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Berkeley-Portugal Program Showcased in San Diego at “Follow the Sun and Study in Portugal” Event
On May 28, 2025, Center for Portuguese Studies Executive Director, Sydney Weaver, presented at the “Follow the Sun and Study in Portugal” event held in San Diego at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Sydney was among an esteemed panel of presenters including the Consul General of San Francisco, Filipe Ramalheira, Executive Member of the Executive Consul of the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD), Michael Baum, and other esteemed members of the Portuguese and international education communities. Sydney delivered a dynamic presentation highlighting academic and research collaboration opportunities between UC Berkeley and Portuguese universities.
The presentation was attended by approximately 50 invited guests including representatives from leading Portuguese universities Designed to foster international academic exchange, the event served as a platform for strengthening institutional ties and showcasing Portugal as a hub for global learning.
Sydney’s presentation centered on the array of grant opportunities available through the Berkeley Portugal Program, including
faculty exchange, collaborative research, and graduate student mobility initiatives. Detailed information was provided from the program’s official grants page (https://ies.berkeley.edu/cps/grants), where prospective applicants can explore funding options aimed at promoting interdisciplinary research and innovation across science, technology, and the humanities.
Through her engaging talk, Sydney emphasized the program’s mission to cultivate impactful transatlantic partnerships and to support scholars at all stages of their academic careers. Her remarks underscored the strategic importance of collabora
tion between UC Berkeley and Portuguese institutions, particularly in fostering academic and cultural ties through joint research and knowledge exchange. Sydney’s participation not only spotlighted the rich potential of the Berkeley Portugal Program, but also inspired new avenues for academic mobility, cross-cultural learning, and research-driven innovation.
This presentation was made possible through the collaboration and generous support of the Luso-American Development Foundation, República Portuguesa, Fulbright Portugal, and Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Educação e Formação.
The presentation was followed by a reception extended to the broader Portuguese Community in San Diego.
Gostaríamos de agradecer aos nossos incríveis colaboradores Portugueses e ao Museu Marítimo de San Diego por sediarem este evento!
Portuguese Teacher's Workshop Hosted 3/24/25
On March 24, 2025, the University of California, Berkeley hosted a special workshop titled “Digital Competences and Tools in the Teaching of Portuguese as a Foreign Language,” led by renowned educator and researcher Adelina Moura. Held at Philosophy Hall, the event brought together a diverse group of Portuguese language instructors from across California, all committed to exploring the potential of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in language education.
The workshop centered on innovative tools designed to enhance classroom engagement and foster student autonomy. Moura presented platforms such asLearningApps.org, which allows educators to create interactive, gamified learning activities, and Perplexity.ai, an AI-based research assistant that supports inquiry-based learning and critical thinking. These tools, among others, were introduced within a framework that emphasized the importance of integrating technology meaningfully into language pedagogy to reflect the realities of a digitally connected world.
Adelina Moura brings a wealth of experience and academic rigor to her training. She holds a degree in Portuguese and French Language Teaching, a postgraduate diploma in School Administration, a Master’s in Pedagogical Supervision of Portuguese Teaching, and a Doctorate in Educational Sciences with a focus on Educational Technology from the University of Minho. Moura has contributed extensively to the field of mobile learning, both in Portugal and internationally, and is an active researcher with GILT (Games, Interaction, and Learning Technologies) at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto and LabTE (Educational Technology Laboratory) at the University of Coimbra. She has also collaborated with Porto Editora and the National Reading Plan 2027, and continues to serve as a tutor and trainer for Camões, Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua.
This workshop was made possible with the generous support of Camões, I.P., FLAD (Luso-American Development Foundation), Porto Editora, and LIDEL, whose commitment to promoting Portuguese language education and pedagogical innovation continues to shape the future of language learning in the United States.
Moura’s insights and hands-on approach empowered educators to adopt new tools that foster creativity, collaboration, and deeper engagement among learners.
Attendees included:
Joann Malta Weingard, Portuguese School of East Bay
Carlo Stresino, Bakersfield College / Kern Unified School District
Belina Feijó, Tulare Union High School
Carina Ott, Tulare Western High School / Fresno State University
Luís Nunes, San José High School
Duarte Pinheiro, Camões IP / San José State University
Cristina Rocha, Central Valley High School (Ceres)
Joseph Sousa, Turlock High School
James Toste, John Pitman High School (Turlock)
Arminda Machado, Elim Elementary School (Hilmar)
Clara Antrim, Elim Elementary School (Hilmar)
Adriana Gomes, Elim Elementary School (Hilmar)
Melissa Cunha, Hilmar Middle School
Rui Sousa, Saint Mary's School (Stockton)