IAESTE Review Cover 01

Employers’ Perspectives
FEI and IAESTE
10 Years Broadening Horizons
PROF RIVANA BASSO MARINO
FEI University Centre is devoted to the
education of administrators, computer
scientists, and engineers in different areas such
as construction, electronics, computing,
telecommunications, mechanics, automotive
engineering, materials, production, chemistry
and textiles, preparing professionals for the
work market.
FEI was established under the vision and
enterprising spirit of the Jesuit priest Father
Roberto Saboia de Medeiros, who foresaw the
great technological development yet to come in
Brazil in the 40’s and beyond. So in 1941 he
founded Brazil’s first
Business
Administration
Graduate School in
São Paulo, followed by
FEI - Faculdade de
Engenharia Industrial
(Industrial
Engineering School)
in 1946. This school
was later transferred
to São Bernardo do
Campo, a major
industrial region in
Latin America. Approximately 40 thousand
professionals have received their degrees in
those schools up to now.
In March 1999, a new school opened its doors
in São Bernardo do Campo, FCI Faculdade de
Informática (School of Computing).
Maintaining the goals of its founder, FEI’s
University Centre has carried out its mission to
provide a comprehensive development of
professionals that are committed to society and
a continuous improvement of the academic
level and quality of its courses. Hence, there is
a concern to establish partnerships and bonds
besides developing research and studies in
different areas.
For that reason, FEI has taken part in the
IAESTE programme for ten years, resulting in a
rich and valuable exchange of experiences.
Besides broadening the academic and cultural
views of more than 60 students that went
abroad through IAESTE, the students brought
back with them and to our schools the
outcome of this experience in different
countries. On the other hand, there is the
valuable contribution provided by the foreign
students that are received in our laboratories
among our students, sharing technical
knowledge and promoting cultural exchange.
In the globalised world in which we live, this
exchange of experiences, added to the practice
of the use of other languages is central to the
integration of our students in the work market.
In recognition of the importance of this
partnership, a new work post is being opened
in our campus from 2004 onwards for foreign
interns, allowing for greater opportunities of
interaction among students of different
cultures.
We are grateful to IAESTE and Central de
Intercâmbio for the IAESTE International Award
which we received on April 12, and for the
priceless contribution to the development of
our students.
Rivana Basso Marino is PhD Professor, Vice
Rector of Extension and Community Activities
for FEI University Centre (Inaciana Educational
Foundation).
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