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UQ representative in Latin America
Based in Santiago, UQ's International Relations Manager for Latin America fosters engagement with universities, government agencies, corporate networks, and non-governmental organisations, while supporting alumni in the region.
Collaboration in action
Joining Colombia and Brazil on the Zika front line
UQ researchers have closely collaborated with Latin American authorities since the 2015-16 Zika virus epidemic. In 2016, epidemiologist Dr Ricardo Soares Magalhaes, of the School of Veterinary Science and Child Health Research Centre, led a UQ team to Brazil and Colombia to share research expertise and to identfy disease hot-spots and at-risk communities. The project involved the National University of Colombia, Brazil's Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, and both countries' Ministries of Health. In May 2017, researchers from UQ's School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience synthetically re-created Zika virus in the laboratory – a breakthrough that is assisting scientists around the world understand the deadly virus.
Healthy waterways and catchments
The Council on Australian and Latin American Relations (COALAR) has funded UQ's sustainable water team to share its river management expertise with Argentinian and Uruguayan authorities. The researchers, from the Global Change Institute's (GCI's) Water Program, held a series of workshops in Mendoza, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo on how to evaluate, monitor, visualise, and communicate the health of specific river catchments and bays. The program builds on a number of UQ Water Missions to Latin America, which have identified collaborative opportunities to enhance economic development based on clean and secure water sources for mining, agriculture, and urban development.
Mexican links, global issues
UQ and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) share a vital goal for the developing world: to foster the productivity and sustainability of maize and wheat cropping systems. Although headquartered in Mexico, CIMMYT has provided UQ with more than AUD 6.1 million in grant funding for projects around the world – with active research focused on sustainable and resilient farming systems in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal (led by School of Agriculture and Food Sciences Professor Neal Menzies) and in Eastern and Southern Africa (involving a team from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation).
Building up educators
For more than a decade, UQ’s Institute of Continuing & TESOL Education (ICTE-UQ) has worked with local university, government, and industry partners throughout Latin America to build the capacity of English teachers. ICTE-UQ led UQ’s contribution to the Australian Government-funded Public Sector Linkages Program in Chile, Ecuador, and Colombia in the fields of English Language Policy, TESOL Management, and Capacity Building. In August 2016, the Institute was also approved as one of Codelco's English language providers, an agreement that will see three UQ-developed courses delivered at all 10 Codelco Chilean mine sites.
Raising happy, confident kids
UQ’s Triple P – Positive Parenting Program has been implemented across Latin America. Backed by more than 30 years of ongoing research, the intervention strategy helps parents understand their child’s behaviour and build positive familial relationships. A proposal for a country-wide roll-out is currently being evaluated by the Panamanian Government, and linkages have been established with the Latin University of Costa Rica around joint research and exchange opportunities for psychology students. Triple P is also working with government and community organisations in Mexico, Brazil, and Chile to examine the program in a culturally-appropriate context, with a focus on low-income neighbourhoods.
Student mobility
Embassy Volunteer Internship Program
The UQ Latin American Embassy Volunteer Internship Program allows students to learn first-hand about Australia-Latin America relations. Each summer and winter, UQ awards A$1000 travel grants to help participants travel to Canberra where they volunteer at the embassies of Ecuador, Peru, Cuba, Uruguay, and El Salvador. The program offers meaningful networking opportunities and exposure to the working environment of an embassy. Students support embassy staff with a variety of tasks and projects, such as consular services, translation, event coordination, and research.
Student exchange to Latin America
UQ has a thriving exchange program, including university partners in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru - Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Tecnológico de Monterrey, University of the Americas Puebla, and the University of Lima. In the past 5 years, 62 UQ students have studied in Latin America and 77 Latin American students have studied at UQ under exchange agreements. As a UQ student, you can also take advantage of short-term overseas study options and financial support.
Alumni
More than 1900 alumni live in Latin America and the Caribbean. Alumni with significant links to the region include:
Dr Nélida Gómez Quintero
Panama
Consultant and business partner at Saber Panama Consulting (Master's in Technology and Innovation Management 2015)
Consultant and business partner at Saber Panama Consulting (Master's in Technology and Innovation Management 2015)
Samia Tacle
Ecuador
President and Founder of Ecorpmax S.A (Graduate Certificate in Research Commercialisation 2011)
President and Founder of Ecorpmax S.A (Graduate Certificate in Research Commercialisation 2011)
Kate Brown de Vejar
Mexico
Partner at Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP (Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts 2001)
Partner at Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP (Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts 2001)
Ana Maria Rodriguez Contreras
Colombia
Strategic Partnership Manager, Canadian Embassy in Colombia (Master in International Studies 2013)
Strategic Partnership Manager, Canadian Embassy in Colombia (Master in International Studies 2013)
Staff
More than 70 academic staff were born in Latin America. A few senior staff born in the region (outside showcase countries of Chile and Brazil) include:
Fast facts
Latin America and Caribbean region
Argentina
Students: 8
ICTE-UQ: 6
Academic staff: 12
Alumni: 31
Co-publications: 24
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 17
Bahamas
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 3
Co-publications: 1
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Barbados
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 3
Co-publications: 2
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 1
Belize
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 1
Co-publications: 2
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Bolivia
Students: 1
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 4
Co-publications: 4
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 1
Brazil
Students: 52
ICTE-UQ: 35
Academic staff: 19
Alumni: 743
Co-publications: 122
Project collaborations: 8
Agreements: 11
Trips: 44
Chile
Students: 86
ICTE-UQ: 58
Academic staff: 10
Alumni: 297
Co-publications: 68
Project collaborations: 1
Agreements: 13
Trips: 77
Colombia
Students: 51
ICTE-UQ: 99
Academic staff: 13
Alumni: 149
Co-publications: 39
Project collaborations: 2
Agreements: 10
Trips: 36
Costa Rica
Students: 6
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 8
Co-publications: 15
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Cuba
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 1
Alumni: 1
Co-publications: 3
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 1
Trips: 2
Dominica
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 0
Co-publications: 0
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Dominican Republic
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 1
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 0
Co-publications: 1
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Ecuador
Students: 145
ICTE-UQ: 4
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 127
Co-publications: 13
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 1
Trips: 1
El Salvador
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 2
Alumni: 4
Co-publications: 1
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 1
Trips: 0
Grenada
Students: 1
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 0
Co-publications: 0
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 1
Guatemala
Students: 2
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 3
Co-publications: 2
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Guyana
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 7
Co-publications: 2
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 1
Haiti
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 2
Co-publications: 0
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Honduras
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 6
Co-publications: 1
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Jamaica
Students: 2
ICTE-UQ: 1
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 1
Co-publications: 4
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 1
Mexico
Students: 23
ICTE-UQ: 8
Academic staff: 9
Alumni: 372
Co-publications: 53
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 6
Trips: 16
Nicaragua
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 4
Co-publications: 0
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Panama
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 6
Co-publications: 15
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Paraguay
Students: 23
ICTE-UQ: 4
Academic staff: 2
Alumni: 8
Co-publications: 5
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 1
Peru
Students: 36
ICTE-UQ: 28
Academic staff: 1
Alumni: 117
Co-publications: 24
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 6
Trips: 12
Puerto Rico
Students: 1
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 2
Co-publications: 0
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 1
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 0
Co-publications: 0
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Saint Lucia
Students: 1
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 1
Co-publications: 3
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 1
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 2
Co-publications: 0
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Suriname
Students: 0
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 0
Alumni: 2
Co-publications: 1
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Trinidad and Tobago
Students: 2
ICTE-UQ: 0
Academic staff: 2
Alumni: 16
Co-publications: 2
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Uruguay
Students: 2
ICTE-UQ: 2
Academic staff: 2
Alumni: 7
Co-publications: 11
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 1
Trips: 0
Venezuela
Students: 4
ICTE-UQ: 7
Academic staff: 3
Alumni: 14
Co-publications: 7
Project collaborations: 0
Agreements: 0
Trips: 0
Fast facts show full-year 2017 data.
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