International Day marks the beginning of the semester for exchange students

The traditional welcome to the exchange students who chose to take one semester at Univates took place last Friday morning (the 20th) at the Foreign Commerce room. 15 new incoming exchange students from Argentina, Colombia and Portugal were welcomed. The group will be complete upon the arrival of the next Colombian student on the next few days.

The ceremony went on, and cocktails were served. The exchange students got explanations on the procedures at Univates and welcome lunch was served. Later, in the afternoon, the students took a tour on the campus and around town.

Coming from Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, journalism student Luis Gabriel Marroquín, 31, landed in Brazil last Tuesday, the 17th. He says Univates is fascinating: “The structure is great and the people are lovely. I have got an organisational viewpoint of my profession. I want to do an internship at the university while I am here.” – he says. 

Although she studies in Leiria, Portugal, Sónia Nascimento 21, lives in Coimbra. She arrived in Lajeado on Wednesday, the 18th, and both Lajeado and Univates have met her expectations. “People are friendly and always willing to help” – she says. Sónia studies Nutrition and wants to make the most out of her last undergraduate year. She wants to apply the knowledge acquired here in her country of origin. 

In addition to the newcomers, five more exchange students will study at Univates in the first half of 2015. Their exchange programme, which started in the second half of 2014, was extended for one more semester. 21 incoming exchange students will attend classes at Univates altogether. 

Meanwhile, 46 outgoing exchange students from Univates are studying abroad. Among the 35 students who took the university exchange programme, 15 travelled this year, and the others were already abroad. 

Author: Nathália Lauxen