Interinstitutional Academic Partnerships

 Partnerships with French Universities

Collaboration with French institutions has been steadily expanding through consolidated partnerships with universities such as Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, Université Rennes 2, and Université du Maine. These connections reflect not only the international engagement of UFC’s Graduate Programs but also their articulation with research networks focused on socio-environmental and territorial themes.

In 2015, Prof. José Borzacchiello da Silva was invited to take part in two major academic events in France. At the 1st Franco-Brazilian International Colloquium, promoted by the International Geographical Union in partnership with the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, he delivered a lecture on contemporary socio-spatial issues in Brazil. That same year, he was a keynote speaker at the international seminar Transition sociale et environnementale de systèmes agricoles et agro-alimentaires au Brésil, organized by Université Rennes 2, which focused on socio-environmental transformations in rural Brazil.

Also in 2015, Prof. Adryane Gorayeb began a joint PhD supervision (cotutelle) with Prof. François Laurent of Université du Maine, developing a research project on border conflicts between Brazil and France, particularly in the Amapá–French Guiana region. This research is framed within a critical geographical approach to border dynamics, international cooperation, and regional geopolitics.

France plays a central role in the Program’s internationalization trajectory:

• Université de Paris VIII – CAPES/COFECUB Agreement (1995–1999), focused on urban geography and urbanism, enabling exchanges, seminars, PhDs, and postdoctoral research.

• Université de Paris IV (Sorbonne) – Active partnership since 2002, with technical missions, faculty and student exchanges, scientific expeditions, and joint publications.

• Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour – Participation in Franco-Brazilian events and colloquia since 2015.

• Université Rennes 2 – Cooperation focused on social and environmental transition in agricultural and agri-food systems.

• Université du Maine – Joint PhD supervision involving research on Brazil–French Guiana border conflicts.

Between 2021 and 2024, PPGGeo significantly expanded its institutional relations with French universities, strengthening and diversifying partnerships established in earlier periods. In addition to the consolidated collaborations with Le Mans Université, Université d’Angers, and Université Catholique de l’Ouest, new connections were established with Institut SupAgro Montpellier, Université Sorbonne Lettres, and Université Aix-Marseille. The first three are part of the PRINT/CAPES Program, through which PPGGeo/UFC maintains active inter-institutional agreements.

At Le Mans Université, cooperation has been dynamic and continuous, with emphasis on scientific research and bilateral academic mobility. Highlights include:

• Participation of Prof. Guillaume Bailly in 2022 in a PRINT event and in an outreach activity promoted by Prof. Adryane and LABOCART, as part of the co-supervision of Mariana Amâncio’s master’s dissertation “The use of participatory methodologies in the context of the Pacoti River APA, Ceará, Brazil”;

• Remote working meetings in 2021 with Profs. François Laurent, Arnaud Gasnier, and Vincent Andreu, in collaboration with the Urban and Regional Planning Laboratory (LAPUR);

• Prof. Eustógio Dantas serving as Visiting Professor at Le Mans Université in 2024;

• A 2022 scientific mission in which graduate student Mariana Amâncio visited Le Mans Université for research activities and advisory meetings with co-supervisor Guillaume Bailly;

• Prof. Eustógio Dantas’ participation in two Master 2 (Gestion des Territoires et Développement) defense committees, supervised by Prof. François Laurent, as well as a lecture in the doctoral seminar at the same institution in 2024.

At Université Catholique de l’Ouest and Université d’Angers, collaborations have also been strengthened. Notable examples include:

• Prof. Eustógio Dantas teaching in the Master 1 – STAPS Sport Management program (2024) at Université Catholique de l’Ouest;

• His participation in the scientific event “La quenouille, la gogane et le Ramsar” and an ESO Network academic meeting, both held at Université d’Angers in 2024.

At Institut SupAgro Montpellier (UMR G-Eau), a 2024 scientific mission brought together Profs. Jader Santos, Alexandre Pereira, and Eustógio Dantas with partners Marcel Kuper and Julien Burte, along with several local researchers. Key activities included:

• A keynote lecture by Prof. Jader Santos at the event “Engaging Water Citizens”;

• A joint PhD (cotutelle) project by doctoral student Letícia Freitas, supervised by Profs. Marcel Kuper and Jader Santos.

At Université Aix-Marseille, collaboration has been marked by Prof. Rubson Maia’s participation in the CAPES-COFECUB project coordinated by Lionel Siame, which has facilitated scientific missions and the participation of French partners in academic activities in Brazil. Within this partnership, doctoral student Ana Beatriz Barbosa completed her sandwich PhD between 2023 and 2024.

At Université Sorbonne Lettres, doctoral student Nislene Lopes carried out her sandwich PhD in 2024, funded by the PRINT/CAPES Program and supervised by Prof. José Leonardo Tonus.