Lisbon: Visa

Dear students coming to Lisbon,

The process of renewing a Portuguese visa can be a nightmare -- I have spent four hours in the immigration office this week! In order to try to avoid this, instead of asking for a student visa, ask for an "Autorização de Residência com Visto". It is possible that they say you cannot apply for this one, but try insisting because if you get a student visa it is only valid for 4 months, which is not enough for the length of our studies. And as I said, the process to renew it is very unpleasant.

If it does not work and you still need to renew your visa, you can find information on how to do it here.

Good luck!

Lisbon: Recognition of Studies

The Seminar “Reconhecimento de Estudos e Creditação de Competências” [Recognition of Studies and Skills Accreditation] took place on 22 May 2009 in Loulé, Portugal. Organised by the Portuguese National Agency of Lifelong Learning (Proalv), the seminar had the participation of the National Bologna Expert Group and more than 100 professors and officers involved in the implementation and maintenance of the Bologna precepts in Portugal. The event’s organisation had the initiative to invite an Erasmus Mundus student to speak about the Mundus experience, with special focus on the issue of recognition.

Under the initiative of Prof. Rosário Paixão, Erasmus Mundus Crossways in Humanities co-ordinator at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Crossways student Roberta Gregoli presented the case of Brazil as an example of the programme’s recognition outside the EU, including the issue of official validation in the country. Roberta Gregoli also took the opportunity to present the Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (EMA), EMA's Latin American Chapter (EMA-LA) and the Mundus in Brazil network, which actively works for the promotion of EM in Brazil by visiting universities and offering support to Brazilian applicants via virtual platforms.

For more information

Agency Proavl: http://proalv.pt/np4/eventos/198.html

EMA: http://www.em-a.eu/

EMA-LA: info@ema-la.eu

Mundus in Brazil: roberta.gregoli@ema-la.eu

Mundus promotion in Brazil

Study in Europe São Paulo fair (ExpoBelta 2009)

The Study in Europe fair in Brazil was held within ExpoBelta 2009 in March 27^th – 29^th at Parque Ibirapuera, São Paulo city. Expobelta is the biggest education fair in Brazil, with an average number of 11.500 visitors*. The EMA and Erasmus Mundus booths were composed of 11 EMA (from Brazil, China, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico and Argentina), the Mostra team and agency representatives William Aitchison and José Gutierrez. Crossways in Humanities was represented by two students: alumni Hilda Ascencio and Roberta Gregoli, who are also EMA Country Representatives for Peru and Brazil, respectively.

The EMA Latin American Chapter (EMA-LA) also took the opportunity to carry out the inaugural regional alumni event in LA with the participation of students and alumni from Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, Peru and Argentina. The agency representatives were particularly supportive of the initiative and took the opportunity to hear alumni feedback on the Mundus experience.

The Fair resulted in increased awareness among Brazilian students; apart from the constant flow of students in the booths, there were two workshops presenting Erasmus Mundus and EMA, and one press conference with the participation of two EMA members (EMA’s Vice-Presidente, Ricardo Chávez and Roberta Gregoli, CR for Brazil). As Study in Europe was the guest of honour in the Fair, the event facilitated liaising with other agencies and educational institutions. ExpoBelta was also crucial for the strengthening of EM alumni in Brazil and Latin America, and for the consolidation of the Mundus in Brazil network.

* visitors in 2008; figures for 2009 are not yet available.