Science without Borders: An Academic Mobility Program from the Brazilian Government

At the international level, contemporary higher education has undergone profound transformations in its organization and dynamics due to the globalization process that has reached a majority of countries in various ways. In addition to the worldwide growth in school enrollments from the institutional differentiation of the international circulation of knowledge, a notable increase in the mobility of students, professors,  educational institution administrators is being observed. In various parts of the world, national governments have developed specific policies to bolster academic mobility. Ranking sixth among industrial nations, Brazil has a long history of revamping its system of higher education in order to produce highly qualified professional staff. There are currently 7.5 million students enrolled in higher education. Going back to the 1970s, the country has instilled a postgraduate system covering all areas of knowledge. Stemming from this, a scientific community was created with high potentials for academic mobility. In 2011, the federal government created the Science Without Borders Program with the goal of sending 100,000 undergraduates, graduate and science/ technical students to centers and research facilities of renowned international standards located abroad. The program also envisages attracting researchers from foreign locales who want to settle in Brazil. Through intensifying mobility, the Program wishes to stimulate and refine the research applied in the country, seeking scientific and technological development and to increase the competitiveness of national businesses and the country on the global stage. The study being presented looks to analyze the results of the program as well as the possible difficulties it faces in achieving its goals.