Portuguese polytechnic institutes are on a mission to the USA and Mozambique to strengthen relations with the business community and showcase the best they have to offer in terms of research and development.

To showcase the best of what is being done in Portugal in terms of research and development at polytechnics, to foster closer ties with the business community and to attract new students and researchers. This is the main purpose of the participation of representatives from the polytechnics of Beja, Cávado e Ave, Coimbra, Leiria, Portalegre, Porto and Viana do Castelo in the world's largest international education and exchange fair, the NAFSA 2023 Annual Conference & Expo, in Washington, United States of America (USA).

This is a mission of the Coordinating Council of Higher Polytechnic Institutes (CCISP), which is taking place in Washington until June 6, and which also has another initiative planned in various educational institutions in Mozambique until June 3.

Under the motto "Study & Researching Portugal", the mission to the NAFSA 2023 Annual Conference & Expo - now in its 75th year - will see the participation of seven Portuguese polytechnic institutions, as part of the international promotion developed by the Portugal Polytechnics International Network (PPIN). The Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, Elvira Fortunato, and Portugal's ambassador to the USA, Francisco Duarte Lopes, will be present at the opening of the Portuguese stand.

According to the Eco report, students, teachers and researchers from more than 100 countries will be able to discover the latest innovations, proven strategies and best practices from around the world.

For the CCISP, "it's important to be present at NAFSA, where leaders, researchers and heads of international relations offices from all over the world meet". Also because," he explains, "the cream of the world's education sector will be meeting in Washington, and it's an important opportunity to showcase the work carried out by the Polytechnic Higher Education institutions in Portugal.

This is no longer the CCISP's first external promotion action under the PPIN project, as part of the joint interaction strategy involving 15 polytechnic institutions to promote the internationalization of Portuguese Polytechnic Higher Education. This project involves an investment of over 1.8 million euros aimed at the internationalization of Portuguese Polytechnic Higher Education.

The PPIN project has CCISP, Turismo de Portugal, IAPMEI and dozens of business entities as associated partners. Among the priority markets are Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Morocco, Mozambique and Peru.

"This is an important market for Portuguese polytechnic higher education, not least because of the proximity of the language and the umbilical connection to our country," says the CCISP, as it prepares for another mission, this time to Mozambique. Until June 3, nine polytechnics are taking part in a series of meetings with local partners, namely the Higher Institute of Training, Research and Science (ISFIC), the Higher Institute of Mutasa (ISMU) and the Higher Institute of Accounting and Auditing of Mozambique (ISCAM). In addition to the Technical University Diogo Eugénio Guilande (UTDEG), the Pedagogical University of Maputo and the Portuguese School of Mozambique.

A significant number of people from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (MCTES) are taking part in the mission, including the national directors and their deputies for planning, statistics and cooperation and higher education.

Source: Eco Online