KI’s Unit for Teaching and Learning welcomes Brazilian partner UFCSPA for first education-focused collaboration
The Unit for Teaching and Learning (UoL) welcomed colleagues from the Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA) - Ana Luiza Pires de Freitas, Associate Professor and UFCSPA Internationalisation at Home Coordinator, and Daniela Levandowski, Associate Professor and General Coordinator of the UFCSPA postgraduate programmes - from 9th to 13th March 2026.
A Milestone for KI–Brazil educational collaboration
This marks KI’s first Brazil collaboration dedicated specifically to education and the first formal partnership between KI and UFCSPA. The visit was hosted by a team from the Unit for Teaching and Learning (UoL) represented by Jennifer Valcke, Natalie Jellinek, Amani Eltayb and Karen Gustafsson, together with colleagues across KI’s educational and internationalisation networks.
This visit is the result of the strong foundation established through UoL’s professional development course Two2Tango - a virtual exchange course in health professions education co‑facilitated by KI and UFCSPA along with 10 other partner universities.
Capacity‑building in health professions education
The programme featured a rich series of workshops, research meetings and collaborative activities focused on capacity building in health professions education, including discussions with KI educators who shared examples of how internationalisation is integrated into the curriculum. Over the course of the week, visitors engaged in sessions on:
- Internationalisation at home,
- Curriculum and assessment design,
- Teacher training and pedagogical development,
- AI‑supported curriculum innovations,
- Cultural humility, equity and global perspectives in learning and teaching.
These exchanges, held across KI’s Solna and Flemingsberg campuses, enabled teams from both universities to explore shared priorities and deepen their understanding of each other’s educational contexts.
It was incredibly enriching to learn directly from colleagues who integrate international and intercultural dimensions into teaching, assessment and student support. From the paediatric ward visit to discussions with programme leaders, each encounter offered a new lens on how KI delivers education. The openness with which colleagues shared their models and experiences is something we will carry back to UFCSPA with appreciation.
Strengthening joint research pathways
Beyond pedagogical development, the visit also served as a catalyst for planning joint research in healthcare professions education. The teams began outlining research themes, methodological approaches, and future funding pathways across Sweden, the EU and Brazil. We also welcomeextended an invitation to our colleague Raman Preet from Umeå University to join us in our discussions and future planning.
It was enlightening to see how KI structures its research and education culture to ensure that international collaboration is not only encouraged, but enacted responsibly. The perspectives shared on partnership ethics, sustainable education, horizontal and balanced knowledge exchange will greatly strengthen our own reflections about research strategies at UFCSPA.
Looking ahead: KI’s visit to Brazil in May 2026
The March visit represents the first step in a long‑term, bilateral collaboration. Funded by the KI Brazil collaboration grant, a delegation from UoL will travel to Porto Alegre in late spring 2026 for a 10‑day visit to UFCSPA, where the teams will continue planning for joint research opportunities and capacity building.