Cedar Rapids, Iowa (September 16, 2014)—Kirkwood Community College, in partnership with Northern Virginia Community College, is a host institution for Brazilian study abroad students in the United States, sponsored by CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico).
Administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE), the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program (BSMP) is a one-year, non-degree program awarded to both graduate and undergraduate students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. The program strives to promote widening the academic and research exchange between the United States and Brazil.
Recognized by the IIE as “one of the world’s best colleges and universities”, Kirkwood Community College is again one of only a few community colleges in the country to receive this rare opportunity for their students.
“Kirkwood is committed to integrating global learning experiences for all of our students, faculty and staff,” said International Programs Director Dawn Wood. “The Brazilian students who are here as part of the Scientific Mobility program are a joy to have on campus — they are getting involved in activities, contributing to classroom discussion, meeting members of our community and becoming vital pieces of our Kirkwood global fabric. The learning we gain from engaging each other’s cultures contributes to our world and community growing in a constructive and peaceful direction.”
Nine students will be coming to Kirkwood in the fall semester to study for the next year to year and a half to study in their degree fields:
- Camila Ines Mendes Sousa, Biology
- Eric De Oliveira Faria, Agronomy
- Juliana Ayres De Araujo, Agronomy
- Mayara Garcia Ramos, Math
- Silmar Luiz Pagno Junior, Veterinary Medicine
- Rone Kesley Barros Da Rocha Silva, Agriculture and Agronomy
- Arthur Cesar Dos Santos, Information Systems
- Cleiton De Oliveira Gaspar, Computer Science
- Amanda Tristao Santini, Biology