Home » Brazil Center » First Lemann Dialogue on Brazil in the United States, November 17-18, 2011

First Lemann Dialogue on Brazil in the United States, November 17-18, 2011

About the Conference

The first Lemann Dialogue on Brazil in the United States, jointly sponsored by Columbia University's Center for Brazilian Studies, University of Illinois' The Lemann Institute for Brazilian Studies, and Harvard University's David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, took place on Thursday, November 17 - Friday, November 18, 2011.

Scholars, educators, and practitioners converged to have meaningful discussion on this year's theme: "Development Challenges in Brazil and the Role of Universities." The conference called together the leading experts on Brazilian and American higher education, as well as promising junior scholars, in order to assess the current state and future directions of the research universities in Brazil. Organized as it is by representatives of three leading U.S. research universities with active outreach to Brazil, this conference has another purpose as well – to examine links past, present, and future between universities in the United States and in Brazil. In the best spirit of a global knowledge enterprise, the practical question is asked: How can binational university cooperation be strengthened to the lasting benefit of both societies?

Conference Schedule & Speakers

Thursday, November 17th Skyline Dining Room

Welcoming Remarks by Directors
Thomas Trebat, Columbia University
Merilee Grindle, Harvard University
Mary Arends-Kuenning, University of Illinois

Roundtable Discussion: The Emerging Role of Universities in Brazilian Development
Chair: John H. Coatsworth, Columbia University 
Participants: Jorge Guimarães, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoas de Nivel Superior (CAPES)
Carlos Brito Cruz, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)
Glauco Arbix, Financiadora de Estudos e Projectos (FINEP)

Friday, November 18th Presidential Rooms 2 & 3

Session 1: Higher Education in Brazil
Chair: Merilee Grindle, Harvard University 
Presenters: Mary Arends-Kuenning, University of Illinois, Jorge Balan, Columbia University
Commentators: Márcia Lima, University of São Paulo (USP), and Eduardo Viotti, University of Brasília

Session 2: Higher Education in Brazil
Chair: Thomas J. Trebat, Columbia University
Presenters: Henry M. Levin, Columbia University; Lucia C.P. de Melo, Fundação Joaquim Nabuco; Glauco Arbix, FINEP; and Carlos Brito Cruz, FAPESP

Keynote Remarks
Presenter: Dr. Mauricio Rands, Secretary of Government, State of Pernambuco
Commentator: Werner Baer, University of Illinois

Session 3: Case Studies of Collaboration: Connecting U.S. Universities to Brazil and the World
Chair: Frances Hagopian, Harvard University
Case Study Presenters: Werner Baer, University of Illinois
Joseph Love, University of Illinois
Márcia Castro, Harvard School of Public Health
Chad Vecitis, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Jason Dyett, Harvard University
Mark Wigley, Columbia Graduate School of Architecture and Architectural Planning
Pedro Rivera, Columbia Studio-X, Rio de Janeiro
Commentators: Jason Lane, State University of New York – Albany and Paulo Blikstein, Stanford University School of Education

Session 4: Changing Modes of International Cooperation: Public and Private Viewpoints
Chair: Mary Arends-Kuenning, University of Illinois
Presenters: Dr. Jorge Guimarães, CAPES
Denis Mizne, Fundação Lemann
Joan Dassin, Ford Foundation
Commentator: Philip G. Altbach, Boston College

Conclusions and Next Steps: Closing Remarks by Conference Organizers
Thomas Trebat, Columbia University
Jorge Balan, Columbia University

About the Page

This page serves as a space for continuing the conversation and sharing the wealth of information explored during the conference. Please contact Esteban Andrade (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)),  Program Manager, if you have any questions.

See pictures from the conference here.

See videos from the conference here.

Files of the individual presentations and readings can be downloaded by clicking the links below.  Click the headings to download a .zip file of all of the related files:

Presentations (.zip)

Readings (.zip)