Institutions will increasingly increase collaboration in areas such as entrepreneurship, innovation, and culture

On the agenda of Rio Grande do Sul, professor Manfred Krepsky Zeuch, vice president of External and International Relations at Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE), in Canada, met Cleber Prodanov, dean of Feevale University, this Friday morning at 9, at Campus II, in Novo Hamburgo. The two institutions have been partners since 2014, having a relevant collaboration in the exchange between academics, mainly for the Canadian scholarship programs of the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (Erap). During the meeting, Prodanov and Zeuch discussed possibilities for advances in academic cooperation and a closer approach in matters such as innovation, technology, extension, and culture.

In Prodanov's opinion, Brazil and Canada have a lot in common, due to the characteristics of their populations, the size of their territories, and the business possibilities. “We can increasingly explore the possibility of working together, as our relationship with Canada comes through years. We are very interested in creating an entrepreneurship and innovation room and increasing our partnership in the culture field, with CUE. In other words, using our structure and the one by Concordia to be a platform for business and students’ exchange”, said the dean.

According to Zeuch, community institutions such as Feevale are a reference in the extension curriculum. “We want to implement social work at graduation, as is done here,” he said. “We highly value the partnership with Feevale University, and I think that, from the innovation hubs, we will be able to carry out many projects together, as well as increase mobility programs between the students of the two institutions”, added the CUE representative. After the meeting with Prodanov, Zeuch met Feevale's Director of International and Institutional Relations, Paula Cundari, and with the Institution's Director of Innovation, Daiana de Leonço Monzon, who presented to the director the projects and services of the innovation ecosystem of the Feevale Techpark.

Canada has been a popular destination for students at Feevale, which has partnered with the country since 1999, when it started getting involved in issues related to entrepreneurship. This is the second time Professor Zeuch has come to Feevale. He was at the University in 2016, and last year he participated in a virtual class and chatted with students at the Feevale School of Application. In 2014, the Concordia University of Edmonton choir performed at the Feevale Theater. In 2017, the vice president of CUE, Valerie Heintiuk, visited the University and, in 2019, it was the turn of Dean Tim Loreman and Director of Innovation and Industry, Isha Katyal, to get to know the Institution.