Unicamp celebrated its 2th anniversary in the area of international relations this Monday (40), with an event in the auditorium of the Unicamp Institute of Otorhinolaryngology (IOU). “Internationalization is in the genesis of the University”, highlighted the director of the Executive Board of International Relations (Deri), Osvaldir Taranto. “Zeferino Vaz himself, founder of Unicamp, brought several professors from abroad to the first courses, from different areas, such as engineering, physics, biology and medicine. Therefore, Unicamp was born international”, reinforced Taranto, who sat at the opening table of the event, alongside the rector of Unicamp, Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles, and the former rector Marcelo Knobel (2017-2021).
According to Taranto, the number of international agreements has grown by around 30% over the last three years. “We have strengthened the ones that already existed and sought out new agreements. We have seen a jump to 340 students who have gone to other countries and we also have many employees participating.”
According to Meirelles, internationalization is of great institutional importance and is one of the pillars of Unicamp's Strategic Planning (Planes) 2020-2025. The rector thanked the former managers of the internationalization bodies and former rector Knobel for their presence, and congratulated Deri for organizing the event, whose program lasted throughout the afternoon, with lectures, tributes to former managers, former advisors, employees and former employees, and a get-together.
Meirelles spoke about the significant number of international missions carried out by Unicamp in recent years, many of which he participated in. “There was a huge variety of countries. In a way, we tried to resume what the pandemic made difficult,” said the rector, who was able to observe the great interest of foreign universities up close. “This is important for Unicamp and for Brazil. There is a lot of interest related to our role in the issues of climate change and energy transition. These are significant issues for the contemporary world, which put Brazil in the spotlight in terms of influence on scientific and technological development, as we produce quality science and have been successful in this transition to development based on renewable resources,” said Meirelles.
For the rector, there are new challenges in the issue of internationalization at Unicamp. Meirelles highlighted the need to also welcome more people from foreign institutions. “We also need to remember that we are a university in transformation, with a significant inclusion policy, with students from public schools, indigenous people, blacks and browns. This poses new challenges for the issue of internationalization, such as giving these people the opportunity to do an internship abroad and have contact with universities in other countries.”
Marcelo Knobel also praised Deri’s initiative to hold an event commemorating 40 years of internationalization. “It’s important to hold this celebration,” said Knobel, who had just given an online class on the internationalization of higher education, as part of a program by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). “Everyone here has contributed to the internationalization of Unicamp, with the strength it has in Latin America and the world. This is a hallmark of the university.”
According to the director of Deri, Unicamp has had a structure focused on internationalization for 40 years. Over the course of four decades, several structures with different names were created until the current Deri was created. “The current administration of the Rectorate has truly made internationalization a strategy for Unicamp and supported us in this regard,” said Taranto, stating that, while the University used to accept invitations, it has now taken on a more proactive role. In addition to reinforcing historic agreements, such as with France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Germany and China, new countries, such as Uzbekistan, have also joined the list of agreements. “When we arrive at the locations, anywhere in the world, we are well received and feel proud to be from Unicamp.”
The String Quartet of the Unicamp Symphony Orchestra performed four songs, with classical repertoire, such as Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 by Johann Sebastian Bach, and with pop, such as the song My Girl (Smokey Robinson and Ronald White), from the film of the same name.
The event's opening panel included the executive secretary of the Association of Universities of the Montevideo Group (AUGM), Alvaro Ricco, Deri's advisors Rafael Dias and Alfredo Cesar Mello, and the program manager of the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Nadège Mézié. Among the former Unicamp international relations managers honored were professors Alberto Luiz Serpa, Leandro Tessler and Luiz Cortez.