UDP Internacional

23 June 2023

On Wednesday May 31, ten UDP students met with a Maori delegation in order to exchange ideas and experiences about native people in Chile and New Zealand.

The activity took place within the framework of a CFG subject “Indigenous Populations”, which is taught in English by Professor Alejandro Rossi, through the American Corner at UDP. Students, teachers and professionals from different traditional trades of the Polynesian ethnic group participated in the Maori delegation.

Anoek van den Berg, General Director of International Relations, stated that during the meeting there was a rich cultural exchange: the students asked questions and learned about the experience of the Maori people regarding the claim of their rights at the state and educational level with the revitalization of His tongue.

“The Maori delegation shared advice and lessons from what they have experienced and how they suggest that we can move forward in Chile towards greater inclusion and respect for our native peoples,” said Anoek van den Berg, General Director of International Relations.

The professional also highlighted this meeting, indicating that these dialogues are enriching at an academic and human level. This, since they allow the student body to access training spaces to apply the language in a concrete way and deepen theoretical knowledge.

“Finally, these types of activities allow students to access the development of certain skills with an international and intercultural approach within the same University, in an inclusive manner and without the need to leave the UDP,” she said.

For his part, Alejandro Rossi, a professor in the Department of General Studies, commented that this type of activity is always relevant since it allows us to “complement and see, from another angle, what we do in our daily lives.” “The students were deeply grateful for this, stressing the value that these instances have for learning beyond the classroom (…). The visit of the Maori delegation helps us to propose new roadmaps and practices that make it possible to make the UDP a more inclusive space with people who identify with an indigenous community/nation. Their policies and practices are exemplary to be able to think about doing this within our context,” he said.

“This type of experience allows us to understand that learning and training are not limited to the space/schedule of classes, but that it is a process that can be developed in a multiplicity of ways. In this case, having the opportunity to talk directly and intimately with the Maori delegation, listening to their stories and opinions, allows strengthening the ability to critically reflect on the importance of recognizing minority groups and thinking about concrete actions to make the UDP a more open and plural place”, added the academic.

This is not the only cultural exchange experience that the UDP students will live this year. Over the next few weeks, a group of 14 students from Princeton University, our House of Studies, will be part of a seminar on art and politics during the dictatorship. In addition, next October, ten Colombian students will attend an intensive course in sports journalism. Both visits will have instances open to the general public and the UPD community.