University of Sao Paulo (USP)

The University of Sao Paulo (USP) is the only Latin American universities ranked in the leading 60 universities in the World (Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings 2015), has a great influence in the media and as a policy advisor to the government and parliament.

Founded in 2004, the Institute of International Relations (IRI) aims at promoting research, education and dissemination of knowledge in the field of International Relations; to strengthen academic links with national and foreign institutions; is committed with a multidisciplinary approach regarding world affairs, offers Bachelors, Masters and PhD degrees in International Relations. IRI is a hub for research and debate on Latin American regionalism, the Institute hold the chair on Red Iberoamericana de Estudios Internacionales – RIBEI (network of 38 research institutes in Latin America, Spain and Portugal). Over the past five years IRI has been offering an increasing number of courses on EU related subjects, recruiting EU academics and practitioners to undertake research and to teach. Apart from EU history, decision-making processes and policies, the EU’s role as a model for regional integration and in promoting peace and stability in Latin America, Economic and Monetary Union, the crisis, its management and its impact, have all been the focus of the courses offered within the IRI. From 2015 to 2018, one of IRI’s Centre for Research Support, CAENI, led a JM Institution Building project for training on negotiations with EU, including EU standards, regulations, etc. IRI is home to an observatory on public opinion on important developments in international relations, particularly on regionalism and trade agreements, produces both representative and elite surveys.