Formal ceremony and alumni meeting with The Ohio State University also celebrated the longstanding partnership
September, 1964, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (USP/ESALQ) began the academic activities of the graduate programs. ESALQ is considered the pioneer in the implementation of the Graduate Studies at USP, beginning with Statistics and Experimental Testing (currently Agricultural Statistics and Experimentation); Plant Pathology; Plant Genetics and Improvement; Mechanics, Motors and Machinery (closed in 1970); Plant Nutrition and Soils. Last September 12th morning, lectures were held involving representatives from ESALQ and The Ohio State University (OSU), an institution with whom ESALQ also celebrates 50 years of partnership.
Thus, a number of speeches covered the historical and current context of the graduate program, and also topics related to internationalization, funding agencies and bilateral agreements. The activities were opened by the dean of ESALQ, José Vicente Caixeta Filho. From ESALQ were also present the vice-dean, Marisa Aparecida Bismara Regitano D'Arce, Luis Eduardo Aranha Camargo, president of Graduate Studies Committee and professor at the Plant Pathology and Nematology Department (LFN), and coordinators of the graduate programs (PPGs), professors and graduate students. Professor Bernadette Dora Gombossy de Melo Franco, Provost for Graduate Studies, was represented by Edimilson Dias de Freitas, from IAG, coordinator of the Board of Standards and Appeals from the Provost's Office for Graduate Studies.
According to Luis Eduardo Aranha Camargo, the celebration is a way to remember ESALQ’s successful path. “Out of the 16 graduate programs offered by ESALQ, six received the maximum Capes’ evaluation score. This is a leadership in the field of Agricultural Sciences”, he says. The professor also said that the agreement with OSU was essential in the development of the graduate program at ESALQ as a whole. “The International Cellular and Molecular Plant Biology graduate program is a result of this cooperation, which provides multiple degree since 2009”. The program includes the Ph Degrees from ESALQ, OSU and The State University of New Jersey (Rutgers)”.
To the dean of ESALQ, the event is important because is the highlight of the celebrations for the 50 years of Graduate Studies. “This is the first major event of the schedule and the presence of representatives from OSU, which since the early days collaborated with our graduate program, gives us an opportunity to thank the American institution for all their support over the years”.
Representing the American institution, were present Joseph E. Steinmetz, Executive Vice President and Provost, William Brustein, Vice Provost for Global Strategies and International Affairs, Bruce A. McPheron, Vice President of Agricultural Administration and Dean, College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Patrick S. Osmer, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate School, Carol Whitacre, Vice President for Research, David B. Williams, Dean of the College of Engineering, Keira Williams, Global Gateways Academic Program Coordinator, Luke Barbara, Director of the Brazil Gateway.
From OSU, Steinmetz pointed out that the connection with ESALQ means a lot for their institution. “It's probably one of our most valuable partnerships, and one of the oldest we have”. Regarding future expectations, the vice President points out that The Ohio State University plans to expand the collaborations, since both institutions benefit from this relationship. ”More research, more academic programs, and we should also worry about the outreach of this partnership, in how our research and teaching affect not only the students and academic institutions involved, but also the citizens of our countries”, he concludes.
William Brustein also talked about the relationship between ESALQ and OSU. “Our relationship of 50 years, which is becoming wider and deeper, it is a relationship that demonstrates, decade after decade, mutual advantages that OSU and ESALQ gain, and we see this celebration as another opportunity to thank our friends from ESALQ for our 50 years anniversary, and now let's make the next 50 years even better”.
Lectures - After the opening ceremony, which featured the presentation by “Luiz de Queiroz” choir, Edimilson Dias de Freitas discussed the ‘Importance of internationalization in the Graduate Programs for USP'. Then, the president of the Graduate Program at ESALQ talked about the ‘50 years of Graduate Program at ESALQ’. The importance of funding agencies was the subject of two presentations: ‘Capes and the internationalization of higher studies in Brazil', with professor Marcio de Castro Silva Filho, from the Genetics Department of ESALQ (LGN) and director of programs and grants from Capes, and ‘Graduate studies and FAPESP support’, with José Arana Varela, FAPESP’s chief executive officer.
Latter, the ESALQ x OSU partnership was the highlight. 'Partnership of top research universities, USP/ESALQ and The Ohio State University' was approached by Joseph E. Steinmetz; ‘Partnering to feed and fuel the future through collaboration, research, and innovation’, was the theme of Bruce McPheron; ‘Dual degree, training the future generation of plant science scholars', with Christopher Hadad; 'The history of the OSU-ESALQ agreement' was presented by Helaine Carrer, professor from the Biological Sciences Department of ESALQ (LCB).
At the end, members of both institutions were invited by ESALQ’s dean for the tree planting representing the cooperation, at the Horticulture Building.
Alumni - In the afternoon, also at the Main Building, Dean’s Office and Graduate Studies Committee from ESALQ promoted an alumni meeting between professors and researchers from ESALQ who studied at OSU with the delegation of the Ohio institution.
Keeping the partnership – In 2012, the Memorandum of Understanding, document that confirms the agreement with the mutual desire to promote further cooperation in higher education between the United States of America and Brazil, was signed. In the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2009 between the University of São Paulo (USP) and The Ohio State University, the University of São Paulo, on behalf of its Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, and The Ohio State University, on behalf of its College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (OSU-CFAES), enter into this formal agreement for the purpose of educational and cultural exchange. Both institutions have found it mutually beneficial to engage in cooperative activities, including exchange of theses, teaching materials, and other scientific and technological literature, research collaboration, exchange of faculty, scholars, and students for lecturing, advanced studies and research. For more information about OSU in http://www.osu.edu/.
For more information about the Graduate Program at ESALQ in www.esalq.usp.br/pg.
Written by: Caio Albuquerque and Lucas Jacinto
Support: Luciana Joia de Lima and Tobias de Paula Lima Souza
Translated by: Tobias de Paula Lima Souza
Proofread by: Marisa Aparecida B. Regitano d'Arce
Photo by: Gerhard Waller
Acom (ESALQ’s Office of Communications)
September 12th, 2014
