The consolidation of lusophone cooperation networks at the III International Congress on Cultures

The CECS- Communication and Society Research Center (University of Minho), has organized, from 23 to 25 November, the III International Congress on Cultures: Interfaces of Lusophony.Communication and Society Research Centre, University of Minho, Braga, November 23-25. This international congress counted on about 300 communications and six plenary sessions of scientific discussion, involving almost thirty guests. The debate around the most diverse themes – cultural and communication policies, cultural diversity, literacies, cooperation networks, popular culture and lusophonies – was recognized by the quality of the presentations and the scientific partnerships that were established.

With the participation of national researchers from Social and Human Sciences of ​​almost all Portuguese universities and a considerable number of Brazilian researchers, mainly from Bahia, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul, the III International Congress on Cultures also had a meaningful participation of Mozambican researchers (from Eduardo Mondlane University, Superior School of Journalism, Polytechnic University and the Higher Institute of Arts and Culture). Participants from other Portuguese-speaking countries also came, in particular from Angola and Cape Verde. From Europe, researchers from Spain, England, Germany, Holland, France, England, among others, participated in this event.

It was a moment of discussion and reflection on the diversity of cultures in the Lusophone space, establishing a network of scientific cooperation in ​​Portuguese language and a strategy of internationalization, based on knowledge open access digital repositories.

The Congress, which was presented about 300 communications, sought to deepen a scientific debate, which began in 2015 at the University of Beira Interior (Portugal), and was reinforced in 2016 at the Federal University of Bahia (Brazil). To this end, it counted on the participation of researchers from Social and Human Sciences from all over the country and from practically all Portuguese universities. And also from the north, central and southern Brazil, especially from Bahia, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul. Also from Mozambique: from Eduardo Modlanne University; of the School of Journalism; of the Polytechnic University; and the Higher Institute of Arts and Culture. There were also Cape Verdeans and Angolans; and researchers from various parts of Europe, especially from Galicia.

In addition, the Virtual Museum of Lusophony was inaugurated. His main objective is to promote the knowledge between the Portuguese-speaking countries of their many forms of artistic and cultural expression.

The Communication and Society Research Centre (CECS) took advantage of this initiative to present a set of books (new editions and re-editions) published by Húmus.

During the Congress, were delivered  the prizes of excellence for doctoral theses at the University of Minho (see more, here)

The social program of the congress also included the exhibition of the film Peregrinação (2017), by João Botelho, followed by a comment and debate.

In addition to these activities, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Polytechnic University of Mozambique, the Communication and Society Research Centre (CECS) of the University of Minho and the Mozambican Ministry of Culture, represented by the Portuguese Ambassador in Portugal, who will organize a Congress on “Culture and Tourism” to be held in 2018, in the city of Maputo.

Complete information, here

Text: Isabel Macedo