Office of International Relations

The Angolan consul, Stela Maria da Graça Santana de Sousa Santiago, and the Rector of UFSC, Irineu Manoel de Souza. Photos: SI-GR/SECOM

On 30 April, the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) welcomed the consul of the Republic of Angola, Stela Maria da Graça Santana de Sousa Santiago, for a visit to the Rector’s Office. The agenda, coordinated by the Association of Angolans in Florianópolis (ASSAF) and supported by the Office of International Relations (SINTER), reinforced the institution’s commitment to academic cooperation and to the well-being of its Angolan student community. The Consulate has jurisdiction over the states of São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.

The delegation was received by Rector Irineu Manoel de Souza; Head of the Rector’s Office Bernardo Meyer; Secretary for International Relations Fernanda Leal; and Director of International Relations Guilherme Carlos da Costa. Representatives of the Consulate and the president of ASSAF, Elisa Dulce João Fundanga, also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Secretary Fernanda Leal highlighted the collaborative work developed with the Angolan community at UFSC. She emphasized that ongoing dialogue with the Consulate is essential for establishing more agile processes and effective support strategies, while respecting institutional specificities. Student retention was a central topic, with the presentation of data on admitted student profiles, programs with the highest concentration of Angolan students, and key student support needs. UFSC, the Consulate, and ASSAF discussed the creation of a direct channel for emergency situations, preventive guidance actions before and during students’ stay in Brazil, and joint initiatives focused on well-being.

UFSC currently maintains two agreements with Angolan institutions. The first, with the Universidade José Eduardo dos Santos, was signed on 17 December 2021 and is valid until December 2026. It covers all subject areas and is coordinated by Professor Juarez Vieira do Nascimento. The second agree,emt, with the Instituto Superior Politécnico de Porto Amboim (ISUP), was signed on 8 October 2025 and is valid until October 2030. It also has a broad scope and is coordinated by Professor Amir Antônio Martins de Oliveira Junior.

The outcomes of this cooperation are reflected in both the number of graduates and the current Angolan academic community at UFSC. To date, 96 Angolan students have completed their studies: 44 at the undergraduate level, 51 at the graduate level (master’s and doctoral), and one in a graduate certificate program. Currently, the university hosts 298 students from Angola: 244 undergraduate, 29 graduate (master’s and doctoral), and 25 in graduate certificate programs.

At the end of the meeting, UFSC, the Angolan Consulate, and ASSAF indicated their interest in strengthening exchanges with Angolan universities through the reestablishment and expansion of cooperation agreements; the structuring of support and guiding services for the Angolan student community; and the promotion of joint initiatives aimed at academic and cultural integration. These priorities will guide the next steps of the partnership, with a focus on student retention and the university’s internationalization.

Text: Rector’s Office press service | Office of Communication (SECOM)
imprensa.gr@contato.ufsc.br

Translation:  SINTER/UFSC.