The largest uncut tropical rainforest in the world. The tenth largest economy. The third largest aerospace. The greatest disparity of income in the world. Ah Brazil.
In an attempt to join research and curriculum development, Fairfield, in coordination with the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) of the U.S. Department of Education, now offers a fall study abroad opportunity in Brazil.
“There are a lot of interesting challenges there,” said Director of International Studies, Katherine Kidd, Ph.D. “It is a country where the richer are richer than the average family in Connecticut, and the poor are living on $300 a year.”
The curriculum at both of the university’s partner institutions, Universidade Federal do Amazonas in Manaus and Compos will introduce students to the distinctive Brazilian environment, energetic culture and vibrant lifestyle.
Much of the coursework is accompanied by supporting experiences through faculty led field trips, internships, travel and independent study. Each student will have the opportunity to explore the Amazon forest, Amazon River region and the beautiful Brazilian coasts through visits with each host institution.
Students participating in the program will study one full semester at a Brazilian partner institution and receive Fairfield credit for their course work. A variety of courses are offered at each university and could possibly count for credit toward a student’s major, minor or core curriculum requirements.
“Students are able to put a package together to meet their needs,” Kidd said.
While Kidd was looking for a new program to add to the university’s study abroad program, she was interested in finding a country similar to the United States’ economy and culture.
“We were looking for a potential partnering,” Kidd said. “One of the grant’s purpose was for exchanging students with another country. We wanted to have joint research and curriculum development.”
While the great differences in social class are obvious through statistical data, Brazil has some similarities with the United States.
Both the United States and Brazil have a high economy and immigration population, where the rate of urbanization is continually on the rise, according to Kidd.
Where the United States protects the environment by law, Brazil does not have any control over its water and air pollution. Brazil, however, is working to improve its environmental laws.
“One of the largest industrial spills from a paper mill was in Brazil last year,” Kidd said. “There were a lot of chemicals you don’t want to have contact with, and the they got into the river.”
There was no access to water, and the entire water column was contaminated, according to Kidd.
“As of now, it appears as if no one is going to go to jail,” she said. There is a major problem with environment enforcement.”
Although Brazil is trying to enforce environmental regulations, Kidd assures that the country is still a safe place to be.
“When I visited, I was able to walk around at night with another female alone,” she said. “Of course, there are areas that you stay away from, but there are areas like that in the United States as well.”
Fairfield students would pay usual Fairfield tuition fees and would be expected to contribute to their living expenses (although living expenses are significantly less in Brazil than in Connecticut).
The FIPSE offers a grant that provides for additional funds specifically for student travel expenses. Each student would be eligible to receive $3000 in scholarship monies for additional in-country travel or to defer costs of airfare, ground transportation, accommodations or food since study abroad students are not eligible for financial aid from Fairfield, according to Kidd.
“This is a considerable disincentive for students,” she said. “It penalizes the best students, and it takes away an education they would benefit from. The grant is an incentive for people to come.”
While the expense is high, Kidd assures that the benefits do outweigh the cost in the long run.
In order to prepare students for the study experience, Fairfield offers Basic Portuguese each year prior to the term of travel, where the Portuguese instruction team is native Brazilian with several years of teaching experience. Brazilian exchange students are on campus each spring to interact with our students and prepare them for the new culture and lifestyle.
In addition to the formal language training on campus, the selected students will travel to Brazil a few weeks before the fall semester begins to take an intensive Portuguese language course with language professors at the Universidade of Amazonas in Manaus.
“Some students think it is a liability to learn the language,” Kidd said. “I argue, it’s an asset.”
Kidd noted that there is a desperate shortage of Portuguese speakers in the United States.
“Students have to work at the language,” she said. “In one year, students get the equivalent of three years of language instruction. Students can get around with Portuguese, and it is a very useful language. You’re guaranteed a job out there right out of college.”
While some students may be weary about traveling to Brazil, Kidd assured that the program promises to be successful, despite the little interest demonstrated by university students.
“Good international programs run on relationships,” she said. “Those relationships are hard to sustain…they all have financial, cultural, and language issues. This program is a strong asset for students.”
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