Expanding the participation of the National Council of Institutions of the Federal Network of Vocational, Scientific and Technological Education (CONIF) in international forums and councils, introducing the Federal Network to international partners, and presenting its full range of cooperation options – these were CONIF’s key objectives for its participation in the 6th Conference of the Americas on International Education (CAIE), held from October 23 to 25 in Bogota, Colombia. CONIF was represented at the event by its President, Jerônimo Rodrigues da Silva, and the Rector of the Federal Institute of Mato Grosso (IFMT), William Silva de Paula.
While there, they attended the “Networking Session of the Inter-American Space for Higher Technical and Technological Education" and the roundtable on "Technical and Professional Education: Training for Innovation." During the first event, Mr. Rodrigues da Silva addressed some general and strategic aspects appertaining to the Federal Network. During the second, the CONIF representatives discussed the Innovation Hubs, the Graduate Vocational and Technological Education Program (ProfEPT), and CONIF's internationalization initiatives.
For Mr. Rodrigues da Silva, attending CAIE was important for CONIF to diversify its network of contacts, and further promote the Federal Network's role, as it has done before in the case of UNESCO-UNEVOC, IOHE, WFCP, CICan, ANUT and OEI (*). “This approach has a positive impact on our initiatives focused on strengthening South-South cooperation and supporting language teaching programs through partnerships with other countries. It also encourages the engagement of CONIF's Teaching, Research and Extension Pro-Rectors in international activities and debates, with the purpose of solidifying the crosscutting character of internationalization, as well as promoting the exchange of good practices, among others," he said.
During the event, the CONIF leaders also met with Vannier College representatives. The meeting provided an opportunity for them to discuss a cooperation proposal to expand readership programs, along the lines of the existing French Readers Program.
“Vocational and technological education in the Americas has been well represented and discussed. I would like to point out that CONIF and the Federal Network must be ever more present and visible at events like this. People have now a better understanding of our vertical integration approach, and that is very good. I take this opportunity to congratulate CONIF's International Relations Chamber for their excellent work," said the IFMT Rector.
CONIF's Board of Directors and its International Relations Chamber focus their strategic actions on strengthening their work under the IOHE, taking into account the similarities that unite Federal Network and IOHE institutions.
CAIE – The Conference of the Americas on International Education was coordinated by the Inter-American Organization for Higher Education (IOHE), with which CONIF signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2017.
The MoU establishes that CONIF and the IOHE should promote collaboration among their member institutions and foster cooperation processes through the Federal Network's international exchange activities.
The event, which takes place every two years, brought together the main actors linked to the internationalization of higher education, with the goal of strengthening contacts, exchanging experiences and outlining the future of academic cooperation in the Americas.
(*) UNESCO-UNEVOC (International Center for Technical and Vocational Education and Training of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization); IOHE (Inter-American Organization for Higher Education); WFCP (World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics); CICan (Colleges and Institutes Canada); ANUT (National Association of Technological Universities) and OEI (Organization of Ibero-American States).
Bárbara Bomfim
Communication Office
CONIF
+55 61 3966 7230