15 September 2015
Hot on the heels of Brazil’s national Independence Day, 120 young Brazilians have touched down in Adelaide as part of their government’s bid to boost Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills in South America’s largest nation.
The group of young Brazilians will be studying at the University of South Australia and TAFESA.
In a scholarship program known as Science Without Borders and launched by the Brazilian Government in 2011, more than 100,000 young Brazilians are spending a year away from home to study English language and STEM subjects at universities and colleges around the world.
The global project marks one of the largest national investments in international education and experience for students and underlines Brazil’s commitment to improving STEM achievement.
This week the University of South Australia and TAFE SA welcomes the 2016 Brazilian student cohort who will complete English language studies at TAFE and then choose from a wide range of STEM programs at UniSA to add to their undergraduate degree qualifications.
The students will be studying courses in all fields of engineering, IT, architecture and industrial design and a range of health science disciplines.
UniSA Deputy Vice Chancellor International, Nigel Relph says the scheme is providing not only an excellent opportunity for Brazilian students, but also contributes to the intercultural experience of Adelaide as an education city.
“We’re delighted to welcome these students to the University of South Australia and to Adelaide’s vibrant education community,” Relph says.
“Governments do an important service to the nation when they invest both in their youth and in the intellectual and cultural experience of their next generation leaders.
“Much as the Australian Government is doing with its New Colombo Plan, which is seeing hundreds of local students gain international educational experiences in our region, the Government of Brazil knows the value of these kinds of schemes.
“From our perspective at UniSA, the more than 350 students from Brazil we will have hosted at UniSA from 2013 to 2016 will be learning side-by-side with Australian students and others from the hundreds of countries around the world who choose UniSA and South Australia as a study destination.
“That experience broadens minds and forges new friendships and important cultural understanding that lasts well beyond the period the students are here.”
As a part of their special welcome to Adelaide, the Adelaide Central Market is giving the students a taste and tour of the markets on September 15.
General manager of ACMA Aaron Brumby says the market has long been a “go to” place for international students who not only crave foods from home, but want to get a taste of local foods and flavours,” Brumby says.
“If students want to cook up a Moqueca de Camarão, they can find prawns, vegetables, coconut milk and peppers all here at the market,” Brumby says.
“There are hours of fun and taste-testing ahead if they want to source familiar food or similar local ingredients and they can try new things too – a wide array of Asian, Spanish, German, Italian smallgoods and ingredients and local gems such as Kangaroo Island honey, and specialty cheeses.
“We are delighted to welcome them to the market and know they will enjoy the atmosphere, the friendliness and the quality of produce they’ll find here.”
Media contact: Michèle Nardelli office +61 883020966 mob 0418823673 email michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au
