FLAD Joins the World’s Largest Education Fair, NAFSA 2023 in Washington, D.C

FLAD Highlights Portugal at NAFSA 2023, the World’s Largest International Education Conference in Washington, D.C.

FLAD – the Luso-American Development Foundation – took an important step in expanding its international impact by joining NAFSA 2023, the world’s largest international education conference and expo, held in Washington, D.C. Gathering thousands of higher education leaders, policymakers, and international education professionals, the event offered FLAD a powerful stage to reinforce academic links between Portugal and the United States, promote Portuguese universities and polytechnics, and identify new forms of cooperation in research, mobility, and innovation across the Atlantic.

Positioning Portugal as a Hub for Innovation and Study Abroad at NAFSA 2023

In the highly competitive environment of the global education marketplace, FLAD used NAFSA 2023 to present Portugal as a forward‑looking, research-intensive and innovation‑oriented destination. Throughout the conference, the Foundation brought together Portuguese universities, polytechnic institutes, and research centers under a unified national presence, ensuring coherent visibility for the country within the expo.

By engaging directly with institutional leaders, international relations offices, and government representatives, FLAD emphasized Portugal’s growing expertise in:

• Digital transformation and data-driven innovation
• Blue economy and marine research in the Atlantic
• Health sciences and biomedical research

These strengths were presented not just as isolated achievements, but as strategic entry points for collaborative degrees, joint research, and structured academic mobility. One-on-one meetings with U.S. and international partners highlighted Portugal’s readiness to host ambitious programs that respond to global priorities, from climate resilience to technological innovation.

Showcasing Concrete Academic Opportunities with Portugal

FLAD’s presence in Washington focused on practical pathways for collaboration rather than purely institutional promotion. The Foundation outlined a portfolio of structured opportunities aimed at students, researchers, and institutions interested in developing sustainable and long-term academic links with Portugal. Key formats included:

• Student exchanges and short-term mobility programs connecting Portugal with U.S. and European campuses
• Joint research initiatives in STEM, arts, humanities, and social sciences
• Dual and joint degree programs with Portuguese universities and polytechnics
• Scholarships and grants co-funded with Portuguese and foreign partners

Deepening Strategic Partnerships and Transatlantic Mobility

With Washington, D.C. acting as a crossroads for global higher education, FLAD used NAFSA 2023 to advance a focused agenda centered on strategic partnerships and transatlantic mobility. The Foundation promoted new frameworks for:

• Dual degrees that allow students to study in both Portugal and the U.S.
• Joint research projects in fields of shared interest
• Short-term academic mobility for students and faculty

Priority areas included climate science, digital transformation, public health, and democratic governance-domains where U.S.-Portugal collaboration can address global challenges. FLAD held targeted meetings with university presidents, international offices, and funding agencies to identify overlapping priorities and design agile mechanisms for cross-border cooperation.

Positioning Portugal as a gateway to the European Higher Education Area, FLAD underlined the country’s ability to serve as an entry point for U.S. institutions seeking flexible, high‑quality European partners.

Building Flexible and Inclusive Mobility Schemes

The commitment to mobility translated into specific proposals designed to increase both the volume and diversity of participants moving between Portugal and the United States. FLAD presented tailored mobility schemes featuring:

• Co-funded scholarships for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students
• Short research stays oriented toward early‑career researchers and postdocs
• Customized study abroad formats calibrated to institutional and curricular needs

Key strands of this mobility agenda included:

• Expansion of bilateral agreements between Portuguese and U.S. institutions
• Co-designed study abroad models that ensure credit transfer and academic alignment
• Support for underrepresented fields and profiles, including first‑generation and low‑income students
• Structured alumni networks to sustain long-term transatlantic engagement

Inside NAFSA 2023: How FLAD Expanded Study Abroad Pathways

Over the course of three intense days, FLAD transformed its booth into a collaborative hub where Portuguese and international institutions could design new forms of academic cooperation. Continuous meetings with presidents, deans, study abroad coordinators, and policymakers helped map out concrete routes for greater student and faculty mobility between Portugal and the United States.

In focused side sessions, FLAD and its counterparts explored options to:

• Co-create joint and dual degrees anchored in complementary strengths
• Broaden semester and year-long study abroad options in Portugal
• Design short-term thematic programs rooted in Portuguese research expertise and cultural heritage

The Foundation’s visible role at NAFSA 2023 reinforced Portugal’s profile as a safe, innovative, and academically strong study destination-an attractive alternative for institutions diversifying beyond traditional European hubs.

From Conversations to Pilot Projects

Many of the discussions at the fair evolved into concrete cooperation ideas and draft proposals. FLAD’s function as an intermediary-able to connect institutional interests, regulatory contexts, and funding possibilities-was especially valued by stakeholders looking for practical ways to move forward.

Areas of particular interest included:

• New exchange agreements linking Portuguese universities with U.S. campuses beyond the most common destinations
• Faculty-led programs that integrate research, innovation, and community engagement into compact academic experiences
• Scholarships and mobility grants to reduce financial barriers and open opportunities to first‑generation and underrepresented students
• Joint outreach campaigns that present Portugal as a high-quality, accessible international education choice

Turning NAFSA 2023 Insights into Stronger US-Portugal Education Ties

The conversations, presentations, and trends observed at NAFSA 2023 provide a roadmap for institutions in both countries to move from dialogue to implementation. Universities and polytechnics in Portugal and the U.S. can now capitalize on this momentum by investing in:

• Joint degree pathways that combine resources and expertise across the Atlantic
• Short-term mobility programs tailored to different disciplinary and student needs
• Faculty-led research exchanges that seed long-term collaborations

To maximize the impact of these initiatives, institutions are encouraged to:

• Align curricula to simplify credit transfer and recognition, easing student mobility
• Develop virtual exchange components that can serve as stepping stones to in-person programs
• Identify anchor departments-for example in STEM, sustainability, or Atlantic studies-to drive broader institutional cooperation
• Activate alumni networks in both Portugal and the U.S. to promote programs and mentor future participants

Integrating NAFSA Outcomes into Institutional Strategy

To ensure that the gains from NAFSA 2023 translate into lasting impact, institutional leaders are encouraged to embed the fair’s insights into their strategic planning processes. This means treating NAFSA not only as a networking event, but as a yearly reference point for assessing and refining transatlantic cooperation.

Recommended steps include:

• Organizing post‑NAFSA debriefs with international offices, faculty champions, and administrative units
• Using data on mobility flows, scholarship demand, and academic interests to adjust recruitment and partnership strategies
• Systematically mapping U.S.-Portugal synergies in priority areas such as oceans and climate, digital transformation, and health sciences
• Formalizing commitments through memoranda of understanding with clear timelines, responsibilities, and monitoring indicators

By moving from ad hoc contacts to structured cooperation plans, institutions can turn the visibility and networks built at NAFSA 2023 into enduring academic bridges.

Conclusion

As NAFSA 2023 concluded in Washington, D.C., FLAD’s active engagement confirmed both the increasing international relevance of Portuguese higher education and the Foundation’s ongoing dedication to academic collaboration.

Through direct interaction with global partners, the promotion of Portuguese institutions, and support for the Portuguese-American scientific and academic community, FLAD helped unlock new avenues for mobility, joint research, and institutional partnerships.

Building on the momentum generated at the world’s largest international education conference, FLAD is now positioned to strengthen its role as a bridge between Portugal and the United States, transforming the connections made at NAFSA 2023 into tangible opportunities for students, researchers, and universities in the years to come.