On Friday (14/09) João Carlos Gomes , the secretary of Sciences, Technology and Higher Education, received the coordinators of the program ’Paraná Speaks English (PFI) – Paraná Fala Inglês, linked to the program ’Paraná Speaks Languages’. The goal was to evaluate the development of the project and discuss future actions. The state’s government invested approximately 3 million Brazilian reais in the program. The secretary tries to increase the interest to keep the program in continuity. „We need to fortify the program, in that we gain the confidence of the university community, start language courses to internationalize universities, increase the quality of education and reduce knowledge boundaries”, he added. The second semester had a great start with 3.000 students interested in English courses. The general coordinator of the program, Eliane Segati Rios Registro says that these positive results are due to the commitment of the team, working hard to promote and perfectionize the project. The project’s main goal is to internationalize the higher education institutions in Paraná, improving scientific and academic communication in foreign langugaes and reducing the boundaries of knowledge in graduation and postgraduation.

The Governor Beto Richa met the Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie of Quebec, Christine St-Pierre this Thursday (24) in Montreal, Canada. Richa ratified the agreement of cooperation with the province. The proposal seeks a partnership in audiovisual area and French teaching in Paraná. The Consul-General of Brazil, Ambassador Rubens Gama accompanied the meeting. The focus is on the program ’Paraná Speaks Languages’, established in seven state universities to support internationalization in higher education institutions. „It is an essential development for the whole academic sphere, helping professors, students and trainers likewise”, says Richa. The program started in 2014 and offers already English courses at state universities. Thanks to the new agreement, the initiative will be extended, launching the new program ’Paraná Speaks French’, supported by the Language Institution of Canada. In September, representatives of both governments will plan the exact activities to be developed in the French area. Paraná has already a partnership with two Canadian organisms for language studies. One called Language Institution, an association of the linguistic education sector in Canada representing the two official languages of the country (French and English). The other organism called Smart English is connected to the Pedagogy Department of Canadian College of English Language. Smart English works with technological solutions for English teaching in 40 countries. Until now, each of the seven universities of Paraná received nine classes due to the program ’Paraná Speaks Languages’. In the first half of the course of a period of 22 months with 25 students/class runs for professors and students involved in graduate and postgraduate studies, such as all academic workers. The second part of the course starts this week, with the same number per class. More information: http://www.aen.pr.gov.br/modules/noticias/article.php?storyid=95189&tit=Parana-e-Quebec-reforcam-parceria-com-foco-no-ensino-de-idiomas

Last week, Prof. Vanessa Civila of the National University of Jujuy visited the Campus of UENP. On 17th and 18th August, the professor participated in lectures, meetings, discussions with students and professors of the university. CRI’s coordinator accompanied the visit, which was financed by Zicosur University Network (Integration Zone of Southwest and Central America – Zona de Integracion del Centro Oeste Sudamericano). Prof. Eliane Segati Rios Registro, the coordinator of CRI expressed how important this visit has been as all the university members could get into touch with the professor from Argentina. It has been also a cultural and linguistic exchange for our university community. On Thursday, the professor visited the Campus of Luiz Meneghel, where they had a meeting with the members of NEAT (Núcleo de Estudos de Agroecologia e Territórios – Nucleus for Studies of Agroecology and Territories). In the afternoon she made a visit to the Center of Sciences, Humanities and Education (CCHE - Centro de Ciências Humanas e da Educação) at the Campus of Jacarezinho where they had a discussion with students from the Faculty of History and Pedagogy concerning the guest professor’s work „Argentina and its cultural landscapes”. At the end of the day, there was a meeting at the Campus of Cornélio Procópio with professors from the Master of Professional Education. On Friday afternoon there was another round-table discussion about cultural diversity with students and professors of Agronomy (graduation and masters) and Biological Sciences at the Campus of Luiz Meneghel. In the evening, there was a lecture hold about Culture and Identity of Argentina.