ESHTE welcomes South African delegation to discuss academic partnerships

On September 25th, the Estoril Higher School of Hotel and Tourism (ESHTE) was the scene of a significant visit by a delegation from South Africa, made up of representatives from the University of Pretoria and the South African Embassy. The delegation included Dr. Hennie Fisher (PhD), professor and researcher, and Professor Gerrie E. du Rand, both from the Department of Food and Consumer Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria. They were accompanied by Cristina Rodrigues, AB Heyns, Richard Freiboth, and Carl le Roux, political advisor at the South African Embassy.

This visit is part of an international collaboration project focused on developing and conceptualizing the South African-Portuguese Gastronomic Identity. The aim is to explore synergies between the two countries and collect data related to relevant sectors.

The President of ESHTE, Professor Carlos Brandão, the Vice-President, Professor João Reis, the Mobility and International Relations Office, represented by Professor Maria José Pires and Cláudia Pena, the coordinator of the Degree in Food Production in Catering, Professor. Cláudia Azevedo, and Prof. Victor Afonso hosted the delegation. During the meeting, visitors demonstrated a particular interest in ESHTE's educational model, both in terms of undergraduate and master's degrees, as well as in ongoing research projects.

The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss potential future collaborations, such as co-supervision of dissertations and participation in external examinations, highlighting both parties' commitment to strengthening academic and scientific ties.