The Ambassador of Portugal to the USA, Francisco Duarte Lopes, met this Wednesday, January 15, with the Vice President of the University of Utah for Academic Affairs, Mitzi Montoya, the Executive Director of Global Programs, Cheri Daily, and the Director of the Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures and Professor of Portuguese at the University of Utah,  Christopher Lewis.

Also present at this meeting were the Consul General of Portugal in San Francisco, Filipe Ramalheira, the Honorary Consul of Portugal in Utah, Luís Câmara Manoel, the Coordinator of Portuguese Education in the USA, João Caixinha and the Director of the AICEP Office in San Francisco, Pedro Macedo Leão.

In focus were the Luso-Brazilian studies programs that the University of Utah, which range from the introductory level to more advanced subjects, including literature and culture from Portuguese-speaking countries. These programs include bachelor's and master's degrees in Portuguese language, Portuguese and Brazilian studies, and Language Pedagogy, and Latin American Studies, with a focus on Brazil. 

The University also promotes foreign-exchange opportunities and immersion programs in Portuguese-speaking countries, with Portugal standing out with FLAD. In November 2021, Camões I.P., in partnership with FLAD, the University of Utah and Brigham Young University, established a Cooperation Protocol for the establishment of the Chair of Portuguese Language and Culture. This cathedra supports lines of research that include Portuguese Literature, History of Portuguese Culture, Promotion of Translations and Portuguese-Speaking Cultures, with joint funding from Camões, I.P. and FLAD.

The topics addressed in this meeting included the promotion of the Portuguese language and the implementation of the Protocol with Camões I.P. and FLAD, partnerships with Portuguese Universities (collaboration in R&D, student exchange) and the connection to the Portuguese community.

- Adapted from an article by João Caixinha, Director of the Camões Institute for Cooperation and Language