FAUBAI Meeting: In December 2005 Dean Bruce Sillner of SUNY New Paltz and Ms. Sally Crimmins Villela, Senior Associate Director Office on International Programs, attended a two-day meeting of the Forum of Brazilian International Educators (FAUBAI) sponsored by the US Embassy and held in Campinas. The purpose of the meeting was to encourage collaboration between Brazilian universities and partners in the United States. The State University of New York was the only US institution invited to participate. (Although two other US colleagues worked at the event as meeting facilitators.) SUNY personnel gave a presentation on the State University's Dual Diploma Programs in Turkey. There were two salient outcomes:
Bruce Sillner, Dean of the Center of International Programs at SUNY New Paltz and Sally Crimmins Villela, Senior Associate Director, Office of International Programs and Director for Latin American Programs
A joint proposal was made by FAUBAI President Luciane Stallivieri and SUNY personnel to US Embassy staff in attendance to establish a FAUBAI-USA Professional Exchange (modeled on the AMPEI Exchange in Mexico). The program would bring Brazilian international education professionals to campuses of the State University and vice-versa to establish institutional ties. It was asked that the Embassy consider providing the same level of funding the Embassy in Mexico has provided, covering airfare and a small stipend;
After the Turkish Dual Diploma presentation, SUNY was approached by a few potential partner campuses. FAUBAI members are considering the establishment of a consortium of Brazilian universities to lend heft and momentum to their efforts to establish dual diploma programs with US partners. We will continue to work with them in this regard.
