The Rio Branco Institute (;

Abbreviation An abbreviation () is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method including shortening (linguistics), shortening, contraction (grammar), contraction, initialism (which includes acronym), or crasis. An abbreviation may be a shortened for ...

: IRBr) is

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

's diplomatic graduate school, internationally recognized as one of the best diplomatic academies in the world. It is the oldest government school in the country and the third oldest diplomatic training institution on the planet, located in

Brasília Brasília ( ; ) is the capital city, capital of Brazil and Federal District (Brazil), Federal District. Located in the Brazilian highlands in the country's Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West region, it was founded by President Juscelino ...

. The institute was created on April 18, 1945, as part of the centennial celebration of the birth of the

Baron of Rio Branco Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knight, ...

, the greatest and most important diplomat in the history of Brazil. The IRBr is run by the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil. Graduation from the IRBr is the only possible entrance point into the diplomatic career in

.Information on the Diplomatic Career
Instituto Rio Branco. Retrieved on 2011-01-07.

Admission

Requirements

The Ministry of External Relations established the following prerequisites for admission: *Possess

Brazilian citizenship Brazilian nationality law details the conditions by which a person is a national of Brazil. The primary law governing nationality requirements is the 1988 Constitution of Brazil, which came into force on 5 October 1988. With few exceptions, alm ...

by birth; *Be over 18 years old; *Possess an

undergraduate degree An undergraduate degree (also called first degree or simply degree) is a colloquial term for an academic degree earned by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. In the United States, it is usually offered at an institution of higher ed ...

recognized by the Ministry of Education of Brazil; *Be up-to-date with military and electoral obligations; *Possess a clean

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Entry

Admission to IRBr is achieved through a three-phase entrance examination: *First phase: pre-selection exam on Brazilian History,

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Economics Economics () is a behavioral science that studies the Production (economics), production, distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics), consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interac ...

International Politics International relations (IR, and also referred to as international studies, international politics, or international affairs) is an academic discipline. In a broader sense, the study of IR, in addition to multilateral relations, concerns al ...

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, Portuguese and English; *Second phase: written exams on Portuguese and English; *Third phase: written exams on Brazilian History,

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

and French. The exam at the Rio Branco Institute is considered the most difficult public exam in Brazil and one of the most complex in the world. After being approved, the candidate must present the documents required by law and enroll in the ''Graduation and Improvement Program''. Soon after, the candidate begins to study diplomacy at the Institute and becomes a career diplomat.

Courses

The Rio Branco Institute offers a mandatory and intense career program and three advancement courses.

Graduate Course

The IRBr's ''Graduation and Improvement Program'', Diplomat Training Course (CFD), is a one-year-and-a-half program of studies, encompassing studies in fields such as History, Economics, Politics, Law, Foreign Policy, English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Arabic. After successful completion of the course, students are confirmed in the

Foreign Service Foreign Service may refer to: * Diplomatic service, the body of diplomats and foreign policy officers maintained by the government of a country * United States Foreign Service, the diplomatic service of the United States government **Foreign Service ...

as Third-Secretaries.

Postgraduate Course

The Diplomat Improvement Course (CAD) is maintained by the Rio Branco Institute as an integral part of the diplomat career training and qualification system, with the aim of deepening and updating the knowledge necessary for the performance of the functions performed by Seconds and First Secretaries. Possession of the CAD diploma is a requirement for the functional progression of its holder to First Secretary.

Higher Studies Course (PhD)

The Higher Studies Course (CAE) consists of the preparation of an analytical and propositional thesis, with functional relevance and utility for Brazilian diplomacy or that represents a contribution to Brazilian historiography or diplomatic thought. The thesis is evaluated by an examining board composed of first-class ministers and subsidized by opinions prepared by two rapporteurs, one internal and the other external to the institution. The examining board decides if the work is able to pass to the defense phase, when its authors are summoned to the argument. The Higher Studies Course is mandatory for a Brazilian diplomat to become an ambassador.

Career

In Brazil, the diplomatic career is very hierarchical and after years of work based on meritocracy and completion of the Institute's courses, the diplomat moves up the career ladder. The six positions of Brazilian diplomacy are: *Third-Secretary (initial career position, where the public servant will take the Diplomat Training Course); *Second-Secretary (position where the civil servant will take the Diplomat Improvement Course); *First Secretary; *Minister-Counselor (position where the diplomat will take the Higher Studies Course); *Second Class Minister; * First Class Minister or Ambassador (highest position in the diplomatic career). Brazilian diplomacy is internationally recognized as one of the most respected and prepared in the world.

References

External links

Instituto Rio Branco
Official website {{authority control Schools of international relations Foreign relations of Brazil Universities and colleges established in 1945 1945 establishments in Brazil Postgraduate schools in Brazil