“Partnerships for Human and Social Capacity Building” was the theme of the fifth annual Latin American colloquium held at UQ St Lucia earlier this month.
The forum has become a signature event for UQ, government and business personnel interested or active in Australia Latin America trade, investment, government relations and international education.
This year’s colloquium was supported by diplomatic and consular staff from nine Latin American countries including six Ambassadors.
It was also supported by the Australian Government, Trade and Investment Queensland, the Australia-Latin America Business Council and key industry leaders.
Keynote speakers included the Queensland Treasurer and Minister for State Development and Trade, Andrew Fraser, and UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) Dr Anna Ciccarelli.
“The concept of Partnerships in the broadest sense and specifically relating to Latin America is of course not new," Dr Ciccarelli said.
"The issue is therefore not whether partnerships are the key to success in Latin America.
"It is more a question of understanding Latin American capacity building priorities and how Australia or in this case the Queensland Government, universities and industry can assist in this regard.
"While there is a tendency for us to form our own direct partnerships and pursue our own micro projects, there are also opportunities for Government, universities, funding agencies and industry to engage collectively and more broadly and to pool our expertise and resources for ‘think big’ projects.
"Indeed this could be a challenge coming out of today’s Colloquium”.
Speakers from AusAID, and the Mining Industry Skills Centre spoke about the need for partnerships in skills development with three case studies of development partnerships presented by UQ academic staff.
The ambassadors provided an update on government policy and priorities in human and social capacity building as well as insights into how Latin America and Australian partnerships are contributing to the related development goals in the region.
Speakers included former Queensland Premier, Special Trade Representative to Latin America and now Resources Sector Supplier Envoy-Australian Government, Dr Peter Beattie.
Dr Beattie closed the colloquium by highlighting the potential for continuing to grow Australia Latin America trade and investment and international education.
Around 150 people attended the colloquium, which was followed by the opening of the UQ Latin America Film Festival.
View the presentations (PDF) and image gallery of this year’s Latin American colloquium http://www.uq.edu.au/global/past-events
More information:
Ms Aleyda Perez
T: 33651906
a.perezsoler@uq.edu.au
