Citizen of the World Program (Programa Cidadão do Mundo) – connected with the SDGs 4, 5, 8 and 10
Description
The "Citizen of the World" is an international exchange program offered by the government of Maranhão through the State Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation and the Foundation for Research and Scientific and Technological Development of Maranhão for the learning of foreign languages. <br />
The program is supported by laws 10.286 /15 and 10.463 /16. <br />
Language Courses are held for 12 weeks in English, Spanish or French speaking countries, for university students aged between 18 and 24, high school graduates from the public school system or educational institutions linked to parastatal entities or non-profit foundations.
High School graduates from public school system to be offered the opportunity of joining international exchange programs by democratizing its access. Promoting bilingual training for young college students within four strands of foreign language practice (reading, writing, conversation and comprehension). Increasing the quantity of post-graduate students by stimulating the pursuit of academic/research careers, therefore, contributing to rise the number of masters and doctors on supporting State’s scientific and technological production. Expanding young college students’ opportunities and horizons through access towards international learning experience. Promoting global citizenship, tolerance and appreciation throughout cultural diversity by living and sharing knowledge with other cultures and nationalities; Increasing their employability for decent and productive jobs within national and international labor markets. Positively impacting State’s students community, through practices of knowledge multiplication.
Mains partners: SECTI, IEMA E FAPEMA
Partners: Preparatory Course: Federal University of Maranhão, Organization for issuance of visas: US Consulate General in Recife, Organization for issuance of visas: Consulate of Canada, Organization for issuance of passports: Federal Police, Volunteering part time job: Boston City Hall,Volunteering part time job: Saint Mary's University – Canada, Knowledge multiplication through language courses for needy communities - Rotaract João Paulo Praia - São Luís
Program’s actions implementation and conduction:
a) Bidding auction for international student exchange program services by specialized companies to perform the aforementioned services;
b) Selection of beneficiaries
Registration is done through the website of the State Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation, with completion of the electronic form. At the time of registration, along with personal data, the applicant will inform the desired language to be studied: English, French or Spanish. By the time form’s registration has been completed, the following scanned documents shall meet the following requirements: RG / CPF; Certificate of Completion of High School in the public school system or in educational institutions linked to parastatal entities or to non-profit foundations; Proof of ENEM result; Proof of enrollment in an institution of higher education in Maranhão in the current year; School History of the year immediately prior to enrollment; Electoral Title and declaration of the Electoral Justice that it is quite clear with the electoral obligations; Document proving discharge with compulsory military service, for male applicants. Those who met the requirements will be selected based on the decreasing grade in the National High School Exam, until filling the number of available positions. If there is a tie, the oldest candidate prevails. The program management committee reviews and confirms the veracity and authenticity of the documents submitted.
c) Students’ benefits granted by the government
Before departure:
Weekly orientation meetings addressing the cultural, economic and historical aspects of destination countries, promoted by the contracted exchange agency;
Preparatory course in foreign language (online or face-to-face platform);
Issuance of passports, visas and air tickets;
Grant-aid in the amount of R$ 4,500.00 for use with personal expenses
Starting event with the presence of the Governor
Once Abroad:
Accommodation in host families with breakfast, lunch and dinner;
Enrollment in language schools recognized by local governments, with at least 20 lessons per week;
Didactic material and unlimited internet access;
Insurance for medical emergencies;
Local and overseas supervision throughout the program;
Extracurricular activities (one per week).
d) Monitoring and Communication Channels
At least 1 telephone line is made available for direct communication (running 24/7) as well e-mail readiness from the Program’s Management Committee. In addition, there is a weekly-basis monitoring agenda conducted by the World Citizens Program’s Management Committee with the contracted exchange company, feedbacking through e-mail, telephone or via Skype.
e) Returning to Brazil
By the end of the exchange program (back to Maranhão) scholars should present: a written essay about their experience abroad, and design a project with activities to multiply their knowledge, such as mini-courses, reading and writing workshops, and lectures for children and primary and secondary school students, as prerequisites for acquiring their Certification.
f) Conclusion Ceremony (certificate issuance)
Scholarship students who have met all the requirements will receive a certificate of participation in the Program.
II) More than 30 municipalities have been served as follows: Carolina, Miranda do Norte, Imperatriz, Tuntum, Montes Altos, Nova Iorque do Maranhão, Esperantinópolis, Centro Novo do Maranhão, Bacabal, Palmeirândia, Igarapé do Meio, Pindaré, Santa Inês, Caxias, Paço do Lumiar, São José de Ribamar, Pedreiras, Dom Pedro, Pirapemas, Rosário, Pinheiro, Penalva, São Mateus, Barreirinhas, Bacabal, Presidente Dutra, Dom Pedro, São Domingos do Maranhão, Pio XII, Barra do Corda, Colinas, Açailândia, Codó, Vitorino Freire, Balsas, Colinas, Viana, Anajatuba, Santa Rita, João Lisboa, Itapecuru.
III) Six different countries of destination have been attended to: South Africa, Argentina, Canada, Spain, United States and France. At first, the program started attending only United States, Canada and France as destinations. Because of visa issuance costs to these countries the number of beneficiaries could not be increased. From the 2nd edition onwards, destinations that offer the same quality of education were included but without the cost of the visa, making it possible to reach and exceed the target from 300 to 315 participants.
IV) Around 500 pre-approved candidates attended the foreign language preparatory immersion course offered free of charge by the state government. Initially the course was offered at the city of São Luís, as a prerequisite for a test that would define the selected ones. We identified that this step ended up favoring candidates residing in São Luís. We eliminated the test stage and started to offer the preparatory course via the online platform (Babbel).
V) Approximately 1,500 children and adolescents in primary and secondary education in the public network were impacted by the 3,100 hours of mini-courses, reading and writing workshops, and training lectures offered as activities for the multiplication of knowledge by scholars returning home from abroad.
VI) Around 315 young people contemplated, being 92 to study Spanish, 187 to English and 36 to French.
VII) 55% of those surveyed are female.
VIII) Approximately 50% are graduates of the high school of the state public network.
IX): 65% of them are in federal and state public universities, mostly in the area of human and health, areas less contemplated by similar federal initiatives.
X): 80% has a family income of up to U$ 900,00, which characterizes that the aim public, would not be of potential “exchange students”.
XI) :48% of the parents of these students have a high school education, 28% higher level, 16% elementary level, 7% literate and 1% non-literate.
XII) Increase in the production, publication and presentation of scientific researches of undergraduate students in foreign languages; approval of young graduates of the program in selective processes of international companies; increasing the employability of graduates in the local market.
i)Meeting the high demand for qualification in foreign languages;
ii) Lack of initiatives directed exclusively at the learning of foreign languages at national level;
Constraint factors:
i)Oscillation of exchange rates
ii)Migration policies
Improvement points:
i)Applicability of ROI to the state
ii)Scope of the Selection Process
iii)Mechanism for measuring long-term impact
Scope and Opportunity: it is the only international exchange program at the national level, offered to university students, to learn foreign languages;
Learning optimization: decreases the time and investment spent on foreign language education;
Cost optimization: the average investment of the state government of Maranhão is around U$ 10,000.00 per student. In terms of national average, the Citizen of the World Program has been more advantageous and less costly for public coffers than all other similar programs practiced in Brazil. In PI, for example, the expenses incurred per student with the "Learn is a trip" program reached U$ 29,000.00 in 2015. For Pernambuco, the "Win the World" program, costs the average of U$ 15,000.00 per student.
The program attends and fits into four of the seventeen sustainable development goals by: <br />
<br />
Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by improving language skills, crucial for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship<br />
<br />
Promoting global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development when allow students to know new realities, including places like South Africa as a destination, for instance. On the hand, foreigners can have the opportunity to know better about Brazil, what can promote local culture and products.<br />
<br />
Achieving gender equality and empower all women when it shows that more than 60% of applicants are girls and more than 50% of the beneficiaries are women, what can cope to develop their skills to have more participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.<br />
<br />
Reducing inequality within and among countries, when empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of people living below 50 per cent of median income by equipping them with languages skills.
http://confap.org.br/news/governo-do-maranhao-realiza-recepcao-dos-estu…
http://www.iema.ma.gov.br/intercambistas-do-cidadao-do-mundo-promovem-s…
http://www.iema.ma.gov.br/iema-participa-do-seminario-de-internacionali…
https://www.ma.gov.br/governador-recepciona-estudantes-que-participaram…
https://www.ma.gov.br/um-maranhense-para-o-exterior-a-cada-4-dias-de-ge…
https://www.ma.gov.br/cidadao-do-mundo-muda-vida-de-estudantes-maranhen…
https://www.ma.gov.br/com-cidadao-do-mundo-jovens-entram-no-mercado-de-…
https://www.ma.gov.br/o-cidadao-do-mundo-abre-portas-dizem-estudantes-e…
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- Latin America and the Caribbean
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Fabiana Correa da Costa, Advisor for International Affairs