Lund on show in Brazil and Russia

21 October 2012

Lund University has been awarded one of the coveted strategic grants to promote internationalisation in Swedish higher education and research.

The money will be used to fund seminars in Brazil and Russia with the aim of highlighting the best Sweden and Lund University have to offer in research and education.

At the same time, the Brazilian Government is investing in scholarships for top students who want to study abroad. There are strong indications that Lund University will be offered the opportunity to receive a large number of fully-funded students from Brazil over the next two years.

The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education, known as STINT, has granted almost SEK 1 million to Lund University’s “Swedish Excellence Seminars” venture over the next two years. Lund University is matching the investment to organise these seminars in collaboration with the Swedish embassies in the host countries.

“The first seminar will be held in December in Brazil. We hope to involve many talented researchers, lecturers and students who can talk about research, education and interaction with society in fields that are of interest and relevance to Brazil and Russia respectively”, says Gunilla Carlecrantz, head of strategic partnerships and externally funded projects at External Relations.

Lund University will invite a broad spectrum of guests from public agencies, the higher education sector and business, including both local companies and Swedish companies operating in the host countries.

“These seminars are the first step towards raising the profile of Swedish higher education in these two huge countries. In the long term, the plan is to hold similar seminars in other countries with strong economic growth and development, such as South Korea, South Africa, countries in the Caucasus and Egypt”, explains Gunilla Carlecrantz.

At the same time as Lund University’s seminar initiative in Brazil and Russia, Lund is one of the Swedish institutions included in the Brazilian scholarship programme that starts next year.

The programme is called Science without Borders and is a major initiative that will allow a total of 100 000 students, doctoral students and researchers from Brazil to study or conduct research abroad, funded by the Brazilian Government and business sector.

The International Programme Office for Education and Training estimates that around 2000 scholarships could go to students travelling to Sweden, in particular in engineering and science, but also in environmental studies.

Lund University already has collaborations and exchanges with universities in Brazil, especially in engineering. Lund University also has exchanges with Russia involving both staff and students.

Text: Britta Collberg