Secretaria de Relações Internacionais | Office of International Relations

Friday, 12 September 2025, the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) received representatives from the Catholic University of Temuco (UCT) in Chile. UCT and UFSC currently have an agreement covering all areas of common interest and providing for exchange opportunities, signed in January 2024 and valid until January 2029. The agreement is coordinated at UFSC by Professor María del Carmen Cortizo, from the Department of Social Work, who also welcomed the UCT visitors.

The meeting took place at the Rector’s Office and was attended by UFSC Vice-Rector, Prof. Joana Célia dos Passos; Secretary for International Relations, Prof. Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho; Superintendent of Projects at the Prorectorate for Research and Innovation (PROPESQ), Prof. William Gerson Matias; and Dr. Vera Gasparetto, researcher in Gender Studies and member of the Institute of Gender Studies (IEG/UFSC). Representing UCT were Dr. Claudio Inostroza Blancheteau, Vice-Rector for Research and Graduate Studies, and Dr. Natalia Cárdenas Marín, Directir of the Center for Gender Studies.

Discussions focused on strengthening academic ties between the two universities, including the implementation of co-supervision and double degree agreements. The exchange of experiences in gender policy initiatives promoted at UCT and other Chilean universities—many encouraged by the Chilean federal government—was also highlighted. In addition, participants addressed actions to strengthen anti-racist policies in higher education as part of broader efforts to promote fairness and protect rights.

In this context, Vice-Rector Prof. Joana dos Passos was invited by UCT to take part in an in-person seminar on gender and anti-racist policies and initiatives to be held in Temuco, Chile.

Other areas of cooperation were also discussed, including research and innovation. According to Prof. Machado Filho, “collaboration between the two universities is extremely important, as it enhances the international visibility of their scientific output.”