With an investment of R$350,000, UEM promotes international and inclusive academic experiences on campus
The International Cooperation Office (ECI-Escritório de Cooperação Internacional) of the State University of Maringá (UEM-Universidade Estadual de Maringá) is launching its annual grant program for International Visiting Professors this week. Unprecedented at the institution and also among State Higher Education Institutions (IEES-Instituições Estaduais de Ensino Superior), the program approved 35 proposals from professors from 16 countries.
All areas of knowledge were covered, with 42 scholarships distributed among the seven teaching centers. Most of the visiting professors will stay at UEM for 30 days, while four will stay for 60 days and one for 90 days - the maximum time foreseen in the notice was six months.
The visiting professors are affiliated with educational institutions in Germany (1), Argentina (5), Belgium (1), Chile (1), Colombia (1), Cuba (1), Ecuador (2), Scotland (1), Spain (3), United States (4), France (6), Italy (2), Mexico (2), Paraguay (1), Poland (1), Portugal (3). Visiting professors hold a doctorate (or equivalent) and have produced relevant scientific or technological work in the last five years, with a significant impact in their field.
In all, UEM is investing around R$350,000 of its own funds for Internationalization at Home (IeC-Internacionalização em Casa), with the aim of providing university experiences on campus with an international and inclusive perspective, benefiting as many students as possible. The program provides a grant of US$1,500 for each professor, equivalent to R$8,655.00, according to the exchange rate in effect on the date of publication of the notice.
The International Visiting Professor will have to carry out a series of activities at UEM, such as giving lectures, offering courses and writing scientific articles in co-authorship with UEM professors, to be submitted to specialized journals. The unprecedented initiative is an action by the ECI, with the support of the Rectorate’s Office, the Administrative Council (CAD-Conselho de Administração) and the Office of Institutional Planning and Development (PLD-Planejamento e Desenvolvimento).
UEM's rector, Leandro Vanalli, believes that the new program will strengthen international cooperation, contribute to the improvement of teaching and research, and promote the exchange of knowledge and intercultural experiences. “With Internationalization at Home, UEM reaffirms its commitment to an inclusive and global education, offering all our students the opportunity to experience academic events with professors from different countries, without leaving the campus, as well as significantly increasing UEM's international visibility,” Vanalli stresses.
For ECI coordinator Renato Leão, the initiative will benefit both the internal and external communities. "All of this will have a tremendous impact on academic activities at UEM. Firstly, because we'll be able to show the external community the innovation that research can achieve and, secondly, because we'll be putting Internationalization at Home into practice. We'll have international professors teaching courses to our students, which has a huge impact because it's far-reaching and promotes inclusion. By bringing in teachers who will work with entire classrooms in another language, we are offering internationalization not only to students who go abroad in mobility, but also to those who remain here," Leão said.
All seven teaching centers were included in the program, and the limit was six quotas per center. The College of Humanities, Languages and Arts (CCH-Centro de Ciências Humanas) and the College of Health Sciences (CCS-Centro de Ciências da Saúde) will receive six professors; the College of Agricultural Sciences (CCA-Centro de Ciências Agrárias), the College of Biological Sciences (CCB-Centro de Ciências Biológicas), the College of Applied Social Sciences (CSA-Centro de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas) and the College of Technology (CTC-Centro de Tecnologia) will receive five professors each, and the College of Exact Sciences (CCE-Centro de Ciências Exatas) three professors.
First international visit
The first professor to arrive will be Koenraad Martens, from Belgium, who arrives at UEM on Thursday (15). He will be taking part in the Graduate Program in Ecology of Aquatic and Continental Environments (PEA-Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia de Ambientes Aquáticos Continentais) at the College of Biological Sciences (CCB-Centro de Ciências Biológicas). Martens will give the lecture “Speciation in Ancient Lakes” on May 23, at 2pm, in the Professor Keshiyu Nakatani Amphitheatre, Building G90.
The presentation will address how speciation in ancient lakes contributes to understanding the mechanisms of evolution and the formation of biodiversity, as well as being essential for species and ecosystem conservation strategies.
Martens will be at the UEM in two periods: from May 15 to June 15 and from October 15 to November 15.
Service
1st International Visiting Professor Lecture
Speaker: Koenraad R. L. Marc Martens
Country of origin: Belgium
Lecture Title: Speciation in Ancient Lakes (Especiação em Lagos Antigos)
Date: May 23rd, 2pm
Place: Anfiteatro Professor Keshiyu Nakatani - Block G90
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