Itaipu and UFRN launch Brazil's first interinstitutional tourism master's in Foz

Fifteen tourism professionals from Paraná and southern Mato Grosso do Sul began the inaugural Interinstitutional Master's in Tourism in Foz do Iguaçu. The two‑year, tuition‑free program is a partnership between Itaipu Binacional, Itaipu Parquetec and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), aiming to equip practitioners with applied research skills for regional development. Participants include Luciana Mickus from Tijucas do Sul, who will travel bi‑weekly to attend classes, and Itaipu Parquetec director Yuri Benites, who is also enrolled. Program leaders stress the focus on community‑linked learning and quality education.

The launch reflects broader growth in Brazil's tourism sector, highlighted by rising visitor numbers and workforce training efforts such as Senac‑MT's 2025 initiatives that trained over 500 people and upcoming events like FIT Pantanal 2026, underscoring the link between professional qualification and regional economic development.