On April 15, 2026, Lancaster’s Camões Institute Chair for Multilingualism and Diversity took part in the 2nd Worldwide Meeting of Camões Institute Chairs, hosted by the University of Oxford.

The meeting brought together directors from across the global Camões network to strengthen collaboration in research, teaching, and public engagement relating to Portuguese language and culture. It also highlighted the growing reach of this international network, which now includes 64 chairs based at universities around the world. The Camões Institute is Portugal’s public institute for international development cooperation and for the promotion of Portuguese language and culture abroad.

The opening session featured contributions from Ana Isabel Xavier, Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Florbela Paraíba, President of the Camões Institute, and Professor Phillip Rothwell, Director of Oxford’s D. João II Chair.

The program included a roundtable entitled “Contemporary Camões,” with contributions from renowned scholars Helder Macedo and T. F. Earle. It also included a series of working sessions with directors of Camões Institute Chairs, focused on the present and future of the network. The meeting concluded with a concert of Portuguese Baroque music at St Peter’s College.

Over the years, the Camões Institute has established chairs at universities abroad to support research, teaching, and public engagement relating to Portuguese language and culture across the world. Lancaster University has long-standing ties to Portugal, and its participation in this international network reflects both those historic connections and its ongoing commitment to multilingualism and global collaboration.

Professor Patrick Rebuschat, Director of Lancaster’s Camões Institute Chair for Multilingualism and Diversity, said: “This meeting was an important opportunity to strengthen connections across the global Camões network and to think collectively about how we can develop meaningful collaborations in research, teaching, and outreach.”

Lancaster’s Camões Institute Chair for Multilingualism and Diversity is pleased to be part of this growing international network. To find out more about the Chair and its activities, please visit our webpage or email catedra-camoes@lancaster.ac.uk.