Levin Launches Partnership in Brazil
In January, The Levin Institute initiated its latest partnership in the expansion of its research effort on Global Talent particularly in high and knowledge fields such as engineering and science. The Fundacao Getulio Vargas (FGV), Levin's Brazilian partner, is a highly regarded, academic/research institution. FGV offers degrees in business and public administration degrees, law, economics, and other fields on campuses in both Sao Paolo and Rio. Research on the Brazilian Talent Pool will be undertaken, under Levin sponsorship, by Professors Moises Balassiano and Paulo Figueiredo of FGV in Rio de Janeiro.
The collaboration began with a seminar on Talent Challenges in Brazil on January 28th attended by Dr. Cong Cao, Research Scientist and Thomas Moebus, Vice President for Development of the Levin Institute. In addition to ten members of the FGV academic and research staffs, Sirlene de Toledo of IBM Brazil, offered the perspective of IBM's talent needs in Brazil. IBM is the overall sponsor for the Global Talent Research Project. An additional ten members of Brazil's academic, industry, and NGO sectors engaged in a dialogue about the shape of the research project in Brazil. It is anticipated that the results of the Brazil talent study will be completed later in 2008. Levin's research in Brazil is part of a Global Talent study that includes studies in China, India, Singapore and Russia, all directed by The Levin Institute with support from IBM.
In addition to the research seminar at FGV, Levin explored a broader range of program relationships with senior officials at FGV, including Dean Bianor Cavalcanti, and Head of International Programs, Eduardo Marques. FGV has just begun its own English-language Masters in International Management, and is eager to create a broader partnership for faculty visitation, student exchange, and joint program development. Dr. Cao presented a seminar for FGV's Masters students on January 30th on Innovation in China, which was both well attended and featured significant interest and questions from FGV's students. Brazil, like many other nations, is intrigued by the rapid emergence of China. Levin's expertise related to China, particularly in technology and innovation, is a strong element of its attractiveness as a partner, in addition to its mission, excellence of programs, and location in New York City. We anticipate welcoming students from FGV to Levin's Semester in New York programs in Fall 2008.