UDP Internacional

Friday November 14th, 2025

With the aim of strengthening ties with internationally renowned institutions, the Office of International Relations (OIR) and a group of academics from the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences held a meeting with representatives from the University of British Columbia (UBC).

The meeting was led by Anoek van den Berg, Director General of International Relations, and Carlos Ahumada, International Cooperation Coordinator for the area. Also in attendance were José Luis Prieto, Director of the Institute of Astrophysical Studies; Roberto Lavín Serrano, Director of the Institute of Basic Sciences; Cristóbal Sarmiento, Professor at the School of Civil Industrial Engineering; Roberto Assef, Professor at the Institute of Astrophysical Studies; Manuel Gacitúa, Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences; and Álvaro Espejo, Professor at the School of Computer Science and Telecommunications.

Meanwhile, representing the Canadian institution were Natasha Nobell, Head of Global Partnerships, and Mark MacLachlan, Dean of Science and Professor in the Department of Chemistry, who expressed their interest in developing ties with UDP. “We are very excited to visit the University. We hope to build new collaborations and research and exchange opportunities between our students and UDP,” commented Professor MacLachlan.

Natasha Nobell also indicated that she had the opportunity to learn about UDP’s work at a conference in Sweden. She added, “I am very happy to be here (…). It is very important that our university remains open and that we continue to seek new opportunities in terms of collaboration, research, and learning experiences.”

According to Anoek van den Berg, this meeting allowed them to explore potential areas of collaboration and mobility, especially in the field of engineering. This is particularly relevant given that the University of British Columbia “is very strong in forestry, oceanography, and data science and related areas.” “This is a top 50 university worldwide and therefore we wish to explore more ways of joint initiatives in research and mobility,” stated the Director of International Relations.

Through this initiative, UDP reaffirms its commitment to the internationalization of its community and expands its networks to enrich the opportunities and development of its students and faculty.