Another academic year began this Wednesday (28), at Unicamp, with Calourada 2024, an event organized by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies (PRG) and the Dean of Extension and Culture (Proec), in which students New arrivals were able to learn a little about the services offered by the University, find out about the initiatives of athletics, junior companies and academic groups, receive the entrance kit and introduce themselves to the colleagues with whom they will share classrooms and university life for the next few years. The event started at 9 am, at the Unicamp Multidisciplinary Gymnasium (GMU).
“Welcome and take advantage of all the structure that Unicamp offers”, wished Ivan Toro, dean of Undergraduate Studies. In his presentation, the dean commented that university life is full of different experiences and recommended that freshmen make the most of this new stage in their lives. “We hope that, in addition to receiving technical training, you will take advantage of the opportunity to interact with students from other courses and participate in cultural and sporting activities. The University is all of that.”
Fernando Coelho, dean of Extension and Culture, highlighted that the 2024 entrants are the second class of undergraduate courses that have university extension activities as mandatory components of the curriculum. According to Coelho, this increases the critical and civic awareness of the training offered by the University. “I hope that, with the experience of studying at Unicamp, you will better understand the social role of being at a public university. Unicamp is a reference university in Brazil and now it is also your home,” he said.
After the ceremony, freshmen were able to visit stands where academic and sporting initiatives linked to different courses, colleges and institutes at Unicamp were presented, in addition to receiving tips and guidance from fellow veterans. The Calourada 2024 program continues this week with activities promoted by colleges and institutes. The list of activities can be seen in the unit websites.
Until March 15th, the Academic Board (DAC) will hold shifts to answer questions regarding the delivery of mandatory documents for enrollment in undergraduate courses. The shifts will take place online, via Google Meet, from 9am to 16pm. The links will be made available on the DAC website. The Student Support Service (SAE) will also assist students who wish to learn about the types of scholarships and student living allowances. All information is available on the agency's website.
Joy, curiosity and expectations
Among the freshmen, the atmosphere was one of joy and curiosity. Several of them took advantage of the opportunity to meet their new course mates in the queue to collect their ticket kits. This was what happened to Mariana Lima (20), resident of Campinas, Mateus Barbosa (20), born in Sumaré, and Isadora Carnot (18), from Piracicaba, entering the History course. “Unicamp is a reference in the history course. I really liked the curriculum”, commented Barbosa. Colleagues also highlighted the University's tradition in the area and the possibilities for action that the course offers. “I hope to pursue a bachelor’s degree. I think this is an incredible career,” said Lima. Carnot, on the other hand, prefers a degree and teaching the subject: “It has always been a dream to enter Unicamp and since the ninth year I have been preparing a lot. The research also caught my attention. History changes the world and Unicamp will allow me to do so.”
Freshmen students of the Computer Engineering course, Naomi Raymundo (20), from Leme, and Thais Arruda (17), from São Miguel Arcanjo, also highlighted that Unicamp is a reference in the area of computing in the country. “It is one of the best in Brazil in the area”, summarized Arruda, who had not yet seen the Barão Geraldo campus. Naomi said she visited Unicamp in 2023, during the Unicamp Open Doors (UPA) program. “I discovered the Computing Institute during UPA and I also found the Basic Cycle classrooms very beautiful. I have always liked computing and I hope to learn a lot,” she said.
In addition to taking academic excellence into account, Vitória Carolina (22), resident of Campinas, chose Unicamp because she knows that the University is a space in which she can feel welcomed by professors and colleagues. “I have always had a lot of contact with Unicamp and everyone gave me the idea of this being a welcoming space. The study and the people here have always enchanted me”, highlighted the freshman in the Pedagogy course. She says that she studied Architecture and Urbanism for two semesters at another institution, but that, after teaching English at a non-governmental organization (NGO), she became interested in the field of education. “I am very willing to learn and take advantage of everything that Unicamp has to offer.”
Access and diversity
Another characteristic of Unicamp that can be identified during the freshman year is the various forms of admission to the University, which expands opportunities for access to higher education and guarantees a high degree of diversity in the university environment. This is the case of José Laurian (21), entering the Literature course through the Unicamp Indigenous Entrance Exam. Born in Santa Isabel do Rio Negro, in Amazonas, the young man from the Baniwa ethnic group says it is rewarding to be able to be at the University, in a different environment. “There are several challenges [on this path], from coming from Amazonas to food. For some students, another challenge is the language, as they do not have Portuguese as their main language”, he analyzes. “But for us, indigenous people, being in higher education is an achievement.”
For young women Nicole Primo (18) and Ana Carolina Rocatelli (18), entering Unicamp will be a little different. The friends, who studied together in high school in Campinas, joined the Higher Interdisciplinary Training Program (Profis), a course aimed at students from the public school system in Campinas and in which, for two years, students study various subjects, beginning to have contact with the academic universe. After completing the program, they can enter one of Unicamp's undergraduate courses without needing to take the Entrance Exam.
“Whether we like it or not, we just left high school. We are still immature. Starting an undergraduate course would have a big impact. So Profis can give us more maturity to deal with our studies, to understand what we really want”, commented Primo, who is thinking about studying Architecture and Urbanism at the end of the period. The friend intends to go on to study Medicine. “But I’m open to discovering myself at Unicamp. We will have contact with other people and other courses. We can be enchanted by other careers,” she said.
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