A global force: Brazil celebrations mark latest international partnerships

The University of Birmingham has established many major international research partnerships over the course of its 125-year history, with the University of Birmingham Brazil Institute as the most recent signifier of the University’s global significance.

Established in late 2023, the Institute aims to deepen and widen the University’s engagement with the country, as well as strengthening the partnership between the UK and Brazil.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) Professor Robin Mason ORB and His Excellency Mr Antonio Patriota, Ambassador of Brazil to the UK, marked the official launch of the Brazil Institute in a special ceremony on the Birmingham campus. Then followed an agreement between the University and the Brazilian Ministry of Education, reflecting Brazil’s renewed commitment to advance democracy, sustainability, and peace.

This week, from 25 to 28 February, the Brazil Institute is hosting a vibrant Brazilian Carnaval celebration Celebrate Amazonia, on campus, featuring research, music, dance and more as academics and students prepare for this year’s COP30 environmental summit in Belem.

There will also be an official launch of ‘Engage Amazonia 2025’, where together with Fundação Amazônia de Amparo a Estudos e Pesquisas (FAPESPA), the state funding agency of Pará, the Institute will reveal exciting new opportunities for Birmingham staff and students.

The University has extensive collaborations with Brazilian universities, focusing on health, clean energy, and inclusive growth. Projects include urban planning, economic development, and energy storage.

The Chico Mendes Chair Programme is a partnership with the Brazilian federal funding agency for graduate education CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior). It brings 15 Brazilian researchers to Birmingham over five years to build partnerships across environmental sciences, climate change, ecosystems, sustainability, and societies and environment.

Brazil is just one (important) part of the University’s global network. Established in 2013, the China Institute has worked to grow many research and education partnerships. These include joint degree programmes in mathematics-related subjects with Jinan University, as well as a partnership with the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University to improve healthcare outcomes through clinical research and innovation.

The University is one of the UK’s most engaged partners in India, with impactful research with clean cooling partnerships with state government in Haryana and Telangana, as well as surgical research in Punjab, plastic pollution in the River Ganga, and a railways research/training programme with the National Rail & Transport Institute of India.

There are strong partnerships in North America, with institutions such as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and McMaster University. Focus areas include research collaborations, student exchanges, and sports diplomacy. Founded in 2014, our BRIDGE Partnership with Illinois has since fostered over 100 collaborative projects across dozens of academic disciplines.

In Europe we have strong collaborations with institutions like Leiden University, in the Netherlands and Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, in Ukraine. Focus areas include energy, materials research, and cultural exchange.

Professor Mason commented: “Our partnerships in Brazil underscore the long-standing commitment that the University of Birmingham has with our international partners—enhancing our global engagement and strengthening co-operation in research and education.

“We are committed to further developing existing partnerships, as well as forging new relationships across the world that will help us to play our part in strengthening the University’s global impact by building collaborations in key countries such as Brazil, China, Europe, India and the United States.”