UDP Internacional

24 January 2023

This program started in 2011 and is carried out annually, between January and April.

This year, thirteen Wake Forest University students started a new edition of the UDP academic exchange program, through which its participants have the opportunity to strengthen their learning of the Spanish language, as well as experience the cultural, geographical and political diversity of South America.

The program, which is carried out annually between January and April, “also gives the possibility of assigning students to the homes of Chilean families, promoting cultural rapprochement,” explains the coordinator of Special Programs of the General Directorate of International Relations, Paola Ortúbia.

For exchange student Shannon Cummings, “it’s very exciting to get to know this culture. I don’t know the language very well, but I’m learning it every day. It’s a little hard for me to understand, because Chileans speak very fast, but when they speak slower, I can understand and pronounce the language well. Every day I learn from their culture”

Likewise, Mía Vásquez expressed that “as a student of Latin American Studies I have always been interested in coming to Chile, to South America. I am very excited to be here and realize this unique opportunity. The reason why I came is that I want to know the social atmosphere here and to know more about the people, what interests them, their ideologies”.

For the UDP, meanwhile, “receiving students from Wake Forest University is an opportunity to encourage and strengthen international ties of mutual benefit for both institutions,” says Paola Ortubia.

To date, there are already 151 students from the North American university who have completed this international exchange program at UDP.