The Brazilian Ministry of Education (MEC) and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) have unveiled the second edition of the Programa Move La América, a flagship initiative designed to strengthen academic mobility and regional integration across Latin America and the Caribbean. Announced on June 30, 2026, during the inaugural Fórum de Reitoras e Reitores da América Latina e do Caribe at the Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana (UNILA) in Foz do Iguaçu, the program promises to expand opportunities for postgraduate students while positioning Brazilian higher education institutions as key hubs for knowledge exchange.

Building on the Success of the First Edition

The first edition, launched under Edital nº 07/2024, selected 1,324 scholars from 17 countries who pursued sandwich-style studies at 97 Brazilian institutions. These short-term placements allowed master's and doctoral candidates to advance their research while fostering lasting partnerships between universities. The second edition builds directly on that foundation, scaling up resources and reach to address ongoing challenges in regional higher education, such as limited access to advanced research infrastructure and the need for greater cross-border collaboration.

With an investment ceiling of R$ 39.2 million, the new cycle will support up to 1,500 scholarships. Of these, 500 are earmarked for master's-level sandwich programs lasting two to six months, while 1,000 target doctoral candidates for periods of four to ten months. The emphasis on sandwich formats—where students complete part of their degree abroad before returning home—ensures that knowledge flows back to home institutions, amplifying impact across the region.

Strategic Priorities and Regional Focus

A defining feature of the second edition is its explicit prioritization of Brazilian higher education institutions located in the North, Northeast, and Midwest regions. This geographic focus aims to decentralize internationalization efforts, which have historically concentrated in the Southeast and South. By channeling resources toward institutions in these areas, the program seeks to reduce longstanding disparities in research capacity and international visibility.

University administrators in these regions stand to benefit significantly. Participation allows them to host international talent, diversify campus communities, and develop joint research projects that might otherwise remain out of reach. For PhD-track candidates and early-career academics in Brazil, the program creates pathways for mentorship roles, collaborative publications, and expanded professional networks that extend beyond national borders.

Implications for Brazilian Universities and Administrators

The launch coincides with broader discussions at the Fórum about the future of higher education as a public good and a driver of regional sovereignty. Minister of Education Leonardo Barchini underscored that prosperity in Latin America and the Caribbean will increasingly depend on the ability to generate, share, and apply knowledge collectively. This framing elevates the Programa Move La América from a simple mobility scheme to a strategic instrument of soft power and scientific diplomacy.

Institutions interested in hosting scholars must navigate CAPES guidelines on proposal submission, student selection, and reporting. Successful participation often requires dedicated international offices, clear articulation of research strengths, and alignment with national priorities such as sustainable development and technological innovation. Administrators who invest in these capacities position their universities for sustained funding cycles and enhanced global rankings.

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Opportunities for PhD-Track Candidates and Researchers

For aspiring academics and current doctoral students in Brazil, the program offers indirect but meaningful benefits. Hosting international peers can lead to co-authorship opportunities, access to diverse methodological perspectives, and invitations to reciprocal visits abroad. In fields ranging from public health and environmental sciences to engineering and social sciences, these exchanges frequently catalyze long-term research consortia.

Job seekers monitoring the academic market will note that experience with international mobility programs increasingly appears in faculty position descriptions. Demonstrated ability to supervise or collaborate with scholars from the region signals readiness for the globalized university environment that Brazilian institutions are actively cultivating.

Broader Context of Regional Higher Education Cooperation

The second edition arrives at a moment when Latin American and Caribbean universities are grappling with shared challenges: funding constraints, brain drain, and the imperative to address climate change, inequality, and digital transformation. By facilitating short-term stays rather than full-degree mobility, the program lowers barriers for students who cannot commit to multi-year relocation while still delivering high-value research exposure.

Events such as the Fórum de Reitoras e Reitores provide the connective tissue for these efforts. Organized with support from ANDIFES, CONIF, Itaipu Binacional, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), the gathering underscored the role of rectors in translating policy into actionable partnerships. The presence of UNILA as host reinforced the symbolic importance of border-region institutions in fostering everyday integration.

Practical Considerations for Participation

Prospective host institutions should monitor the forthcoming edital for detailed timelines, eligibility criteria, and funding disbursement mechanisms. Early preparation typically involves mapping research groups with international appeal, securing letters of support from partner universities in the region, and aligning proposals with CAPES evaluation criteria that emphasize academic merit, regional impact, and equity considerations.

Scholars selected under the program receive stipends, travel support, and health insurance, while host institutions gain prestige and the intangible benefits of a more cosmopolitan academic environment. The emphasis on public universities and federal institutes aligns with national goals of strengthening the federal higher education network.

Future Outlook and Long-Term Impact

Observers expect the second edition to generate measurable outcomes in joint publications, patent filings, and follow-on funding applications. By prioritizing underrepresented regions, the program also contributes to a more balanced distribution of internationalization benefits within Brazil itself. Over successive editions, this could help elevate the research profiles of institutions that have historically operated with fewer international linkages.

For the wider ecosystem of Brazilian higher education, sustained investment in such initiatives signals a commitment to reversing trends of isolation and underfunding. As global competition for talent intensifies, programs like Move La América help retain and attract researchers who might otherwise pursue opportunities in North America or Europe.

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Stakeholder Perspectives

Rector Diana Araújo of UNILA highlighted the university’s role as a space of welcome and diversity, noting that everyday integration in the border region complements formal programs. CAPES representatives emphasized that the Fórum itself serves as a platform to showcase Brazil’s public higher education model to regional partners and the world.

These voices reflect a consensus that academic mobility is not merely an add-on but a core component of institutional strategy. University leaders who embrace this perspective are better positioned to navigate the evolving landscape of Brazilian higher education policy.

The second edition of the Programa Move La América represents a deliberate scaling of successful pilot efforts into a more robust platform for regional academic integration. With substantial funding, clear geographic priorities, and alignment with ministerial goals of knowledge sovereignty, the initiative offers tangible pathways for Brazilian universities to expand their international footprint while contributing to the collective advancement of higher education across the Americas.

Administrators, faculty, and emerging scholars alike have reason to monitor developments closely. Participation can unlock resources, relationships, and reputational gains that resonate far beyond the duration of any single scholarship. As the program moves from announcement to implementation, its success will ultimately be measured by the depth and durability of the partnerships it cultivates.