[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13560-13562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5451]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


U.S. Education Mission to Brazil; Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and 
S[atilde]o Paulo, Brazil, August 30-September 6, 2012

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS), is 
organizing an education mission to Brazil (Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, 
S[atilde]o Paulo) and is partnering with the United States Department 
of State's EducationUSA Advising Centers. The emphasis will be on U.S. 
higher education, focusing on, in order of importance, intensive 
English language programs, undergraduate and graduate programs, and 
community college programs. English language programs and other 
continuing education programs seeking to participate should be part of 
a U.S. college or university and accredited through them. Community 
colleges, undergraduate and graduate programs seeking to participate 
should be accredited by a recognized accreditation body listed in 
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), in the Association 
of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA), or any accrediting 
body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
    This mission will seek to connect United States education 
institutions to potential students and university/institution partners 
in Brazil. The mission will include student fairs organized by 
EducationUSA, embassy briefings, site visits, and networking events. 
Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and S[atilde]o Paulo are three of the top 
cities for recruiting Brazilian students to the United States. 
Participating in the Education Mission, rather than traveling to these 
markets independently, will enhance the schools' ability to secure the 
appropriate meetings, especially in light of the high level engagement 
and support of U.S. education by the U.S. Ambassador in Brazil.

Commercial Setting

    There are several types of opportunities for U.S. universities and 
institutions of higher learning in Brazil: (1) Attracting Brazilian 
students to the United States (2) establishing a campus in Brazil to 
offer courses and programs and (3) online training programs.
    In March 2010, the United States and Brazil issued a joint 
statement to reaffirm the U.S.-Brazil Partnership for Education. Under 
the Partnership, the two countries endeavor to share information and 
expand cooperation in areas including promoting educational excellence; 
promoting diversity and equal opportunity in education; assessment, 
indicators and accountability; professional development for teachers 
and administrators; vocational-technical education; second language 
learning (English/Portuguese); U.S. community colleges and Brazilian 
federal institutes; and higher education cooperation and mobility. The 
partnership is working to strengthen educational exchanges between 
research and higher education institutions in the Science, Technology, 
Environment and Math fields.\1\ Science Without Borders, a Brazilian 
government program, provides scholarships to Brazilian undergraduate 
students for one year of study at colleges and universities in the U.S. 
Scholarships are given primarily in the fields of science, technology, 
engineering and mathematics. Students then return to Brazil to complete 
their degrees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, The United States and 
Brazil: An Education Partnership for the 21st Century, http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rls/fs/2011/158610.htm, March 19, 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The United States has long been a top destination for Brazilian 
students looking to study abroad. Since 2006, the United States has 
seen an increase in the number of Brazilian students. There are some 
8,777 Brazilians currently studying in the United States, a 16% 
increase from 2006; placing Brazil in 13th place among country of 
origin of international students in the U.S. The majority (46.3%) of 
Brazilian students in the United States are undergraduate students with 
Brazilian graduate students not too far behind at 34.8%.\2\ The new 
agreement between the United States and Brazil could help reverse a 
contraction in the number of Brazilians studying overseas that followed 
a fiscal squeeze in the 1990s \3\ when the government restricted 
fellowships for university study abroad, which made it possible for 
about 20,000 Brazilians to obtain their advanced degrees in the United 
States and Europe.\4\ Brazilian students and employers in Brazil have 
expressed the importance of education in areas that are well-aligned 
with the Brazilian job market. According to a recent Institute for 
Applied Economic Research (IPEA) study, 5.5 million workers in Brazil 
were unable to find jobs because they lacked the training and skills 
needed for current job openings. Brazil hopes to expand educational 
opportunities for students in order to meet employer's needs in 
commerce, high technology, engineering, and construction sectors.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Open Doors: Report on International Educational Exchange, 
published annually by IIE with support from the U.S. Department of 
State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, http://
www.iie.org/Research-and-Publications/Open-Doors/Data/Fact-Sheets-
by-Country/~/media/Files/Corporate/Open-Doors/Fact-Sheets-2011/
Country/Brazil%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Open%20Doors%202011.ashx.
    \3\ Hennigan, Tom, Brazil: US, Europe Pursue Higher Education 
Ties, April 10, 2011, Issue 166.
    \4\ U.S. Library of Congress, Colleges and Universities: Brazil, 
http://countrystudies.us/brazil/53.htm.
    \5\ Nogueira, Danielle for Infosurhoy.com, Brazil: Educational 
System Threatening Economic Growth, 03/02/11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The first stop on the mission itinerary is Brasilia, the capital 
city of Brazil. This visit would give the delegates an opportunity to 
directly interact with officials from the Government of Brazil 
regarding education policies. Brasilia has more than 114 universities 
recognized by the Ministry of Education (MEC). Brasilia would offer the 
delegates meetings with appropriate Brazilian government officials, an 
embassy reception, access to local bilingual high schools, and a 
student fair.
    Then the group will travel to S[atilde]o Paulo. The highest rate of 
enrollment in schools is found in S[atilde]o Paulo, which is the 
economically wealthiest region of the nation. The mission participants 
will have the opportunity to participate in student recruitment fairs, 
high school/university visits and optional one-on-one meetings. The 
universities in S[atilde]o Paulo are leaders in terms of education and 
research in Brazil.\6\ The city of S[atilde]o Paulo has several 
colleges and universities while the state of S[atilde]o Paulo has more 
than 578 universities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ http://www.mapsofworld.com/cities/brazil/sao-paulo/education.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, the delegation will travel to Rio de Janeiro to 
participate in a student recruitment fair and site visits to American 
and other bilingual high schools. The city of Rio de Janeiro boasts 99 
higher education institutions which include 53 University-preparatory 
schools, 6 major universities and 47 private schools of higher 
education. The state of Rio de

[[Page 13561]]

Janeiro has more than 137 upper-learning institutions. Three of the 
nation's top ranking universities, Rio de Janeiro State University, 
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and Pontifical Catholic 
University, are located in the city of Rio de Janeiro.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_de_Janeiro#Education.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mission Goals

    The goals of the United States Education Mission to Brazil are: (1) 
To help participants gain market exposure and to introduce participants 
to the vibrant Brazilian market in the three main metropolitan cities 
of Brasilia, S[atilde]o Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro; (2) to help 
participants assess current and future business prospects by 
establishing valuable contacts with prospective students and 
educational institutions/partners; and (3) to help participants develop 
market knowledge and relationships leading to student recruitment and 
potential partnerships.

Mission Scenario

    Participation in the mission will include the following:
     Pre-travel briefings/webinars;
     Embassy/consulate and industry briefings;
     Reception with Ambassador;
     Student Fairs and local visits organized by EducationUSA 
in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and S[atilde]o Paulo;
     Airport transfers in Brasilia, S[atilde]o Paulo, Rio de 
Janeiro;
     Site visit in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro; and
     Optional: Pre-scheduled meetings with educational partners 
in S[atilde]o Paulo

Proposed Mission Schedule--August 30-September 6, 2012

Brasilia--August 30-September 1, 2012

Thursday-August 30, 2012
--Arrive in Brasilia
--Check into hotel
Friday, August 31, 2012
--Ministry meetings/briefing on scholarship program, Visa Briefing
--Local visits to the American high school
--Lunch or evening reception with Ambassador
Saturday, September 1, 2012
--Student Fairs organized by EducationUSA, Under Secretary to open

S[atilde]o Paulo--September 2-4, 2012

Sunday, September 2, 2012
--Arrive in S[atilde]o Paulo and check into hotel
--Free Time
Monday--September 3, 2012
--11 a.m.-2 p.m. Visit to local high school
--5 p.m. EducationUSA Fair
Tuesday--September 4, 2012
--11 a.m.-1 p.m. Visit to local high school
--Depart for Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro--September 5-6, 2012

Wednesday--September 5, 2012
--Local high school visits
--Student fair organized by EducationUSA
Thursday--September 6, 2012
--No host breakfast/lunch; debrief with Under Secretary
--Depart for United States, or for the universities continuing on the 
EducationUSA South America Circuit, depart for Buenos Aires.

    The Department of Commerce mission is only in Brazil. For schools 
interested in exploring additional markets in South America, Education 
USA offers a series of student fairs in the following cities after the 
mission:

--Buenos Aires--September 7th--Friday
--Santiago--September 8th--Saturday
--Lima--September 11th--Tuesday
--Quito--September 13th--Thursday
--Guayaquil--September 15th--Saturday
--Bogota--September 17th--Monday
--Caracas--September 19th--Wednesday

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the mission to Brazil 
must submit a complete application package for consideration to the 
U.S. Department of Commerce. They also must complete and submit the 
online application for consideration by the EducationUSA South America 
Fair. All applicants will be evaluated on their ability to meet certain 
conditions and best satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below. 
The mission will open on a first-come, first-served basis to a minimum 
of 50 and a maximum of 60 appropriately accredited U.S. institutions.

Selection Criteria for Participation

     Applicant must be appropriately accredited as per 
paragraph one.
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of the mission.
     Timeliness of signed application and participation 
agreement by institution Referrals from political organizations and any 
documents containing references to partisan political activities 
(including political contributions) will be removed from an applicant's 
submission and will not be considered during the selection process.

Conditions for Participation

    An applicant must submit a timely, completed and signed mission 
application and supplemental application materials, including adequate 
information on courses offerings, primary market objectives, and goals 
for participation. The institution must be represented at the student 
fair by an employee. No agents will be allowed to represent a school on 
the mission or participate at the student fair. Agents will also not be 
allowed into the fairs to solicit new partnerships. If the Department 
of Commerce receives an incomplete application, the Department may 
reject the application, request additional information, or take the 
lack of information into account when evaluating the applications.
    Each applicant must also certify that the services it seeks to 
export through the mission are either produced in the United States, 
or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51 
percent U.S. content of the value of the service.

Fees and Expenses

    After an institution has been selected to participate on the 
mission, a payment to the South America EducationUSA fair in the form 
of a participation fee is required. The participation fee is $3,750 
dollars for one principal representative from each regionally 
accredited educational institution per city until May 31st and $4,110 
dollars for applications received after this date. The fee for each 
additional representative is $300. Expenses for lodging, some meals, 
incidentals, and all travel (except for transportation to and from 
airports in-country, previously noted) will be the responsibility of 
each mission participant. The EducationUSA Fair offers government rates 
or below-government rates in all hotels in the circuit.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce 
Department trade mission calendar (http://export.gov/industry/education/) and other Internet Web sites, press releases to general and 
trade media, direct mail, notices by industry trade associations and 
other multiplier

[[Page 13562]]

groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and 
trade shows. Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and 
conclude no later than August 15, 2012. The mission will be open on a 
first come first served basis. Applications received after that date 
will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Contact Information

U.S. Commercial Service in Brazil

    Patricia S. Marega, Business Development Specialist, S[atilde]o 
Paulo Tel: (55-11) 5186-7482, [email protected].

U.S. Export Assistance Center

    Joan Kanlian, Westchester USEAC Director, Tel: 914-682-6712, Email: 
[email protected].

Elnora Moye,
Trade Program Assistant.
[FR Doc. 2012-5451 Filed 3-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P