UFSC welcomes 2021.1 international students in online event

14/06/2021 17:17

The Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina received, this Friday, 11 June, in an online event, students from other countries in a virtual mobility program, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Organized by the Office of International Relations (Sinter), the purpose of the reception was to present UFSC and welcome the new students.

The rector of UFSC, Ubaldo Cesar Balthazar, welcomed students from Argentina, Uruguay, France, Italy, Peru, and the United Kingdom, coming through bilateral agreements and the Asociación de Universidades Grupo Montevideo. The institution also welcomed a student from Honduras, from the Undergraduate Exchange Student Program (PEC-G). “We want everyone to feel comfortable in our academic environment, with classes held online because of the sanitary conditions,” said the rector.

Professor Lincoln Fernandes, Office of International Relations, recalled that these students are making history, as they are from the first virtual mobility program class received by UFSC. He congratulated the new students for their optimism, strength, courage, and resilience in participating in activities during a difficult period: “Despite all the effects of the pandemic, you continued working hard,” he said. He also highlighted the large number of students enrolled in the Online Extension Courses – more than a thousand will attend remote classes in courses such as Portuguese as an Additional Language and Writing and Publishing Scientific Papers.

The coordinator of international programs, Guilherme Costa, talked about the activities developed by Sinter and showed an institutional video presentation of UFSC, which highlights relevant data about the university, such as being among the 15 best in Latin America and ten best in Brazil in international rankings. The institution is also recognized for being a reference center in research in the most varied areas of knowledge.

Natália Roth da Silva, from the International Student Exchange (Incoming), highlighted the modalities of incoming exchange students and their countries of origin, besides presenting practical directions to the students, such as the importance of the idUFSC registration to access the learning environment. The students will receive the instructions by e-mail.

The event also featured the presentation of a video of an Italian exchange student who studied at UFSC in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic. Stella Robino studied Cinema and pointed out highlights of her stay in Brazil and at UFSC, emphasizing the beauty of the campus, the cultural activities, and the opportunity to have learned Portuguese.

Translated by SINTER/UFSC

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