Camões Institute

The Camões, Institute for Cooperation and Language (Camões, IP) is the Portugese implementing agency for external cultural and educational policy as well as the governmental agency for Cooperation for Development. It operates under the responsibility of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs but has administrative and financial autonomy. It is also its purpose to promote Portuguese culture and language abroad. Its main projects focus on: cooperation for development in third countries; the promotion of Portuguese culture and teaching of Portuguese culture and language at University level, through a Lector, having a network of Lectureships and Chairs in foreign Universities with recognized scientific merit all over the world; teaching of Portuguese as a foreign language and of the Portuguese culture and the cultures of Portuguese expression at primary and secondary levels, though a network of teachers, within or parallel to the education system in foreign countries; and the negotiation of Cultural Agreements and Executive Programmes with third countries in the areas of education, science, culture, sports, youth and mass media, in coordination with the competent Ministries.