Delegation of the Embassy of Brazil hosted by University
The two sides signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement.
The University was represented by Vice-Rector for International Affairs Timirkhan Alishev, Director of the International Office Olga Vershinina, Dean of the Higher School of Foreign Languages Diana Sabirova, and Associate Professor of the Department of Regional Studies and Digital Humanities, Head of the Center for Latin American Studies Liliya Ilikova.
The Brazilian delegation included Ambassador to Russia Rodrigo de Lima Baena Soares, Head of the Department of Culture, Education, Media and Public Diplomacy Carlos Eiji Suzuki de Amorim, and Second Secretary Hugo Lins Gomes Ferreira.
In his opening speech, Dr Alishev invited the guests to KFU’s 220th anniversary celebrations in November 2024. He also informed that KFU’s Institute of Psychology and Education delegation is currently in Brazil discussing cooperation with local universities.
“We’ll be organizing Summer University projects in July for those who want to apply to postgraduate studies. We plan to dedicate one of the breakout sessions to BRICS. We plan to have two-three students from Brazil partaking in the session,” noted the Vice-Rector.
As of now, there are about 180 students learning Portuguese language at the University. The Vice-Rector expressed hope that the President of Brazil visits the city during the BRICS Summit in October 2024 and has the time to tour the University and witness its work.
Dr Alishev mentioned that, although far removed from each other on the globe, the two nations actually have much in common in their spirit, “We have our Center for Latin American Studies. We can organize days of Latin America with the Embassy’s support. We are ready to spread your language and culture and hold regular events featuring Brazil and Latin America as a whole.”
He thanked the guests for their visit and the organizing effort of the Day of Brazil in Kazan on 6 April.
“Dear friends, I am very glad to be here with you once again. It is with great pleasure that we are once again visiting this prestigious university, Kazan University, and will be pleased to sign a memorandum of understanding and approval of the Portuguese language teaching program at Kazan Federal University,” replied Ambassador Soares.
He emphasized that promoting Brazilian Portuguese is one of the central objectives of the Embassy, “We plan to present three Brazilian books translated into Russian.”
The Ambassador assured, “Our President is going to visit Kazan and partake in the BRICS Summit with immense pleasure. As part of the Summit, there will be many meetings in education, culture, science, and technology.”
He mentioned the importance of the upcoming Summit in that it will be the first to feature new member stares (Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and United Arab Emirates have joined; Saudi Arabia plans to finalize the procedure in the nearest future).
As for the cultural aspect, the Ambassador suggested showing Brazilian films at KFU, to which Dr Alishev reacted, “We are ready to conduct presentations of Brazilian books and organize a festival of Brazilian films as part of, for instance, Days of Latin America.”
Mr Soares shared another piece of good news – he was to present the Order of Rio Branco, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil’s highest honor, to Amanda Gomes, prima ballerina of the Tatar State Opera and Ballet Theater, who serves as a symbol of friendship between Brazil and Russia.
The two interlocutors then put pens to paper in signing the memorandum.