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Pictured, in the back row are BSMP students Keyla E. Justino Correia and Lucas Conelian De Oliveira. In the front row, from left, are students Wallace Santos Teixeira, Rodrigo Oliveira De Freitas, Ricardo Rossini, Enilton Rodrigues De Andrade and Welington K. Santos Bento.
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Brazil Scientific Mobility Program Students Complete Summer Internships

August 6, 2014

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MACOMB, IL - Seven Brazilian students recently completed summer internships in the Western Illinois University departments of mathematics, physics and University Technology.

Keyla E. Justino Correia, Ricardo Rossini, Rodrigo Oliveira De Freitas, Enilton Rodrigues De Andrade, Lucas Conelian De Oliveira, Welington K. Santos Bento and Wallace Santos Teixeira first arrived at WIU in August 2013 as participants in the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program (BSMP). After completing two to three years of study at Brazilian universities, the students were accepted into the BSMP Program and immediately enrolled in Western's English as a Second Language (WESL) courses for their first semester, before beginning regular academic courses in spring 2014.

Marlene Forman, program officer for the WIU Brazil Scientific Mobility Program, and Renee Sprock, assistant director of the Career Development Center, teamed up to help the students develop professional resumes and application letters and to conduct mock interviews.

Forman said she appreciates the work of Mathematics Chair Iraj Kalantari, Associate Professor Kishor Kapale and University Technology Security Specialist Gary Douglas with the BSMP.

"We've had outstanding results and we are extremely proud of the interns and their accomplishments," said Forman. "We very much appreciate the internship supervisors' engagement and contributions toward the students' professional development. In spring 2015, Renee and I will work with a much larger group of Brazilian students, who will seek internships in the Macomb area or potentially anywhere in the United States."

All BSMP students commit to an agreement with the Institute of International Education that stipulates participation in a summer academic training during their 12- to 16-month stay in the country. Academic training must be directly related to each student's field of study and can take place at the host university or anywhere in the student's host country.

On Aug. 19 WIU's Brazilian student population will increase to 74. In addition to the August 2013 cohort of 14 students, the March 2014 and August 2014 cohorts, numbering 14 and 46 students respectively, will include the study of agriculture, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology and nursing.

For more information on the program, visit wiu.edu/international_studies/bsmp.php.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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