UDP Internacional

16 August 2023

“I have the honor of giving you the warmest welcome to the University. I appreciate that you have traveled to this part of the world, which, for some, is quite far from home. So we appreciate the effort and hope that you can feel at home.”

With these words, Anoek van den Berg, Director General of International Relations (DGRII), received the 85 foreign students who arrived at the UDP on Wednesday, August 2, to study for an academic semester.

In this context, the DGRII team gave practical recommendations on life in Chile and gave general information on the academic processes of the UDP. This aspect was one of the most outstanding aspects of the welcome, above all, because the international student body must take, during their stay at the University, CFG courses and subjects from the faculties of Social Sciences and History; Administration and Economics; Communication and Letters; and Architecture, Art and Design.

In this sense, Carlos Ahumada, coordinator of Incoming Mobility of the General Directorate of International Relations, called on the student body to find out about the internal processes of the UDP, however, he indicated that it is important to enjoy the exchange: “Take advantage of every day in the UDP. Live the experience (…). Take advantage of this semester to study, but also to live and make friends,” he said.

Likewise, Indira Vivas, coordinator of American Corner, invited to participate in this space that arose, in 2005, thanks to an agreement signed by the UDP and the United States Embassy in Santiago. For her part, Isidora Fariña, student of the Journalism major and coordinator of the Globaliza UDP program, an instance that seeks to generate a cultural exchange between international and local students, referred to the program of activities that will be carried out over the next few days in order to that the student body be inserted in UDP life. This program includes field trips and visits to the faculties of the University.

At the end of the meeting, the international students referred to this academic experience. “I decided to come to the UDP because of the academic offer that the University offers me and because the country attracted my attention,” said Uxue Korta Erkizia, a student at the University of the Basque Country (Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea).

For his part, Maxwell Brother, a student at American University, expressed: “I chose this University because I wanted to study in this country and enjoy the culture that Chile offers. I am very happy to be here.”

On this occasion, the international student body comes from 51 university institutions and 16 different countries, the most representative being France, with 25 students; Spain with 14; and the United States with 13. Students from countries such as Bolivia (6), Colombia (3) and Mexico (2) also stand out. These figures represent a significant increase compared to the second semester of 2022. At that time, the University received 58 students from 10 countries, including France, Spain, the United States and Mexico.