A delegation from the University of Southern California will visit academic, government and business leaders in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil this week to learn about national trends in higher education policy, build ties with top universities, corporations and policymakers, and reconnect with USC alumni across the country. 

The USC delegation will include deans from the USC Marshall School of Business; the School of Social Work; the Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism; the Viterbi School of Engineering; the Rossier School of Education, and the newly named USC Sol Price School of Policy.

“USC hopes to expand on existing partnerships with excellent Brazilian institutes such as the Fundacao Getulio Vargas as well as establish promising new relationships with our Brazilian counterparts,” said Anthony Bailey, associate provost for global initiatives at USC. “We are eager to establish meaningful student learning and research programs that will tackle uniquely Brazilian issues and opportunities along with our Brazilian partners.”

The USC delegation plans to learn about policies and plans of the two largest Brazilian states and cities, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo; gain an understanding of recent trends in higher education and Brazilian student mobility; meet with top universities, major corporations and government agencies such as FAPESP; and leverage its alumni around the country. 

“The University of Southern California benefits from the rich diversity of its students, scholars and faculty who come from around the world to become members of the Trojan Family,” said Norberto Grzywacz, chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at USC, who is Brazilian and will be accompanying the delegation. “This trip will open many doors for USC and expand and initiate some great opportunities for USC students and Brazilian students, faculty and researchers.”

The USC delegation will also be meeting with university representatives from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Pontificia Universidade Catulica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Fundacao Getulio Vargas (FGV-RIO and FGV-SP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, among others.

Located in the heart of Los Angeles, USC is one of the world's leading private research universities and enrolls more international students than any other university in the United States. A longtime leader in attracting some of the world’s top students, USC hosts more than 8,600 international students representing some 110 countries. USC also offers U.S. students extensive opportunities for internships and study abroad.