Charles University welcomes president of Portugal












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            Press release

            16th April 2010

            On Friday, 16th of April 2010, the President of the Portuguese Republic, Aníbal Cavaco Sil

            his wife visited Charles University. The Portuguese President and the Rector of Charles Un
            praise for the good relations and increasing student exchange between their countries. The
            in a lecture given by the Portuguese President followed by a discussion with students.

            The ceremonial meeting took place in the Patriotic Hall of Charles University. The Rector 
            University Prof. Václav Hampl made the opening address, after which Šárka Grauová from the

            Portuguese Studies at the CU Faculty of Philosophy and Art's Institute of Romance Studies 
            history and development of the teaching of Portuguese at CU and drew attention to the impo
            Portuguese Language Centre: „In this centre, directed by the untiring and exceptionally br

            Joaquim Ramos, Czech Portuguese studies have acquired not only a completely invaluable sup
            work but also a place where all those interested in Portuguese language and culture can me
            The President of Portugal Prof. Dr Aníbal Cavaco Silva then gave a lecture [ URL "IFORUMEN

            version1-16042010aj.pdf"] that was followed by discussion with students of Portuguese from
            of Romance Studies and students from the Institute of International Studies of the CU Facu
            Sciences. The President's programme also included a visit to an exhibition of art by Jiří 

            is inspired by the poetry of the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa. Here the guests were wel
            Jose Julio Pereira Gomes, special and plenipotentiary ambassador of the Portuguese Republi
            Coelho Ramos, director of the Cam?es Institute Portuguese Centre in Prague.

            Charles University has been co-operating with Portugal since 1987 when it made its first i
            agreement with the Universidade de Coimbra, relating specifically to the exchange of resea
            staff in the fields of pharmacy, microbiology, education, law, psychology, romance studies

            environment. In 2003 Charles University signed a Protocol on Co-operation with the Institu
            Portugal, leading to the official establishment of the Portuguese Language Centre at the C
            Philosophy and Art. This centre offers for example lectures, themed events, concerts, film

            suchlike.
            Currently there are 312 Portuguese students studying full degree courses at Charles Univer
            independent fee-payers (most of these are at the CU Faculty of Medicine in Plzeň and at th

            Medicine and the 1st Faculty of Medicine) and 36 trainees. Another 49 students from Portug
            this academic year on the basis of the Erasmus LPP programme, under which Charles Universi
            with 12 Portuguese universities.


            The President of the Portuguese Republic Aníbal Cavaco Silva and his wife Maria Cavaco Sil
            state visit to the Czech Republic at the invitation of the President of the Republic, Prof


            Charles University in Prague
            Charles University in Prague was founded in 1348 and is one of the world's oldest universi

            has 17 faculties (14 in Prague, 2 in Hradec Králové and 1 in Plzeň), 3 university institut
            centres for educational, scientific, research and developmental or other creative activity
            of information services, 5 university-wide special facilities and the rectorate as the adm

            centre for the whole university. The university has more than 7,500 employees, 4,000 of th
            academic and research staff. Over 51,000 students are studying at CU (which is roughly a s
            students in the CR), in more than 300 accredited degree programmes and practically 660 stu

            More than 18,000 are studying in bachelor's programmes, 25,000 in master's programmes and 
            7,000 in doctoral programmes. Over 6,000 students are from abroad. Various courses in life
            programmes organised by CU attract more than 15,000 people each year. The university place

            stress on international co-operation with prestigious educational and research institution
            total of 450 bilateral agreements and 190 international partnership agreements with foreig


            For accuracy:
            Mgr. Václav Hájek


            External Relations Office
            Charles University in Prague
            tel:                    +420 224 491 248

            e-mail:                        pr(zavinac)cuni.cz [ MAIL "pr(zavinac)cuni.cz"]
            Translation: Jaroslav Švelch