Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

International students from more than 20 countries are welcomed at UFSC. Photos: Gustavo Diehl/Agecom

Last Friday, 8 August 2025, the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) hosted a welcome event for international students from 20 countries in the Shared Building (EFI) Auditorium, on the Trindade Campus in Florianópolis. The event marked the start of the second semester of 2025 and featured a diverse day-long program.

Organized by the Office of International Relations (SINTER), in partnership with the Prorectorate for Undergraduate Studies and Basic Education (PROGRAD) and other institutional projects, the initiative aimed to support international students in adapting to university life and local culture. Their study buddies – volunteer UFSC students who help newcomers integrate – were also invited for the event.

The official welcome ceremony began at 9:00 a.m., with opening remarks from Rector Irineu Manoel de Souza, Secretary for International Relations Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho, and Director of International Relations Fernanda Leal. In their speeches, they stressed the role of internationalization in strengthening the University and presented the services and infrastructure available to the 1,643 international students currently enrolled at UFSC and who chose our university as part of their academic journey.

UFSC Rector, Irineu Manoel de Souza

Rector Irineu Manoel de Souza highlighted one of UFSC’s core pillars:

“UFSC has grown significantly in terms of internationalization, reflecting our collective work and commitment to excellence. The internationalization of our University occurs, above all, through our people. The work of our students, faculty and staff ensure that UFSC is recognized not only in Santa Catarina, but throughout Brazil, Latin America, and the world. We are a well-established University, with approximately 120 undergraduate programs and 156 graduate programs – all supported by our commitment to quality teaching, research, and outreach.”

He also reaffirmed UFSC’s commitment to inclusion:

“Even in the face of financial challenges, UFSC maintains solid student support policies, as we believe that inclusion and retention are fundamental pillars of the institution. We work tirelessly to ensure that all students entering UFSC have the necessary conditions to complete their degrees.”

Following the speeches, Secretary for International Relations Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho presented an institutional video showcasing UFSC’s history, values, and social impact, featuring testimonials from students. He also introduced the new international students by country, underscoring the diversity of backgrounds and academic programs. Of the 127 students, 120 are participating in the Incoming Program, coming from countries such as Germany, Spain, Canada, France, China, and Norway. Another seven joined UFSC through the Escala Estudiantes de Grado Program, of the Association of Montevideo Group Universities (AUGM), coming from Argentina and Uruguay. The Programa de Estudantes-Convênio de Graduação (PEC-G) brought four students from Angola, Cape Verde, Chile, and East Timor, who are studying at the Florianópolis and Joinville campuses.

About UFSC

Rector Irineu Manoel de Souza, Secretary Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho, and Director Fernanda Leal welcoming the students

Founded in 1960, UFSC has played a key role in the socioeconomic and cultural development of Santa Catarina. Present in five cities – Florianópolis, Araranguá, Curitibanos, Joinville, and Blumenau – the University is a multi-campus, democratic institution committed to diversity.

Ranked among the best universities in Brazil and Latin America, UFSC offers programs from early childhood education to doctoral degrees, with an academic community of around 40,000 people. Its inclusion policies include pioneering initiatives such as reserving places for Black, Indigenous, and Quilombola people, alongside student retention and assistance programs that benefit thousands of students.

In research and outreach, UFSC maintains partnerships with public agencies, civil society organizations, and private companies, reinforcing its role as a driver of innovation and social transformation.

Internationalization is another defining feature of UFSC, fostering the mobility of faculty, students and staff, and encouraging global knowledge exchange. For international students, UFSC strives to provide an enriching academic, professional, and cultural experience.

The welcome day also featured a performance by the Devassa Percussion Band, from the Medicine Student Athletic Association (AAAMEDUFSC). Afternoon activities included cultural workshops and guided tours; however, the visit to the São José da Ponta Grossa Fortress was postponed due to bad weather. Other activities on the Florianópolis Campus went ahead as planned.

For more information about the mobility programs and welcome initiatives for international students, visit SINTER website.

Rosiani Bion de Almeida | SECOM
imprensa.gr@contato.ufsc.br

Photos: Gustavo Diehl | Agecom | SECOM
agecom@contato.ufsc.br

Translated  by SINTER/UFSC.

Read the original article here.

Four representatives from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) will be sworn in as members of the Council for Sustainable Social and Economic Development (CDESS) on 5 August 2025, at the Planalto Palace in Brasília. The Vice-Rector Joana Célia dos Passos, Professor Marcelo Henrique Romano Tragtenberg, doctoral student João Carlos Nogueira – from the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Human Sciences (PPGICH) – and Ligia Moreiras Sena, a graduate of the doctoral programs in Collective Health and Pharmacology, will be officially appointed to the Council by the President of Brazil. This strategic forum plays a key role in advising the President by developing recommendations on public policies aimed at Brazil’s sustainable development.

Joana Célia dos Passos and Marcelo Tragtenberg are joining the CDESS for the first time, while João Carlos Nogueira and Ligia Moreiras Sena are beginning their second terms. The first three are also associated with the Antonieta de Barros Chair at UFSC, and Sena contributed to the formulation of the National Integrated Policy for Early Childhood, signed by President Lula in 2024. The UFSC representatives will join a body whose mission is to strengthen ties between the Federal Government and civil society, promoting plural dialogue among different sectors and contributing to the formulation of proposals essential for economic, social, and environmental progress.

The composition of the Council reflects a commitment to territorial, ethnic, racial, and gender diversity, ensuring it is representative and inclusive. Currently, 40% of its members are women and 30% are mixed race, Black, or Indigenous.

In addition to its diverse membership, the Council is organized into five Thematic Committees: Economic Affairs; Combating Inequalities; Law and Democracy; Environment and Sustainable Development; and Technology and Digital Transformation. These committees analyze government initiatives, develop specific recommendations, deepen debates, and offer solutions on topics such as energy transition and early childhood.

The appointments reaffirm UFSC’s commitment to developing public policies based on interdisciplinary knowledge and social inclusion. The presence of UFSC representatives in the CDESS not only highlights the University’s role as a leading voice in national debates but also provides opportunities to help shape guidelines and propose actions that positively impact the country, fostering economic growth, social justice, and environmental sustainability.

Rector’s Office  – Press Service / SECOM
imprensa.gr@contato.ufsc.br

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

Read the original article here.

Through two international projects, a research network will investigate the health of oysters farmed in Florianópolis and identify possible causes of mortality (Photo: CCB/UFSC)

A pioneering research network involving the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) and institutions in France and Chile is launching a major project aimed at improving oyster health. The goal is to identify pathogens potentially involved in oyster mortality during the summer and to help develop preventive farming strategies aligned with the One Health concept.

At UFSC, 13 researchers from the School of Biological Sciences (CCB), the School of Agricultural Sciences (CCA), and the School of Health Sciences (CCS) will take part in the network, along with a collaborator from the Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB). International partners include the universities of Montpellier and Perpignan, Ifremer (a French ocean research institute), and the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), in France; and the Pontifical Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), the Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN) and the Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), in Chile. In total, about 30 researchers will participate in the network activities. The network will also include postdoctoral fellows and master’s and doctoral students from five UFSC graduate programs: Aquaculture, Biotechnology and Biosciences, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, and Food Sciences.

Researchers participating in the network during the launch of the initiative, held in May in Florianópolis (Photo: CCB/UFSC)

The work will center on two major international research projects: EcoHealth4Sea – International Consortium on One Health Applied to Coastal Ecosystems, funded by CNRS, and Sentinels – Ecological Health in Coastal Marine Environments Used for Oyster Farming, funded by the Capes/Cofecub Program, which supports joint Brazil-French research. UFSC will host the Brazilian headquarters for the initiative in an international laboratory to be established at the School of Biological Sciences (CCB). The effort also has support from the Research and Innovation Support Foundation of the State of Santa Catarina (Fapesc): the DiagnOSTRA project was approved under Call for Proposals 21/2024 (Universal Research Program), enabling the acquisition of consumables and equipment.

One Health

Professor Rafael Diego da Rosa, from CCB, researches oyster immunogenetics and is one of the partnership coordinators. He explains that aquaculture is an economic activity highly impacted by emerging or existing marine pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, which affect not only farmed animals but also the human populations that depend on these ecosystems.

One Health applied to coastal ecosystems means looking at the health of the entire environment, not just humans or other isolated species. “Oysters are sentinel organisms. Because they filter large volumes of water, they accumulate everything present in it. So studying oysters also means studying water quality and the overall health of the marine ecosystem,” he explains.

Oyster spat of the Magallana gigas species produced at the UFSC Marine Molluscs Laboratory (Photo: CCB/UFSC)

According to Professor da Rosa, the causes of high mollusc mortality during the hottest months of the year — a phenomenon similar to that studied in other oyster-farming countries — are not yet fully understood. Since the 1990s, when farming of the Japanese oyster Magallana gigas  (formerly Crassostrea gigas) began in Santa Catarina through the Marine Molluscs Laboratory at UFSC, high mortality rates have been observed during the summer, with losses reaching up to 50% of production, according to data from the Santa Catarina State Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Agency (Epagri-SC). Possible causes include predation, pathogen infections, pollution, or limited resistance to environmental stressors such as temperature, salinity and PH fluctuations.

Investigation

Over the coming years, UFSC researchers will conduct sampling and analyses of oysters farmed in Florianópolis’ North and South Bays to determine whether the mortality causes resemble those found in Europe. There, research has identified polymicrobial infections known as Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) as the main cause of oyster mortality, with Vibrio bacteria and the oyster herpesvirus OsHV-1 recognized as the principal etiological agents.

“Because these are very distant locations with different environmental conditions, it is possible that here the situation will be different, with mortality caused by other infectious factors, such as viruses and bacteria distinct from those found in Europe, or by some aspect related to climate change,” explains Professor da Rosa. The network will exchange information to identify common phenomena and seek solutions to ensure oyster health, preventing losses and the spread of pathogens that may affect other organisms.

Oyster farming overview

Oyster samples will be collected from farms in the North and South bays, such as those in Ribeirão da Ilha (Photo: CCB/UFSC)

Brazil ranked as the world’s 13th largest aquaculture producer in 2024 – an industry covering molluscs, fish, crustaceans, algae, and other commercial species. In 2022, global fishing and aquaculture production reached a record high in aquaculture production of aquatic animals, surpassing capture fisheries for the first time, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The organization recognizes aquaculture production as a key solution for improving food and nutritional security, alleviating poverty, and driving socioeconomic development, especially in coastal communities. The sector employed approximately 61 million people in 2022.

The state of Santa Catarina is Brazil’s leading producer of oysters, scallops and mussels, accounting for 93.2% of national production in 2023, according to data from Epagri. The main oyster farms are located in the municipalities of Florianópolis, Palhoça, and São José. In 2023, the state produced 1,731 tons of oysters, 98.5% of which were Magallana gigas, with the remainder consisting of native species such as Crassostrea gasar.

Ana Paula Lückman | ana.paula.luckman@ufsc.br
Agecom Journalist | UFSC

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

Read the original article here.

In Chemistry alone, 13 UFSC researchers appear in the ranking, with more than 3,200 publications. Photo by Daiane Mayer/Agecom/UFSC

The Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC)  has 34 scientists across 12 disciplines among the most influential in the world, according to the ranking Best Scientists in the World By Discipline 2025, published by Research.com, which measured and disclosed the impact of their work.

Compared to the 2023 edition, which included 26 UFSC researchers, this year’s ranking reflects an increase in citations of work associated with UFSC and its scholars, based on Research.com’s evaluation criteria. In the field of Chemistry alone, 13 researchers stood out, with a total of 3,264 publications recorded.

In the national ranking by discipline, UFSC ranks second in Electrical Engineering, third in Chemistry, and seventh in fields such as Medicine and Engineering and Technology.

According to Research.com, UFSC researchers have produced a total of 6,766 publications, with an average of 199 publications per researcher. The total number of citations among the highlighted scientists is 249,032, with an average of 7,324.47 citations per researcher.

List of UFSC scientists in the ranking

See the names cited in the ranking, as they appear on the platform. The disciplines, also defined by the platform, are listed below in alphabetical order.

Animal Science and Veterinary

Maurício Laterça Martins
Maria José Hötzel

Chemistry

Bernhard Welz (in memorian)
Antonio L. Braga
Rosendo A. Yunes
J. Vladimir Oliveira
Moacir Geraldo Pizzolatti
Debora de Oliveira
Ademir Neves (in memorian)
Eduardo Carasek
Regina de Fátima Peralta Muniz Moreira
Adailton J. Bortoluzzi
Roseane Fett
Valdir Soldi
Faruk Nome

Ecology and Evolution

Sergio R. Floeter
Paulo Antunes Horta
Malva Isabel Medina Hernández

Electronics and Electrical Engineering

Ivo Barbi
Julio E. Normey-Rico
Richard Demo Souza

Engineering and Technology

Roberto Lamberts
Enedir Ghisi

Environmental Sciences

Marcos L.S. Oliveira

Materials Science

Dachamir Hotza

Mathematics

Ruy Exel

Medicine

João B. Calixto

Microbiology

Álvaro José Romanha (in memorian)

Neuroscience

Ana Lúcia S. Rodrigues
Reinaldo N. Takahashi
Roger Walz
Peter Wolf

Plant Science and Agronomy

Marcelo Maraschin
Miguel Pedro Guerra

About the platform

Research.com is an educational platform designed to helps students find the best schools, academic opportunities, and career paths. The platform features popular rankings of colleges and universities in the United States and other countries around the world, with an overview of each institution based on various metrics. In the 2024 ranking, UFSC ranked seventh in Brazil and fourth among Brazilian federal universities.

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

Read the original article here.

Luzia Maweza shares her experience with the project. Photo: UFSC

Difficulties with language, challenges adapting to the classroom and feelings of exclusion from her peers were some of the obstacles faced by Luzia Maweza, a migrant student from Angola, when she joined the Social Work program at UFSC and began her new life in Santa Catarina. Things began to change when she became involved with the UFSC sem Fronteiras [UFSC without Borders] project – an outreach initiative that promotes the integration and retention of international, migrant and refugee students at the university.

Like Luzia, many other students face similar struggles. According to a survey conducted by the Prorectorate for Undergraduate Studies and Basic Education (PROGRAD) on 13 May 2025, UFSC currently has around 73 undergraduate students enrolled through the Brazilian government’s mobility program Programa de Estudantes-Convênio de Graduação (PEC-G) along with 583 international undergraduate degree-seeking students. Many of these students arrive in Brazil without institutional support and experience difficulties adapting – challenges similar to those reported by Luzia.

Elisa Schemes, PEC-G representative at UFSC and a staff member at the Office of International Relations (SINTER), explained that the UFSC sem Fronteiras project originated from existing support initiatives for PEC-G students. The PEC-G is  a Brazilian government program that offers free places in undergraduate programs to students from developing countries that maintain educational and cultural agreements with Brazil. According to Schemes, the project aims to expand the support already provided by SINTER and the Institutional Program for Educational Support to Students (PIAPE) to include all international students at UFSC.

The project is coordinated by Janaina Santos, who also coordinates PIAPE. Santos holds a doctoral degree in the field of ​​migration and refuge and has collaborated with various groups and organizations that support migrants and refugees. She was part of the UFSC committee that implemented a specific undergraduate admission process for refugees, asylum seekers and humanitarian visa holders. This special admission process has been in place at UFSC since 2022 and offers 10 undergraduate seats per year.

According to Santos, UFSC sem Fronteiras brings together migrant, refugee, asylum-seeking, and international undergraduate and graduate students to carry out welcoming activities, support academic integration, monitor student trajectories, and promote cultural and artistic engagement.

How the project works

Discussion group with UFSC international, migrant and refugee students.

The project operates through two main branches: one focused on the internal university community and the other on external audiences.

For students already enrolled at UFSC, the project aims to build a support network and offer academic and pedagogical assistance. Activities include discussion groups with international, migrant and refugee students to hear their experiences, understand their backgrounds, and support their academic integration and retention.

These students also receive guidance on academic life, information about PIAPE’s educational support services and the university’s Psychological Care Service (Sapsi), as well as assistance on immigration procedures with the Federal Police. Additional support includes information on opening a bank account, accessing public healthcare, and navigating other UFSC services.

For the external audience, UFSC sem Fronteiras works to disseminate the specific admission processes for refugees and migrants. The project also seeks to raise awareness about human rights, the importance of inclusivity, and to combat misinformation around migration and refuge, making society more welcoming. It also aims to build connections with the students’ countries of origin, providing guidance on how to study at UFSC.

Janaína Santos presents the UFSC sem Fronteiras project during a tour through academic schools. Photo: UFSC

The implementation of the specific admission process for refugees and migrants in 2022, UFSC has opened 30 seats (10 per year), but only around 20 students are currently enrolled.  Santos explains that many dropped out due to a lack of academic and institutional support. “The project is precisely intended to combat this dropout, ensuring that students feel supported once they enroll”, she says.

According to Santos, international, migrant and refugee students face specific challenges that make support essential. These may include separation from family and country of origin, previous experiences of violence, language barriers, cultural differences, and academic difficulties stemming from different educational backgrounds. Many also struggle with organizing their studies, experience isolation, and have trouble understanding academic codes and integrating into university life.

Luzia Maweza now works as an intern with the UFSC sem Fronteiras project. She arrived in Brazil in 2022, first settling in the state of Bahia before moving to Santa Catarina. Luzia describes her own challenges in becoming a UFSC student and adapting to the new environment. She observed that African students tended to group together, while she often felt the need to “prove she was good enough” to be included in other groups. She also criticized some instructors for overlooking the language and integration difficulties faced by international students, often leaving them to manage group work on their own. In addition, she pointed out cultural differences in food and explained that the prejudice she experienced in Santa Catarina, though more subtle than in Bahia, ‘hurts more’ because it isn’t spoken aloud—but is still clearly felt.

Participating in UFSC initiatives such as the Antiracist Praxis Project and the UFSC sem Fronteiras, was a transformative experience for Luzia. Initially hesitant to express her knowledge, she gained confidence and visibility through these projects, which helped her better understand Brazilian society and race relations, and develop a more critical perspective. This shift helped challenge the prejudices held by some classmates—such as the belief that she lacked the ability to contribute academically—and changed the way she was perceived.

One of the key points emphasized by both Santos and Luzia is the need for wider dissemination of the project. Many migrant and refugee students are unaware of where to seek support within the university. Luzia, who felt lost when she first arrived on campus, underscores the importance of informing other students about the project, which exists to ensure they don’t feel alone—and to help them realize that their challenges are shared, and that there is a welcoming space for them at UFSC.

Learn more about the project in their official website.

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

Read the original article here. 

The Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina is ranked as the 8^th best university in Brazil in the QS World University Rankings 2026, released on 19 June. The University rose two positions compared to last year’s edition.

The ranking evaluated 1,501 institutions across 106 countries and territories, including 32 Brazilian universities. In the overall ranking, UFSC is placed in the 801-850 range. The exact position of universities within the range is not specified.

Published annually by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the ranking uses the following indicators:

• Academic reputation (30% of the final score) – based on a global survey of academics;
• Citations per Faculty (20%) – measures the impact of scientific research;
• Employer Reputation (15%) – measures the job market’s perception of the institution’s graduates;
• Faculty Student Ratio (10%) – evaluates teaching capacity;
• International Research Network (5%) – measures international collaboration in research;
• Sustainability (5%) – evaluates institutional efforts related to social and environmental sustainability;
• Employment Outcomes (5%) – considers the impact and success of graduates;
• International Faculty Ratio (5%) and International Student Ratio (5%) – reflect the ability to attract global talent and foster an international academic environment.

UFSC has also performed well in other international rankings, such as the THE World University Rankings and the THE Impact Rankings.

Access the full ranking results at the QS official website.

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

Read the original article here.

The Times Higher Education (THE), a British magazine specializing in higher education, released the results of the Impact Rankings 2025 on 18 June. The ranking evaluated 2,526 universities from 130 countries or territories based on their progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to the ranking, the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) outperformed more than half of the institutions evaluated worldwide in eight SDGs. THE lists the top 100 universities with the highest scores for each goal, and then groups the remaining institutions into bands according to their scores.

UFSC ranked in the third range (positions 201–300) in the following goals:

• SDG 3 – Good health and well-being (among 1,788 universities evaluated).
• SDG 7 – Affordable and clean energy (among 1,181 universities evaluated).

In six other SDGs, UFSC was placed in the fourth range (positions 301-400):

• SDG 2 – Zero Hunger (among 955 universities evaluated)
• SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation (among 1,042 universities evaluated)
• SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (among 1,156 universities evaluated)
• SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production (among 973 universities evaluated)
• SDG 14 – Life Below Water (among 711 universities evaluated)
• SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (among 1,256 universities evaluated)

Research on health and well-being was considered as part of the ranking methodology. Photo: Mateus Mendonça/Agecom/UFSC

In the overall ranking, UFSC is placed in the 601-800 range, with a score of 66.4. The Impact Rankings methodology considers factors such as: research in the areas indicated by the UN; staff and resource management; local, regional and global reach; teacher training and graduate career outcomes.

THE is a British magazine that publishes news and articles on higher education. It annually produces a set of rankings considered among the most comprehensive, balanced and reliable in the world.

According to the official website of the United Nations (UN) in Brazil, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. The 17 goals are ambitious and interconnected, addressing the most pressing development challenges in Brazil and around the world.

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

Read the original article here.

Professor Michelle Fossati receives SDG Education Seal at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Environmental Management Coordination Office/UFSC

The Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) has been awarded the SDG Education Seal, in recognition of its commitment to advancing the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda in Brazil. The award ceremony took place on 20 March at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together representatives from 74 Brazilian educational institutions honored for their contributions to social impact in ​​education. Organized by Instituto Selo Social, 2030 Agenda Working Group, UNB 2030 and UFRJ, the event highlighted initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostered discussions on education, sustainability, and SDG 18: Ethnic-Racial Equality.

Representing UFSC at the ceremony was Professor Michele Fossati, from the Department of Architecture, who registered one of the recognized projects. UFSC received the seal for five initiatives promoting environmental management, education for sustainability, art, and conscious consumption – aligned with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goal). The awarded initiatives were:

• Sustentabilidade é coisa de criança:  abordagem da sustentabilidade com escolas públicas do ensino fundamental [Sustainability is a child’s thing: approach to sustainability in public primary and lower secondary schools] – Coordinated by Professor Michele Fossati;
• Disseminação de conhecimentos sobre sustentabilidade [Dissemination of knowledge on sustainability] – Coordinated by Professor Michele Fossati;
• Semana de Arte com Educação Ambiental [Art Week with Environmental Education] – Coordinated by UFSC Sala Verde [Green Room];
• Semana de Acolhimento da Comunidade [Community Welcoming Week] – Coordinated by UFSC Sala Verde [Green Room];
• Trabalhando a cultura popular com educação ambiental através do folclore catarinense: “O Boi de Mamão” [Popular culture and environmental education through Santa Catarina folklore: “O Boi de Mamão”] – Coordinated by UFSC Sala Verde [Green Room].

For more information about the award, visit seloods.org.

Read the original article here.

Translated by SINTER/UFSC. 

International Community Welcome Day. Photo by: Gustavo Diehl/Agecom/UFSC

On Monday, 10 March, the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) hosted a Welcome Day for international students joining the institution in the first semester of 2025. Organized to welcome both degree-seeking and exchange students, the event featured a diverse program focused on integration and cultural exchange.

The International Community Welcome Day targeted undergraduate students arriving through programs managed by the Office of International Relations (SINTER): the Incoming and AUGM Escala Grado exchange programs, as well as the Programa Estudantes-Convênio de Graduação (PEC-G) for international degree-seeking students. Additionally, study buddies who assist with their adaptation to university life also took part in the activities.

Welcome Day program

The Rector of UFSC and the Secretary for International Relations at the welcome ceremony for international students. Photo by: Gustavo Diehl/Agecom/UFSC

The Welcome Day began with specific orientation sessions at 9 am, at the School of Philosophy and Human Sciences (CFH). In the afternoon, at 1:30 pm, students gathered for a welcome ceremony, which featured an address by Rector Irineu Manoel de Souza.

During the ceremony, the Secretary for International Relations at UFSC, Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho, provided an overview of the university’s structure and the services available to the international community.

Every year, UFSC expands its international student community. Today, there are nearly 4,000 students coming to the University through different admission pathways, including the Entrance Exam. This “makes us very happy, because our university is recognized both nationally and internationally. In some rankings, it is the fourth-best university in Brazil. In Santa Catarina state, it is the top-ranked university, and in Latin America, it receives strong evaluations. This reflects our commitment to internationalization and to welcoming students from all around the world”, said the Rector.

The Rector of UFSC presents an undergraduate diploma in Medicine to Richardson Yonel Civil, a PEC-G graduate from Haiti. Photo by: Gustavo Diehl/Agecom/UFSC

A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation, by the Rector, of an undergraduate diploma in Medicine to Richardson Yonel Civil, a PEC-G graduate from Haiti. On the occasion, the Secretary for International Relations addressed the audience, emphasizing that this long-standing program, run by the Brazilian government, enables international students from participating countries in the Americas, Africa, and Asia to earn their degrees at UFSC free of charge. “It is a form of cooperation and solidarity that Brazil maintains with countries facing similar socioeconomic challenges to ours,” explained the Secretary.

Following the ceremony, participants enjoyed a welcome coffee and two cultural performances: Angolan dances Kizomba and Semba, performed by members of ASSAF; and a percussion show by the student band Devassa, organized by members of the Medicine Student Athletic Association.

After the cultural performances, students who registered for integration activities took part in various experiences, including: a visit to the São José da Ponta Grossa Fortress; dance workshops with the Samba Manezinho Group and ASSAF; and a guided campus tour led by the SINTEGRA project, a partnership between SINTER and the Department of Psychology at UFSC.

Diversity among international students

This semester, UFSC is welcoming 88 undergraduate students from 15 countries through academic mobility programs. Among them, 69 students are part of the Incoming Program, coming from partner universities, primarily in France (24 students), Portugal (9) and Italy (7). Other students are part of the AUGM Escala Grado Program, coming from member universities of the Association of Montevideo Group Universities (AUGM), specifically in Argentina (6) and Uruguay (2).

Additionally, 15 international degree-seeking students were admitted through the PEC-G program. On the Florianópolis campus, eight students joined programs such as Chemical Engineering, Medicine, Administration and International Relations. Their countries of origin include Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Paraguay.

On the Joinville campus, four PEC-G students began their studies in Aerospace Engineering, Railway and Metro Engineering, and Naval Engineering, coming from Mozambique, Honduras, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. On the Araranguá campus, three PEC-G students enrolled in Computer Engineering, Energy Engineering, and Medicine, representing Angola, Mozambique and Equatorial Guinea.

Institutional Welcome and Support

The International Community Welcome Day was organized by SINTER, with support from the Institutional Program for Educational Support to Students (PIAPE) of the Prorectorate for Undergraduate Studies and Basic Education (PROGRAD); the Department of Culture, Art and Sports (SecArte); the SINTEGRA outreach project, which seeks to promote the integration of international students into campus life; ASSAF; and the Samba Manezinho dance group.

In addition to students in mobility programs, UFSC also welcomes international degree-seeking students admitted through external transfer or the university entrance exam, reinforcing its commitment to internationalization and academic diversity.

With the arrival of students from different countries and cultures, UFSC strengthens its mission to promote the internationalization of higher education. This diversity enriches academic and cultural experiences, fosters mutual learning and strengthens ties between nations.

For more information about mobility programs and support for international students, visit the SINTER website.

See more photos of the event on the UFSC Rectorate website.

Written by Rosiani Bion de Almeida, SECOM/UFSC, with information from SINTER.

Translated by SINTER/UFSC

Read the original article here. 

The Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) has been ranked among the top five best federal university in Brazil, according to the latest edition of the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities. Conducted by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) – Spain’s largest public research institution – the ranking evaluates approximately 32,000 higher education institutions worldwide, focusing on open access to the knowledge they produce.

UFSC secured 4^{th place} among Brazilian federal universities and 438^th in the overall ranking.

Below is the list of the top 10 federal universities in Brazil according to the ranking. The full list of Brazilian federal universities is available on the Ministry of Education’s website, and the Webometrics Ranking data can be accessed here.

About the Ranking

The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, also known as the Ranking Web of Universities, evaluates institutions from more than 200 countries based on bibliometric data from 2019 to 2023. Established in 2004, it is not a ranking of university websites but rather an institutional ranking, based on both webometric and bibliometric indicators. Its primary objective is to promote Open Access to academic knowledge. It assesses universities through three key indicators: visibility (web contents impact); excellence (top cited papers); and transparency or openness (top cited researchers).

With information from the MEC Social Communication Office and the Higher Education Secretariat (Sesu)

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

Read the original article here.