President Mission to China addresses renewable energies

Br. Evilázio Teixeira dealt with issues such as health, innovation and the teaching of Mandarin as well

On a mission to China during the first two weeks of May, PUCRS’ President, Br. Evilázio Teixeira visited some universities and attended the Seminário sobre Educação Brasil-China, at the Institute of Latin American Studies, in Beijing. The program, which was open to 12 presidents of Brazilian institutions, was put together by Instituto Confucius PUC-Rio, in partnership with the Coimbra Group of Brazilian Universities (GCUB).

Topics of interest to PUCRS include the production of renewable energies, health care practices employed by the Chinese system, the teaching of Mandarin, academic mobility, information technology and innovation. “We intend to expand our actions of cooperation with China. For us, one of the highlights is to have received the country’s largest technology company, Huawei, in our Science and Technology Park (Tecnopuc). We are also interested in disseminating the teaching of Mandarin among our students with native teachers”, said the President. Negotiations with the Chinese Government are in progress.

Relying on an energy matrix strongly dependent on mineral coal, China is seeking cleaner alternatives to keep its industrial production going. That was one of the topics addressed during the trip, and which may have some impact on the technologies provided by Brazil, such as the photovoltaic solar panels developed at Tecnopuc.

 

Former PUCRS student at the Embassy

 

The presidents have also visited the Brazilian Embassy in Beijing. Br. Evilázio Teixeira had the chance to meet Lang Si, who went on an exchange program to PUCRS, along with a group of 40 other students, from 2006 to 2007. Lang Si, whose Brazilian name is Clara, went to the School of Communications (Famecos), and currently works at the office of the Brazilian ambassador Mr. Marcos Caramuru de Paiva.

Upon completion of the mission in Asia, Mr. Teixeira claimed that “PUCRS is achieving the status of a world-class university, and internationalization is one of its strategic pillars. Relying on a vast and modern infrastructure, excellent professors and dedicated students, we’ll continue to be a reference in education both in Brazil and all over the world”.

 

Coimbra Group

 

The Coimbra Group of Brazilian Universities (GCUB), of which PUCRS has been a founding member since 2008, comprises 77 institutions, including 55 federal universities, 16 state universities and six private non-profit or confessional institutions. GCUB is part of the international network Coimbra Group Universities, and is partners with associations, governments and international entities in the Americas, Asia and Europe. The current mission included presidents of three private non-profit universities: PUCRS, PUC-Rio and Mackenzie (SP).