Welcome Session for International Students in the beginning of the Academic Year

Last Tuesday, on 30 September, at Lusófona University – Porto University Centre, the Welcome Session for International Students took place. Aimed at integrating these students and strengthening the role of internationalisation and cultural diversity within the academic environment, this session brought together key members from the Rectorate, the LIO – Lusófona International Office, EVA – Internships, Active Life, Mobility and Lifelong Learning, CLAIM – Local Support Centre for the Integration of Migrants of Lusófona University, and Porto City Council.

Professor Isabel Bado, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation and Cooperation, highlighted the inclusive nature of the University, reminding that around 3,000 international students study at the institution, mostly from Angola and Brazil. She explained that “the welcome session means giving some guidance for good student integration, so that they feel at Lusófona University as if it were their home.” This was followed by the intervention of EVA Representatives, who explained the opportunities for curricular and extracurricular internships, as well as Erasmus+ mobility programmes.

The session also featured the presence of the Association of Portuguese Language Universities (AULP), which presented its scholarship and mobility programmes available to students and lecturers from 140 partner institutions across 9 countries. It also publicised the Fernão Mendes Pinto Award, which recognises master’s dissertations and doctoral theses that address two Portuguese-speaking countries.

Concha Tello, representative of CLAIM, began her intervention with a brief group dynamic entitled “demonstrate that each person is a person”, highlighting the importance of empathy and adaptation to cultural differences. In her speech, she also presented how CLAIM supports international students, for example, by assisting with documentation, housing, and cultural integration.

During this session, the “Study in Porto” platform was also presented — a tool created to support international students who choose the city of Porto as their academic destination. The platform was introduced by Dr Luís Braga from Porto City Council.

The event ended in a relaxed atmosphere, with snacks and live music, promoting intercultural dialogue and exchange.

Check the Event Pictures on ULusófona’s Facebook Page

Text
Bruna Pereira

Photography
Lara Sousa