The Universidad de La Frontera welcomed the group of exchange students with a traditional welcome ceremony.

In the framework of multiculturism, the Universidad de La Frontera (UFRO) welcomed 49 national and international exchange students, who will spend this semester at UFRO, in a welcome ceremony organized by the Internationalization Office.

The ceremony was led by the Vice-rector for Undergraduate Affairs, Dr. Pamela Ibarra Palma, who warmly welcomed the new students. Highlighting the academic process, the authority emphasized that “student mobility is part of UFROs Strategic Internationalization Plan, and receiving students from different universities from Chile and other parts of the world also enriches the training of our local students. It is extremely beneficial to get in touch with different cultures with another perspective regarding the respective fields of study. That is an obvious contribution to the training of our students. The number of students who come to UFRO increased. That is a sign that we are recognized as a prestigious university with enormous possibilities, not only academically, but also culturally,“ she explained.

The director of the Internationalization Office, Dr. Lorena Vieli del Río, indicated: “We are very happy because student mobility is one of the areas we put a lot of effort into. This semester, we have an increase in the number of students from other parts of Chile and the world who come to UFRO. They come from very different countries, guaranteeing a huge cultural diversity that enriches our students‘ lives. We have noticed that they enrich and improve the learning processes and the dynamics in the classroom. What we have to offer is our beautiful region and our culture, two aspects that the foreign students highlight as a unique experience.“

This way, the 49 students from Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Spain, the USA, France, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Peru will spend this second semester at the faculties of Medicine; Law and Business; Education, Social Sciences and Humanities; and Engineering and Science, as well as in our graduate programs, and, for the first time, at our Pucon Campus.
The ceremony took part based on UFROs current Internationalization Strategy, which is a complementation of the university’s Educational Model. It is worth mentioning that the welcome ceremony also included a presentation of the Buddy Program of the Student Mobility Office and a dance presentation by UFROs folklore dance group “Magia Chilena“.
The students

	Sarah Herhaus. Ruhr University Bochum (Germany) “I came here more than a month ago and it has been difficult because I am at the hospital and not at the university. That is why I do not know the other students. I came here to get to know the Chilean health system, to learn the Spanish language, and to get to know the local culture.“
	Cristian Medrano Valdés. Autonomous University of Quintana Roo (Mexico) “I joined the Tourism and Adventure Tourism study programs at the Pucon Campus of UFRO together with two other exchange students. We are very grateful because the people are so kind and have helped us a lot, for example in terms of accommodation, how to move around, and to live the experience of life in Chile. We are enjoying this hospitality and trying to immerse ourselves in the culture as much as possible.“
	Estefanía Mires Reyes. Private University of the North (Peru) “It has been an emotional journey because despite being neighbors, I feel that the biggest difference is the climate. It does not rain in my hometown and we always have a minimum of 13°C, but I am getting used to it, little by little. I am very grateful and especially the Buddy Program has helped a lot. I study Environmental Engineering at UFRO and at home, in Peru, I study Natural Resources Engineering and Monitoring, Restoration of Degraded Environments, Water Resources, Environmental Economic Valuation, and Health and Risk Prevention. My natural environment and my study environment are very pleasant, so I really enjoy this opportunity a lot.“