1097) Brazil Initiative - University of Wisconsin-Madison

BRAZIL INITIATIVE, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

In response to the growing global importance of Brazil in economic and political spheres, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Division of International Studies and the Latin American, Caribbean & Iberian Studies (LACIS) Program have begun an interdisciplinary initiative aimed at producing collaborative research, teaching and outreach projects focused on Brazil.
The overarching goal of this Brazil Initiative is to bring faculty and alumni together with private foundations, businesses and state agencies to help Wisconsin better understand and engage with Brazil as an emerging global economy. The Brazil Initiative
will also work to expand UW-Madison’s Study Abroad Programs in Brazil. This initiative builds on Wisconsin’s long-standing involvement with Brazil. Portuguese language instruction at UW-Madison goes back almost 70 years and the Summer Intensive Portuguese Institute, supported by the U.S. Department of Education’s Title VI program, has been in operation since 1985.
Professor Severino Albuquerque, from the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, is the appointed faculty lead and director of the Brazil Initiative for 2009-2011. Professor Albuquerque will convene a faculty steering committee to oversee the activities of the Brazil Initiative.

ACTIVITIES OF THE BRAZIL INITIATIVE
• A series of workshops for Wisconsin businesses with interest in trade and exchange with Brazil. Sponsors: UW-Madison School of Business/CIBER and Wisconsin Department of Commerce. Partially supported by the Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Fund. (Launch - summer
2009).

• A Tinker Visiting Professorship. Professor Glauco Arbix, from the University of Sao Paulo will teach and conduct research on Brazil’s socio-economic and political issues at the UW-Madison School of Business (Fall semester 2010).

• Major conference on US-Brazil relations beginning with follow up to the Nabuco and Madison conference, under the direction of Emeritus Professor of Law David Trubek. (Fall 2010).

• A Writer in Residence Program at UW-Madison, in collaboration with the Consulate of Brazil in Chicago (beginning with Fall 2009).

• Appointment of Honorary Fellows to conduct independent research on Brazil – U.S. economic and political relations. First fellow: Professor Wilson Almeida, Professor of International Relations at the Universidade Catolica de Brasilia (2008-2009).

• A series of visiting invited speakers in diverse fields with expertise on Brazil (2009-11)

• A series of visiting officials of governments, industry, business and commerce, beginning with Diana Page, immediate past U.S. consul in Recife, Brazil (April 2009).

• Expand exchange programs such as the existing agreement between the UW Law School and the Pontifical Catholic University in Rio de Janeiro.

• Foster interdisciplinary research and academic activities in areas of shared interest for Brazil and the United States.

• Expand study abroad, field work and internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students interested in Brazilian studies.

• Convene Brazilian UW alumni and other Brazilianists in conjunction with the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) conference in Rio de Janeiro to initiate new collaborative efforts (June 2009).

The UW-Madison Division of International Studies is the campus unit that coordinates international activity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The mission of International Studies is to promote international education and cooperation both on and
off-campus.

Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies (LACIS) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a U.S. Department of Education Title VI National Resource Center, established in 1973. LACIS coordinates and supports teaching, research
& outreach on campus; offers over 250 courses, an undergraduate major, a Master’s Degree, a Ph.D. concentration; offers research support & conferences for faculty & students; and visiting faculty & scholars programs.