From AI to Motoboys: THI strengthens partnerships in Brazil

“Saudações de São Paulo!” – Greetings from the Brazilian metropolis, where THI was the only German university represented amongst some 60 exhibitors at the Salão do Estudante. The stand was consistently well attended, with the AI study courses proving particularly popular. Scholarships and PhD opportunities also attracted interest. According to university representatives, around 80 per cent of visitors used the QR code provided to obtain further information about THI.

“As the only German university there, we were in an excellent position. Many young people came to the stand with specific questions about our degree programmes. The interest in AI was particularly impressive,” reports Overbeck.

The trip was made possible by LUMINAi (Latin-American University Minds Shaping Innovation in Next-Generation AI). Funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, the project aims to attract highly qualified Master’s students and PhD candidates from Brazil, Mexico and Colombia to Germany as a centre of excellence for AI. By 2029, international talent will be trained at THI’s AI hub for mobility and prepared for careers in research and industry. The high level of demand in São Paulo is a promising sign in this regard. This will be followed in November by appearances at trade fairs in Mexico, and from 7 to 11 December, the THI is hosting the “LUMINAi – AI Excellency Winter School” in Ingolstadt.

Alongside student recruitment, the focus was on academic collaboration. At the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Overbeck and Huber discussed a planned R-SPARK application with researchers and students. The focus is on the working conditions of Brazilian motorbike couriers, known as ‘motoboys’. UNESP is already investigating psychological aspects of the platform economy, including stress, competitive pressure and communication structures.

To gain a better understanding of the situation, the two university representatives also observed traffic conditions in São Paulo. Their impressions will be incorporated into the design of the research project. Plans include ‘living labs’ that will involve those affected and other stakeholders, such as the police. The partner university, FURB in Blumenau, is set to expand the project to include a sociological perspective.