Ambassador of Brazil to Armenia Visits AUA

2 min read

YEREVAN, Armenia – On February 22, 2018, the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Brazil to the Republic of Armenia, Agemar de Mendonça Sanctos, and Vice-Consul Rodrigo Azevedo Lima. The guests were welcomed by AUA President Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian and Provost Dr. Randall Rhodes.

Ambassador Sanctos and Vice-Consul Lima got familiar with the history and facilities of AUA and were accompanied by Dr. Der Kiureghian and Dr. Rhodes on a tour around the AUA campus. During the tour they visited the AGBU Papazian Library, Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) with its advanced prototyping lab, among other locations, as well as the construction site of the new faculty center and student union.

The tour was followed by a discussion in the president’s office. Ambassador Sanctos presented the Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation (FUNAG), maintained by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, which is dedicated to research on international relations, Brazilian foreign policy and diplomatic history, and provides public and academic information on Brazilian diplomacy. Dr. Der Kiureghian was happy to accept the ambassador’s suggestion of informing AUA faculty and students about granted access to the electronic databases of the Gusmão Foundation.

Ambassador Sanctos expressed his willingness to establish and develop strong relations between Brazil and Armenia. He mentioned that this goal can be achieved by bridging Brazilian and Armenian universities and bringing messengers together to cooperate and share their experience. The ambassador noted that Professor Vahan Agopyan, the President of the University of Sao Paulo, which is the largest university in Latin America, can be one of the people to build partnership with. Thus, the ambassador is currently collecting information about universities in Armenia in order to propound student exchange and scholarship programs between Brazilian and Armenian universities.

“American University of Armenia is a high-level institution in Armenia. How lucky are the students who were and are part of this University! They are receiving here the tools that will guarantee a bright professional and personal future,” remarked Ambassador Sanctos.

During the discussion, Vice-Consul Lima voiced questions concerning environmental issues in Armenia. Dr. Der Kiureghian told the guests about AUA Acopian Center for the Environment (ACE), which promotes the protection and restoration of the environment through research and education, AUA Center for Responsible Mining (CRM), and the annual Ecotourism Conference, which offers a platform to people from rural areas to stage their products and exchange ideas.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.