UDP Internacional

Wednesday August 5th, 2026

The Office of International Relations welcomes international students from 18 countries to begin the academic semester.

On Monday, August 3, at the Nicanor Parra Library, the Office of International Relations (DGRRII) welcomed international students who will be participating in an exchange program at the University.

The event began with remarks from Anoek van den Berg, Director of International Relations, who highlighted the diversity of disciplines represented by the exchange students. “There are 35 areas of study, including many architects, economists, future lawyers, designers, psychologists, journalists, doctors, engineers, and many more.”

Van den Berg also emphasized: “We are also pleased to have you here; you represent that interdisciplinarity. For us, this is not just a statement as a University, but a hallmark that we want to instill in your academic training.”

On this occasion, the University welcomed 150 students from 63 universities in 18 countries. The students come from cities including The Hague, Padua, Berlin, Belgrade, Paris, Monterrey, Bogotá, and Los Angeles. Of the total number of students, 28 are participating in a full-year exchange program, while 122 will be at the University for a single semester.

The event continued with a welcome address by Victoria Sarián, Coordinator of Incoming International Student Mobility at the DGRRII (General Directorate of International Relations), who gave a brief presentation about Chile and the University, including the distribution of its faculties. She also provided relevant information about semester dates and other helpful tips to ensure the best possible university experience.

Following this, Rodrigo Santibañez, a Spanish professor, gave a short presentation to help the international students understand the historical and political context of the country they are entering.

Regarding the expectations of exchange students, Alessandra Veronesi, a Psychology student from the University of Padua (Italy), noted: “It’s important to get to know a new country and culture and take home wonderful memories. In Psychology, I think the culture you’re in greatly influences what you study, as does what the university tells you, so I want to see if there are academic differences in this regard, and I think it can really help me broaden my horizons.”

For his part, Samuel Verburg, a Political Science and International Relations student from Leiden University College The Hague, Netherlands, commented: “My expectation in Chile is to travel a lot. It’s my first time in a Latin American country.” For Samuel, the international experience of traveling from the Netherlands to Chile is an opportunity to strengthen his professional development. “I chose UDP. I hope it goes well,” he concluded.

The day concluded with a cocktail reception in the lobby of the Nicanor Parra Library, where attendees sampled Chilean cuisine and enjoyed a performance of folk dances, the cueca being the main attraction. Finally, they participated in a tour of the University District.