A delegation from the Université de Lyon visits São Paulo

A historical, vibrant cooperation

The framework agreement for the cooperation between the UdL and the USP was signed in 2013 with the aim of strengthening and promoting collaboration between the two universities. The UdL opened its representative office in São Paulo in October 2013 in order to participate in strategic partnerships, identify new areas to explore, build momentum and develop new collaborative educational and research projects, and provide an operational interface for partners and local authorities. A few examples of this rich academic and scientific trans-Atlantic partnership are the dual-diploma programs, USP chairs open to research professors from the UdL, supported by the French embassy, an engineering LIA, workshops to incubate innovative projects, thesis co-supervisions, and hosting professors from the USP.

UdL-USP framework agreement signature ceremony

The framework agreement renewal ceremony was an opportunity to take stock of the cooperation between the two institutions and strengthen it by creating an institutional representation of the UdL at the USP in 2019. This representation will be coordinated by Professors Jacques Comby and Peter Wirtz.

The renewal of the agreement aims to lead to further joint educational programs (dual-diploma programs and thesis co-supervisions). This will help create scientific networks, which will begin as new workshops, and will then grow as new cooperation instruments are built with the CNRS and the Associated International Laboratories. Joint calls for projects and the establishment of exchange programs for research professors will also be the cornerstones of this cooperation.

Beyond the fruitful relationship with the USP, the delegation took the opportunity of its visit to São Paulo to discuss key opportunities with the FAPESP to build joint projects between the UdL/IDEXLYON and FAPESP.

A delocalized law program: a symbol of the cooperation

As a symbol of this cooperation, the two partners have been developing a joint Law program since 2014. As part of the Triangular Partnerships in Higher Education (PITES), the USP, Jean Moulin Lyon 3, Lumière Lyon 2 and Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne Universities have come together to create a delocalized law degree. This undergraduate program aims to teach the French legal system to selected USP students. This three-year training program is built around the equivalences granted between the courses taught at USP and the French Law courses taught at São Paulo by professors from the Lyon site. At the end of the undergraduate program, which lasts 5 years in Brazil, they will have a double diploma: one from the University of São Paulo in Brazil, and one from one of the institutions of the Université de Lyon in France.

A graduation ceremony was held during the visit from the delegation, highlighting the strong bond between Lyon and São Paulo. The aim is to develop a double-diploma Master’s program in the next few years.

Picture caption: “Graduation ceremony for the PITES undergraduate program at the USP Faculty of Law” (from left to right): Peter Wirtz, academic coordinator from the UdL in Brazil, Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3; Brieuc Ferot, Consul General of France in São Paulo; Jacques Comby, Vice-President for International Relations at the UdL and President of the Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3; Floriano de Azevedo Marques Neto, Dean of the Law faculty at the USP; Khaled Bouabdallah, President of the Université de Lyon; Sylvie Bernigaud, Associate Professor of private law, Université Lumière Lyon 2.