When Dean Marcelo Knobel asked which countries were represented by exchange students, flags came out of backpacks and bags. Peru, Germany, Argentina, Spain, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Uruguay, Russia sent students from cooperative universities to attend their first academic semester here. The Faculty of Applied Sciences (FCA) in Limeira will receive the largest number of exchange students with 12 students.
Knobel participated in the welcome program for international students in the auditorium of the Social Benefits Management Group (GGBS) on Friday, 22. The executive director of International Relations at Unicamp, Mariano Laplane, and the municipal secretary of Development also welcomed the students. Economic, Social and Tourism of Campinas André Von Zuben and the advisor to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies (PRG) Edvaldo Sabadini.
Colombian Nina Quintana will attend a six-month undergraduate course in Political Science at the Institute of Philosophy and Human Sciences (IFCH). She wants to take ideas back in her luggage. Jhonnatan Yepes, also Colombian, will do part of his master's degree at the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering (Feagri). “I hope to meet many people from other cultures and learn about precision agriculture”, commented Jhonnatan. His teachers also studied at Unicamp.
The reception of international students had the official opening and the presentation of various University bodies that may be useful, such as the Community Health Center (Cecom) or the Language Studies Center (Cel). The exchange students also heard about the Unicamp Library System (SBU) and the Academic Board (DAC).
In addition to this institutional support, foreign students are in contact with groups of veteran students at Unicamp. The Unicamp Internacional (UniInter) group, made up of veterans with experience in exchange, works together with DERI (Executive Directorate of International Relations). They help welcome international students before, during and after their stay in Brazil. The group aims to improve the international experience at the University, creating a network of cultural relations between foreign and Brazilian students.
Another group of volunteers is “Calourada Selva”, which provides students with a guide and an app with various information that can help. The students even provided a contact with the telephone number of a veteran at a Unicamp institute for anyone who needs it. “It is the contact of someone who is willing to help any newcomer” says Dance course student Ana Beatriz do Nascimento. According to her, the guide has existed since 2005 and has been updated year after year. The veterans are carrying on the tradition. “We were also welcomed one day”, added Natan Prusamarello, second year Statistics student.
