Established in 1994 with the support of the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD), the Center for Portuguese Studies (CPS) at UC Berkeley strengthens scientific, academic and cultural ties between the Berkeley campus, California, and Portugal.
CPS collaborates with Portuguese government representatives in the U.S., Californian and Portuguese institutions of higher learning, and a number of Portuguese-American organizations. It also houses an official Site of Examination for Portuguese Language.
Distinct from the UC Berkeley Department of Spanish and Portuguese, which teaches language, literature and culture, CPS works with all departments on campus to host public events with distinguished scholars and intellectuals, sponsor conferences and workshops, and support research by students and faculty.
CPS is funded by the generous donations of several institutions and individuals who value the study of Portugal, the Portuguese Language, and the history and culture of the Portuguese-speaking World.
Mission
- Support research in the field of Portuguese Studies, both from a historical and contemporary perspective;
- Support the study of the Portuguese language;
- Promote the understanding of contemporary social, economic, political and cultural developments in Portugal;
- Foster collaboration between Portuguese and American researchers in their work on technical, economic, cultural and environmental issues;
- Spotlight the experiences and contributions of the Portuguese-American community;
- Enrich the UC educational experience for students of Portuguese heritage
