Consul General of Portugal in Manchester visits School of Modern Languages

The Consul General of Portugal in Manchester was welcomed to Cardiff this December by staff and students of our flourishing Portuguese programme.

His Excellency Dr. Jorge Cruz, Consul of Portugal in Manchester, visited the School with Nuno Silva, Community Organiser of Portugal Wales, on 5 December to meet with staff and students and to discuss the School’s Portuguese programme and links with the community in Wales.

The Portuguese programme at the School has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2016. It receives significant support from colleagues and organisations in Portugal and 2018 will mark the third year of a collaboration agreement with the Instituto Camões, which provides support for Portuguese language teaching and many cultural events for students and members of the community.

Dr Cruz was keen to find out more about the programme and met with students to discuss their experience of studying Portuguese language and culture at the School. He also answered questions about working in the diplomatic service, and the Portuguese community within the UK.

After meeting students and staff, Dr Cruz and his delegation attended a reception where postgraduate student of the School of Music, Ana Beatriz Ferreira played Sonata Op. 15 No. 2 by Portuguese composer Domingos Bomtempo and Etude-Tableau, Op. 39 No.5 in E flat minor by Sergei Rachmaninov on the piano. After the performance, the group enjoyed Portuguese port wine and traditional Christmas cakes and sweets.

Senior Lecturer in Portuguese, Dr Rhian Atkin said of Dr Cruz’s visit, “We were very pleased to welcome His Excellency, Dr Jorge Cruz to Cardiff University. It is a fabulous opportunity for students to meet and speak in Portuguese with a member of the diplomatic service. It was also wonderful to listen to the powerful pieces played by Ana Beatriz Ferreira. We hope this will be the first of many visits from the Consul to the School.”