paulo and Campinas to celebrate St Patrick’s week.  In addition to meeting with staff from leading universities in these cities, the visit also provided a focus for the ‘greening’ of several landmark monuments in Brazil as part of a Tourism Ireland initiative.

“WIT’s links with Brazilian higher education institutions date back to 2008 and today the Institute has the highest number of Brazilian students of any Irish institution with over 200 students studying on a variety of Bachelor, Master and Doctoral programmes” commented Don O’Neill. “Our Brazilian students make a very valuable contribution to the academic, social and sporting life at WIT and we look forward to strengthening our links with Brazil in the years ahead through our new university partnership agreements” added Mr O’Neill.

There was further good news for WIT in Brazil when Minister Jan O’Sullivan announced that six of the thirty Government of Ireland scholarships for International students in Higher Education for 2015-2016 would be allocated to WIT. The scholarships will fully fund three students from Brazil and three students from China to study for Masters degrees in Waterford.

“The allocation of these very prestigious scholarships to WIT is highly significant and allows us to attract the very best caliber of students to Waterford – students whom in the future will go on to be important ambassadors for the Institute and for the city” commented Dr Thomas O’Toole, Vice-President for International Relations.