Time for Canada to catch a ride on the Brazilian boat Educational links are only the first step towards a stronger relationship

This op-ed was published in Embassy on June 15, 2011

By Paul Davidson
President and CEO
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

When Canadians think of our major global trading partners, Brazil is not usually top of mind. We need to change that.

Canadians need to pay more attention to Brazil. The rate of progress and change taking place across Latin America and particularly in Brazil is largely unheeded in Canada. Conversely, while thoughts of Canada in Brazil evoke good feelings, we are not high on their priority list. The fact that President Lula did not make a single official visit to Canada during his two mandates is very telling.

As Brazil takes centre stage and plays host to the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016, the world will watch Brazil showcase its dynamic and bourgeoning economy. Investments that Brazil is making now in infrastructure and human resource development are creating opportunities for business and governments around the world to play a role in this large and growing economy.

In 2007, Prime Minister Harper rightly announced a strategy for Canada to re-engage with the Americas, with Brazil as a priority country. With a majority government, now is the time to advance that agenda. The urgency is clear: with Brazil set to be the fifth largest economy in the world, Canada must take action to strengthen our engagement with this economic powerhouse.

Canada and Brazil have much to build on. We share similar characteristics with our large landmasses, multicultural societies and workforces, diversified economies with large stores of natural resources, and significant research and development endeavours. And yet we have much to learn from each other’s cultures, languages and perspectives on plural societies.

Canadian universities are poised to take action. The university sectors in both countries have long recognized each other’s strengths and are keen to forge closer ties. Canadian universities are global institutions, with a global outlook and reach and it is only natural for Canadian universities to partner with their Brazilian counterparts when seeking the best and the brightest the world has to offer.

Beyond its economic power and vast natural resources, Brazil’s most prized commodity is its talent. Brazil already produces two times as many PhDs as Canada, especially in key areas of joint interest – clean energy, biosciences and transportation. Moreover, seven of the ten leading research intensive universities in Latin American are based in Brazil. Canada needs to strengthen links with them.

In terms of an exchange of students, today’s numbers are small; only 500 Brazilian students are enrolled in Canadian universities and even fewer Canadian students are in Brazil. We can do better. Given our hemispheric proximity, we should be natural partners in developing the global workforce of tomorrow.

On June 14th and 15th, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) will bring together representatives from over 40 of Canada’s universities to meet with key Brazilian institutions, government representatives and private-sector voices to look at concrete ways to advance this relationship. The workshop is part of AUCC’s strategy to deepen the academic and research relationship between Canada and Brazil and to establish Canada as a partner of choice for Brazil. This work will set the stage for an AUCC-led mission of Canadian university presidents to Brazil in spring 2012.

As Canada emerges from the global downturn, we have an opportunity to build new, effective relationships with rapidly emerging economic powers, including Brazil. Canada’s universities are ready to play a leading role in making this happen.