Fundação Estudar - Annual Report 2003 · 2004
This is an abridged version of the full annual report (available in PDF format).
Mission
To collaborate in the development of Brazil by providing long term incentive, which creates future leaders and change agents who are capable of implementing a culture of results and efficiency, with solid ethical principles in their respective professional fields.
Vision
Jorge Paulo Lemann, Carlos Alberto Sicupira and Marcel Herrmann Telles created Fundação Estudar in 1991. They believe that the granting of financial assistance to young Brazilians with high intellectual potential, but without the financial resources to attend the best business and economics programs, contributes directly to the economic development of Brazil by increasing opportunities for these students, making them examples for more just and modern society.
Philosophy
Education ensures the growth and development of all societies. It is upon a solid educational structure that a country’s population can achieve economic growth, sustainability, productivity and prosperity, and at the same time, reduce soci-economic problems such as poverty, hunger and inequality.
Brazil has abundant resources and enormous growth potential. Yet, the vast majority of its citizens confront grave socio-economic problems in their daily life. The first step towards improving this situation is to grant greater access to quality education, an education that will enable the development to Brazil’s future leaders by providing them with the tools necessary to implement change and stimulate growth.
The challenge is great and the investment required is huge.
Fundação Estudar’s role in relation to this challenge is to annually provide an opportunity for quality higher education on an individual basis and to continually provide career development and professional networking resources post–graduation for those individuals. Fundação Estudar believes that its unique and growing alumni community leverages the individual professional success of each of its scholars to achieve maximum impact for Brazil’s socio-economic development in an increasing and self-perpetuating way.
Organisation
Fundação Estudar is organised along three distinct areas of operation: the selection process, career development and Alumni networking
Selection process
From an annual applicant pool of approximately 300 Brazilians, Fundação Estudar draws only those students with the highest demonstrated standards of intellect, communication and leadership. Natural entrepreneurial spirit that is committed to achievement through hard work is also a fundamental characteristic.
To identify these qualities, each candidate is put through a series of eliminatory individual and group evaluations that measure their intelligence, academic track record, professional potential, ethical standards, identification with Fundação Estudar’s ideals and commitment to Brazil.
- The number of students granted scholarships each year is a function of merit; there are no numerical restrictions. When applying to Fundação Estudar, each candidate must already have been accepted in an approved education institution to obtain an approved degree. These educational institutions and degrees are grouped in three different categories: 1. Top-ranked Brazilian undergraduate programs in business or economics (as determined by Brazilian Federal Ministry of Education);
- Top-ranked American undergraduate programs in business or economics (as determined by professional evaluators of American colleges);
- Globally top-ranked M.B.A, M.P.P and L.L.M programs.
In it’s first selection process, thirteen years ago, Fundação Estudar awarded three scholarships. Since then, a total of 284 scholarships have been granted, or an average of 22 per year. Investments in scholarships total US$ 4.1 million to date.
Fundação Estudar’s long-term goal is to continue to build upon and expand its track record.
Career Development
Fundação Estudar’s alumni are advancing in careers that span diverse professions and industry sectors in Brazil, the United States, Canada and various parts of Europe. They hold positions in companies that vary from entrepreneurial start-ups to Fortune 500 multinationals and from non-profit to for-profit.
Fundação Estudar concentrates its career development activities on programs including workshops, mentoring, internships, panels and lectures.
Alumni Networking
Contact and interaction among Fundação Estudar’s current community of over 200 alumni is regularly maintained through in-person events and activities, such as its annual meeting, and on-line communication forums.
Fundação Estudar is committed to increasing both its Career Development and Alumni Networking activities to enhance and strengthen the professional development of its alumni, thereby maximising opportunities to leverage the Fundação Estudar experience into personal and professional success.
Operating Performance and Financial Results 2003-2004
Strategic Planning
In May 2004, the Board of Trustees formalised a strategic planning effort to ensure Fundação Estudar’s continued long-term growth and development. The first phase of this process was initiated in June 2004, with the launching of an external benchmarking analysis. Additionally, an alumni survey was administrated to obtain accurate information on internal perceptions of Fundação Estudar’s current operations.
Over the balance of this year, Fundação Estudar will conduct comprehensive analyses, working with the Board of Trustees and Directors to develop the most optimal long-term plan for the organisation.
University and Other Partnerships
Throughout the year, Fundação Estudar increased efforts to deepen existing partnerships with domestic and foreign universities. It has also expanded its relationships to include new universities and educational institutions, both domestically and abroad.
Career Development
Over the past year, Fundação Estudar’s career development activities focused on the undergraduate scholars, including several leadership-training workshops. Moreover this year Fundação Estudar implemented an undergraduate mentoring program that provides each undergraduate scholar with the opportunity to select a Fundação Estudar alumnus as a mentor for the duration of his or her academic careers.
As a part of Fundação Estudar’s strategic planning efforts, additional mentoring programs will programs will be analysed, including designs geared toward alumni at all stages of their careers.
Alumni Networking
Fundação Estudar’s 2003 annual meeting brought together nearly 200 alumni, current scholars and leaders from the Brazilian business and educational communities. Pedro Parente, former Treasury Minister (1995-1999) served as the keynote speaker.
In March 2004, Fundação Estudar organised an event to foster contact and build professional relationships between its alumni and members of Endeavor, a non-profit organisation that supports entrepreneurship for long-term growth.
As a part of Fundação Estudar’s strategic planning efforts, additional networking events will be developed to offer increased professional interaction for its alumni.
Fundraising and Financial Results
In 2003-2004, corporate and alumni donations totalled R$ 991.137,04 – up 22% from the previous period.
Case Study
Isabel Lustosa
Ulhôa Canto, Rezende e Guerra Advogados
Partner
Scholarship Year: 1995
Program: Harvard University – L.L.M
The impact that Fundação Estudar had on my life is two-fold:
- Opportunity to have permanent contact with a privileged circle of professionals through meetings with alumni, founders and their guests;
- Awareness as regards the importance of investing time and money in the formation of the undergraduate students through programs such as Fundação Estudar’s mentoring program.
The role and importance of Fundação Estudar in Brazil is:
- Investing in the formation of high level professionals, giving them the means to become leaders in their respective professional areas;
- Giving scholars access to job opportunities;
- Serving as an example so other companies and professional adopt similar initiatives.