A delegation from the university, led by the rector, Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior, was on an international mission, engaging with Chinese universities and government agencies.

by Adriana Cruz to USP Journal – December 1st, 2023.

At the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the rector and the USP delegation held a meeting with the Vice President of the institution, Zhang Yaping – Photo: USP Journal.

Strengthening the ties in teaching, research, and extension between the University of São Paulo (USP) and Chinese institutions is the primary objective of the university delegation, led by Rector Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior, during an ongoing international mission to universities and governmental bodies in China.

The program commenced on November 28 in Beijing and extended until November 30, featuring visits, meetings, and discussions with representatives from three universities – China Agricultural University, Renmin University of China, and Peking University – as well as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Education of China. The delegation’s next destination is Shanghai on December 2, with scheduled engagements at two institutions: Tongji University, where a letter of intent will be signed, and Fudan University.

At the Ministry of Education of China, the representatives of USP were received by the Director-General Chen Dali – Photo: USP Journal.

Although the schedule has been very intense, the results have been very positive. In all the institutions visited, we have real possibilities for excellent collaborations. Our expectation is to have Chinese representations at USP, with the permanent presence of researchers, the promotion of dual degree programs, and the launch of joint calls for proposals. We are being well-received, and personally, I am impressed with China’s development,” evaluates Carlotti.

According to the rector, various opportunities for interaction at the undergraduate, graduate, and research levels were discussed, and there are already several ongoing projects between USP and Chinese universities that could form the nucleus of a binational research center, especially in the areas of Social Sciences and Humanities, Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, and Geosciences.

In addition to Carlotti, the delegation is composed of the Pro-Rector of Undergraduate Studies, Aluísio Augusto Cotrim Segurado; the Deputy Provost for International Cooperation (Aucani), Marly Babinski; the Director of the Institute of Geosciences (IGc), Caetano Juliani; the Director of the Faculty of Philosophy, Letters, and Human Sciences (FFLCH), Paulo Martins; the Director of the Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering (FZEA), Carlos Eduardo Ambrósio; the Director of the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (Esalq), Thais Vieira; the Director of the Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences (IAG), Ricardo Trindade; the professor at the School of Communications and Arts (ECA), Cecília Mello; and the professor at FFLCH, Shu Shangsheng.

Expanding Partnerships

On November 28, the delegation visited China Agricultural University (CAU), which maintains partnerships with various units of USP, such as Esalq and FZEA, in addition to a dual degree program with the University.

At CAU, the USP leaders were received by the rector, Sun Qixin, who highlighted the partnership between the two institutions and expressed the expectation of deepening cooperation with the University. The delegation also had the opportunity to meet with Chinese, Brazilian, and other international students participating in the dual degree program, as well as with Esalq professors Luiz Gustavo Nussio, Antônio Almeida Junior, and Ricardo Oliveira, who are faculty members of the course.

At CAU, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with Chinese, Brazilian, and international students participating in the dual degree program, as well as with Esalq professors who are faculty members of the course – Photo: USP Journal.

On the same day, in the afternoon, USP professors visited Renmin University of China, where they were received by the vice-rector of the institution, Wu Fulai, and faculty members from the areas of Arts, Social Sciences, Economics and Rural Development, Public Administration, and Environmental Studies.

The professors expressed their intention to strengthen ties with USP to develop joint programs, which may include a support fund coordinated by the university for student and faculty exchange through the establishment of a binational center.

Consolidating Collaborations

At the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the rector and the USP delegation had a meeting with the Vice President of the institution, Zhang Yaping, who mentioned ongoing collaborations between Chinese and Brazilian research groups, especially in the fields of geology and geophysics. On this occasion, a letter of intent was signed between the Academy and the University to formalize the partnership.

The group visited the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences – Photo: USP Journal.

Following that, the group proceeded with a visit to the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Academy. The institute’s coordinator, Peng Peng, expressed a desire to expand collaborations with USP, particularly in areas related to Climate Change, Space Weather, South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly, South American Plate Structure, and Studies on Mineral Resources for Energy Transition.

On the morning of November 30, the Brazilian delegation visited the Faculty of Medicine and the University Hospital of Peking University – Photo: USP Journal.

In the afternoon, there was a visit to the Ministry of Education of China, where the representatives of USP were received by the Director-General, Chen Dali. A visit by the Chinese Minister of Education, Chen Baosheng, to Brazil is planned for 2024 as part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Carlotti emphasized the University’s interest in deepening relations with China and extended an invitation to the minister to visit USP.

At Tsinghua University, the visit was to the Research Center for Audiovisual Communication, with which ECA (School of Communications and Arts) already maintains a partnership – Photo: USP Journal.

On the morning of the last day of the visit to Beijing, on November 30, the Brazilian delegation split into three groups for visits to the Faculty of Medicine, the University Hospital, and the Faculty of Humanities at Peking University, and the China University of Geosciences. Peking University, an institution focused on the study and research of foreign languages, expressed willingness to sign a cooperation agreement with USP.

At Tsinghua University, the top-ranked Chinese institution in international rankings (25th position in the QS World University Rankings), the visit was to the Research Center for Audiovisual Communication, with which ECA already has a partnership.