For Juliana Pires Lamas, a 21-year-old Brazilian student who has spent a year studying at Tianjin University, the Chinese education system has given her a better understanding of how to study.

"My teachers give us much work to do and encourage us to study harder," Lamas said, adding that after one year of intensive training, she is a better learner.

Lamas is one of about 190 Brazilian students enrolled in Brazil's Science Without Borders program, in which the Brazilian government has funded talented young Brazilians to study at overseas universities since 2011.

As part of the initiative, the Brazilian government signed an agreement with China in 2012, announcing it would send 3,000 students to China over 10 years.

The students spend one year at Chinese universities studying the Chinese language and another two to four years studying their chosen majors.

Lamas said mastering the language will give her a strong advantage when she returns home to Brazil.

"Few people in Brazil know both engineering and the Chinese language. By mastering both, it will be easy to find a decent job," the chemical engineering major said.

The education ties will also help the Brazilian students better understand China.

After spending a year studying Chinese at Tianjin University, Caio Fernando Santos, 20, from Brazil, has fallen in love with the country. "I will tell my family and friends about China," he said.

Tianjin University has hosted 60 Brazilian students from 2013 to 2014.

Zhou Ming, the program director at the University, said these students bring diversity to the campus.

"The 60 Brazilian students charm Tianjin University with their enthusiasm. They demonstrate Brazilian food, dance and culture on campus," Zhou said, adding that the university will continue to enroll students in the program in 2014.

Contact the writers at [email protected] and [email protected]