Applied training, transnational education and workforce-development partnerships
Proposed dates: Monday, March 8–Friday, March 12, 2027
Markets: São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro
Format: In-market global engagement mission with Trade Commissioner Service briefings, curated B2B meetings, institutional and industry visits, sector roundtables and networking
Why Brazil?
Brazil offers strong potential for Canadian colleges and institutes to develop practical, revenue-generating partnerships in applied training, corporate and contract training, transnational education, curriculum collaboration, applied research and workforce development. The mission aligns with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service’s priorities to strengthen Canada–Brazil education–industry linkages and diversify export opportunities in high-growth markets. It also responds to strong CICan member interest in Latin America and builds on previous CICan engagement in Brazil.
Overview
Colleges and Institutes Canada invites members to join a focused business-development mission to Brazil, developed with support from the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service. The proposed program will connect participating institutions with Brazilian institutions, employers, industry organizations, government-linked stakeholders, service providers and Canadian companies operating in market. Members will gain practical market intelligence, validate demand, refine their value proposition and pursue qualified opportunities in applied training, contract training, transnational education, curriculum licensing, applied research and workforce development. The mission is designed to move beyond exploratory engagement by creating clear pathways toward partnership pipelines, pilot projects, memoranda of understanding, licensing discussions and contract-training leads.
Who Should Participate
This mission is intended for CICan member institutions with defined international business-development objectives and the capacity to convert qualified leads into sustained activity. It is especially relevant to institutions seeking opportunities in transnational education, joint programming, curriculum licensing, corporate or contract training, micro-credentials, workforce upskilling and re-skilling, applied research, recruitment diversification and sector-specific technical education. Participants should be prepared to present a clear value proposition, target-client profile, delivery capacity, preferred partnership or commercial model, and internal process for lead follow-up.
Priority Partnership Areas
- Transnational education, joint programs and curriculum licensing
- Corporate and contract training, micro-credentials and workforce upskilling
- Applied research and industry innovation
- Digital transformation, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity
- Applied technical education & health
- Recruitment diversification and institutional pathways
Program Highlights
- Brazil market and opportunity briefings from the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service
- Curated B2B meetings with vetted institutions, employers, industry partners, service providers and other prospective partners
- Targeted institutional and industry visits aligned with member priorities
- Sector roundtables on workforce needs, applied training, innovation and technical education
- Focused discussions on transnational education, intellectual property, regulatory considerations, quality assurance and partnership models
- Networking with Canadian and Brazilian stakeholders
- Delegation debriefs, lead qualification and follow-up planning
Proposed Program Route
| City | Proposed focus |
| São Paulo | Trade Commissioner Service market briefing; Canada–Brazil education and trade opportunities; B2B meetings; employer, industry and institutional engagement; advanced manufacturing, digital skills, clean energy, agritech and applied technical education. |
| Rio de Janeiro | Institutional and industry meetings focused on transnational education, applied research, contract training, workforce development, partner conversion and next-step commitments. |
Expected Outcomes
- A qualified pipeline of prospective institutional, employer and industry partners
- Validated opportunities for transnational education, licensing, contract training, applied research and workforce development
- Clear follow-up responsibilities, timelines and next steps for priority leads
- Post-mission market intelligence, contact information and partner summaries to support continued business development
- Potential pilot projects, memoranda of understanding, licensing discussions and contract-training opportunities
Registration
Registration details, the final participation fee and payment instructions will be confirmed once the program scope, dates, venues and partner contributions are finalized. Participants should expect to be responsible for international travel, accommodation, ground transportation, meals not included in the program and individual travel costs.
Additional Information
Organizer: Colleges and Institutes Canada
Program contact: Kiley Fithen, Senior Strategic Advisor, International Engagement
Partner support: Canadian Trade Commissioner Service in Brazil; proposed coordination with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Brazil
