Honoring Robson de Andrade, President, Brazilian Confederation of Industry

Robson de Andrade, visionary President of the Brazilian Confederation of Industry (CNI), will be honored at Brazil Day November 12, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. Brazil is now the sixth largest economy of the world, and the CNI is the voice of Brazilian industry representing all 27 Brazilian state-level Federations of Industry, more than 1000 business associations, and nearly 100,000 companies. Under President Robson de Andrade, the CNI has made development of a world-class workforce in Brazil a top priority and transformed its educational programs with service to over 2.5 million Brazilians per year.

Mr. Andrade has demonstrated the transformational power of a Brazil-United States educational partnership by collaborating with US-Brazil Connect to create the Conexão Mundo/World Connection Program.  Recognizing that international connections are no longer the work of a tiny, closed circle of the elite, Mr. Andrade and the CNI have partnered with US-Brazil Connect and U.S. community colleges and universities, providing unprecedented leadership to expand exchange between the United States and Brazil and creating capacity to reach millions of students in technical and post-secondary education systems in both countries.

Now entering its third year, Conexão Mundo/World Connection has served 1000 Brazilian technical students through an innovative English language program. Most of Brazilian participants had never spoken English outside a classroom or developed a friendship with a foreigner before they enrolled in the program.  Together with outstanding students from U.S. community colleges, these Brazilian students have engaged in life-changing exchange and skills development to prepare for the global economy.  The partnership also supports development of students from the United States:  Since 2012, the CNI and its educational arms of SENAI and SESI have also hosted 101 American students and leaders for month-long fellowships in Brazil. In addition to honoring Mr. Andrade’s achievements in strengthening the professional and technical education systems in Brazil and the United States, Brazil Day will welcome forty-seven outstanding Brazilian high school students sponsored for travel to Colorado as a part of Conexão Mundo/World Connection Program.