About 19,000 Brazilians are enrolling in public higher education in Portugal this year, the largest foreign group, and “there is more room” for growth, Science, Technology and Higher Education Minister Elvira Fortunato told Lusa newspaper on Tuesday.

He added: “We have about 19,000 male and female students enrolled in higher education institutions.” About 26 thousand applicationsElvira Fortunato told Lusa, who is in Maceió, the capital of Alagoas state, with an agenda until Wednesday. The minister participated in several meetings, including a bilateral meeting with Brazilian Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Luciana Santos.

“Hey More foreigners The Portuguese minister continued, stressing that we must have Brazilians studying in higher education institutions “There is space, there is more than one space” Let this number grow.

According to Elvira Fortunato, Portuguese universities Need to receive more foreigners due to the low birth rate in the country, which changes the demographic fabric From the state.

In the context of higher education, we must diversify our audience and welcome students from other origins.

On Wednesday, Elvira Fortunato will hold a meeting with the Dean of the Federal University of Alagoas, “with which it has concluded several agreements with Portuguese universities and polytechnic institutes.”