São Paulo – The Pontifical Catholic University (PUC) of Goiás and Saint-Esprit de Kaslik University (Usek), of Lebanon, plan to put an exchange of masters and doctoral professors into practice next year. Both institutions signed agreements for cooperation halfway through this year, during the General Assembly of the Federation of Catholic Universities (Fiuc), which took place in Brazil.
According to the International Relations advisor at PUC-Goiás, Paulo Gonzaga, apart from the exchange of professionals, in 2013 a joint congress between both universities should also be promoted. The meeting will include leadership of the director of the Philosophy Department of at PUC-Goiás, Walmor da Silva, and Usek international relations vice-president, Georges Hobeika. The dates and details, however, have not yet been defined. Silva made contact with Usek, through the director of the Centre for Latin American Studies and Culture (Cecal), Roberto Khatlab, and they had both shown interest in collaboration before the Fiuc.
It was Hobeika, representing Usek president Hady Mahfouz, who signed the agreement for cooperation, valid up to 2017, with the president of the university in Goiás, Wolmir Amado, in July. The objective is to grant support to cooperation activities and simplify the elaboration of joint projects. The agreement forecasts exchange of graduate and post-graduate students, researchers and professors, promotion of programmes for training and research, organisation of practical internships, congresses, colloquiums and seminars, as well as exchange of scientific publications and pedagogical documents.
Regarding the congress that is scheduled, Silva stated that it should first take place in Lebanon and then in Goiânia. The head of the Philosophy Department at PUC-Goiás says that there should be internships for students from both universities, meetings to discuss themes like theology and research activities, like, for example, some in the area of rice cultivation. "The historic and cultural ties that connect Brazil to Lebanon open several opportunities for this cooperation exchange. Apart from that, Usek is trilingual, operating in Arabic, English and French. This expands possibilities for Brazilian students and professors who may be interested,” said Silva.
PUC-Goiás has a series of international agreements. The focus of most is internships for professors and students, as well as the promotion of joint research. Among the institutions with which PUC-Goiás has partnerships are Coimbra University, in Portugal, Seville University, in Spain, Ferrara University, in Italy, Universidade Católica del Norte, in Chile, Texas University, in El Paso, in the United States, and Universidad Nacional del Litoral, in Argentina.
"This agreement with the Lebanese university means a great advance in the process for internationalisation of PUC-Goiás. Usek is the first PUC Goiás partner in the region,” said Gonzaga.
Usek, which is a catholic university, already has a strong connection with Brazil. The institution has the Cecal, which is headed by the Brazilian Khatlab and organizes activities turned to relations with Latin America and Lebanon and region. The institution has agreements with other Brazilian universities like the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR).
*Translated by Mark Ament
