Agreement aims at establishing academic cooperation in Agriculture and related fields
On June 11th, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (USP/ESALQ) signed an agreement with the University of Western Australia (UWA). The meeting took place at the Dean’s Office, and the dean of ESALQ, professor Luiz Gustavo Nussio, and the head of the International Office (SVAInt), Alexandre Joviniano dos Santos, were present, as well as the Dean of Science at the University of Western Australia, Anthony O’Donnell, the regional manager for North/South America at the University of Western Australia, Sara Duffy, and the international development programs director, Annabel Turner.
The agreement, which is valid for five years, aims for academic cooperation in Agriculture and related fields, allowing the exchange of professors/researchers, graduate and undergraduate students and members of the technical and administrative staff of the respective institutions. The activities of the agreement will be coordinated, at ESALQ, by Heloisa Lee Burnquist, professor from the Economics, Administration and Sociology Department (LES), and at UWA, by Professor Kadambot Siddique.
According to Nussio, the partnership with the institution of Oceania opens new lines for ESALQ and enhances the international environment in the institution. “The exchange between our students, researchers and professors is another successful step for us to effectively introduce ourselves as a qualified environment for the exchange of knowledge on an international level”
According to O'Donnell, this is the first agreement that UWA signs with ESALQ and USP. “The reason we are coming to ESALQ is for its reputation in agriculture. We also have in Australia a great reputation in the area and we want to work with the best institutions that deal with it", he said. For him, Brazil and Australia have similarities soil, geology, among many other aspects, and also have similar agricultural problems. “Therefore it is important that we are always in contact, increasing our partnership. Working together we can promote progress for both countries”.
As goals and ways of cooperating, professors/researchers will participate in conferences, teaching and/or research. The undergraduate and graduate students will be indicated by their home institution based on academic excellence, and acceptance will be the responsibility of the host institution. Each student will follow a program developed jointly by the two institutions. Members of the technical and administrative staff may participate, in order to stimulate the exchange of experience and management skills in areas of common interest, and the salaries will be paid by the home institution.
About UWA - The University of Western Australia (UWA) was established in 1911 and is the largest university in Australia, being number one in the country's agricultural area, according to the international ranking The Times Higher Education. Website: http://www.uwa.edu.au/.
Written by: Alessandra Postali
Proofread by: Caio Albuquerque
Translated by: Tobias de Paula Lima Souza
Photo by: Adalto de Proença
Acom (ESALQ’s Office of Communications)
June 15th, 2015
