For Immediate Release: September 5, 2012
Contact: Tim Truman (202) 482-3809
Largest U.S. Education Services Mission reaches Thousands of Potential Students in Brazil
Education fairs in Brasilia, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro promote higher education in the United States
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez today concluded the Commerce Department’s largest education services trade mission in history in Rio de Janeiro. Sánchez and representatives from 66 U.S. colleges and university introduced more than 7,500 Brazilian students and parents to educational programs and opportunities for study in the United States during education fairs and meetings in Brasilia, São Paulo, and Rio.
“These distinguished U.S. colleges and universities value the role that international students can play in helping shape the next generation of leaders in government, business, and science,” Sánchez said at the EducationUSA Fair in Rio de Janeiro. “Our efforts during this mission strongly support the extraordinary commitment from President Obama and President Rousseff to increase student exchanges between our two countries.”
Education and training is one of the United States’ leading services exports. The industry annually adds $21 billion to the U.S. economy, and Brazilian students in the United States paid more than $257 million in tuition and fees for the 2010-2011 academic year. Brazil currently ranks 14th among countries sending students to the United States with more than 9,000 students, and the goal of this mission is to help boost that number significantly in the next five years.
Throughout the mission, Sánchez highlighted the mutual benefits to both economies that studying at a U.S. college or university brings. He also noted how study abroad programs promote a greater understanding and appreciation of our different cultures. Participating schools met with Brazilian institutions of higher learning to explore possible partnerships, exchange programs, and joint research projects.
“The mission has far exceeded our expectations both in the area of student recruitment and the development of possible new university partnerships,” said Jon Stauff, director of The College of New Jersey’s Center for Global Engagement. “We have much work to do to realize our goals in Brazil, but we feel confident that the mission has brought us much closer to success in a short amount of time.”
While in Rio, Sánchez also met with officials from groups organizing the 2016 Summer Olympic Games to express the United States Government support for their efforts and to discuss how U.S. companies are ready to help the city prepare for the games.
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EDUCATION MISSION PARTICIPANT QUOTES
“We learned a great deal about the Brazilian market after talking to our U.S. and Brazilian counterparts during the mission. We can't wait to share our stories with our colleagues in StudyNewJersey!”
– Jon Stauff, Director, The College of New Jersey, Center for Global Engagement
“The trade mission has allowed our university to interact with a large number of students who are interested in studying through Science Without Borders as well as students who want to study a full degree with us. The mission not only has exposed us to wonderful students, but also to the culture of this country. The EducationUSA advisors have been extremely welcoming and have done a phenomenal job of getting the word out about our visit.”
– Michelle Kowalsky, Coordinator of International Admissions, Western New England University
“It is beautiful to see Brazil and the USA working together in service of the greater good.”
– Babi Kruchin, Columbia University School of Continuing Education
“The University of North Texas is pleased to be part of the Education Trade Mission to Brazil, which has been an incredible opportunity to enhance higher education between the U.S. and Brazil. The University of North Texas has found the direct interaction with Brazilian students during the education fairs, networking opportunities with Brazilian universities, and information sessions from Brazilian agencies to be excellent opportunities to contribute to global higher education.”
– Amanda White Bennett, Global Engagement Coordinator, University of North Texas
“Forget you heard that students in Brazil are not interested in coming to the USA for degree programs. Things are changing rapidly and this education mission put me in contact with serious students and potential university partners.”
– Mary Baxton, International Recruitment and Admissions, Tseng College, California State University Northridge
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