On December 8th, Anderson Pedroso, President of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) and esteemed member of the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU), embarked on his first visit to China. On the 29th of the same month, President Pedroso had a private audience with Pope Francis at the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, where the Pope commended PUC-Rio for its contributions to human and social development through its robust educational and research initiatives.
During his stay in China, President Pedroso explored TBC, reinforcing the symbiotic relationship between the two institutions. Dr. Simon Koo, TBC’s Executive Director, extended a warm welcome and expressed enthusiasm for deepening cooperation. President Pedroso underscored the value of the partnership with TBC, recognizing the shared mission and alliance within the IAJU consortium. He envisioned this visit as a gateway to expansive international collaborations and dialogues, aiming to bolster sustainable growth and understanding between the institutions.
PUC-Rio President Anderson Pedroso (former left) and TBC Executive Director Simon Koo (former right)
Highlighting the engagement with various Chinese enterprises, President Pedroso clarified that PUC-Rio’s primary interest has always been in academic exchanges. TBC, with its diverse programs like “Study Abroad,” “CareerVentures,” and “ChinaContact,” stands out as the ideal partner for PUC-Rio. Through collaborative efforts with TBC, President Pedroso is keen on facilitating academic visits, lectures, seminars, and comprehensive cultural immersion for faculty and students. This initiative is poised to enrich their academic journeys and provide a nuanced understanding of China’s historical, cultural, and societal facets.
Visit the collection of TBC
This visit signifies a new phase in the collaboration between PUC-Rio and TBC, laying the groundwork for deepened international exchange and cooperation. TBC also looks forward to collaborating with more IAJU members, collectively building bridges for cultural exchange between the East and West.
Visit the Anton Library of TBC
The past few weekends have been some of the most exciting of the entire semester, full of trips to the zoo, mountain hikes, ancient parks, and more! Our first trip out of many was a visit to the Beijing Zoo. I had mentioned earlier in the semester that I wanted to see some pandas, since I was in China after all, and our TBC friend Andy made it happen.
Spending a whole semester in Beijing, I knew I had to make the trip down south and check out Shanghai, and the city certainly lived up to the expectations. Everyone describes Shanghai as this super futuristic metropolis, and after spending a weekend there I understand why it has this reputation.