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The program integrated teaching, research, and international exchange during the two-week event, providing participants with access to classes, lectures, and field trips led by Esalq faculty and researchers. Participants also gained hands-on experience in the university’s laboratories, research centers, and experimental fields. The event also facilitated group work, resulting in the development and presentation of innovative proposals focused on food and nutritional security. These proposals were based on the knowledge shared throughout the course and addressed the challenges of food production and sustainability.
Aline César, one of the coordinators of the X International School and the head of the Department of Food Science and Technology at Esalq, explained that the theme of this edition was chosen because it addresses one of the main challenges currently faced by the agri-food system. She said that the final project developed by the participants proposes innovative solutions for food and nutritional security that align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
For her, the diversity of the participants’ nationalities, academic backgrounds, and experiences strengthens the development of more comprehensive and innovative proposals. “Interacting with students from different continents, countries, educational systems, and cultures enables the creation of much more robust solutions and discussions”, she stated, adding that “the goal of this International School activity extends far beyond the classroom, potentially generating innovative research ideas, societal solutions, and even startup creation. In this way, we provide an excellent opportunity for reflection and decision-making focused on food and nutritional security.”
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Academic training and professional development
Yufei He, an international participant from China Agricultural University, explained that he chose to participate in the International School to learn more about tropical agriculture and the research being conducted in Brazil. He also highlighted the opportunity to interact with students from different countries. “It’s also a chance to connect with people from different cultural backgrounds, which broadens my worldview”, he said. He mentioned the class on automation in agriculture and the subsequent field experiment visit. “Understanding how automation is applied in Brazilian agriculture and seeing how the experiments are conducted in practice was very interesting”, he said.
Alejandro López Ochoa, a student from the National University of Colombia in Medellín, said Esalq’s international reputation was one of the main reasons he applied to the program. “In Colombia, Esalq is considered the best university to study agricultural engineering. Our university has a strong partnership with Esalq, and the dean of our Department of Agricultural Sciences earned her Ph.D. here”, he commented. He also noted that interacting with students from different countries has broadened his understanding of other cultures and realities. “There are people from Turkey, Germany, England, France, Chile, Peru, and China. Experiencing this diversity has completely opened my mind. Each country has unique characteristics, and this exchange of experiences makes the International School a learning opportunity that goes far beyond the classroom”, he said.
Nele Wurck, a German student enrolled in the International Forest Ecosystem International Management program, said she chose Esalq for its academic excellence and the opportunity to expand her intercultural experience. She explained that she was doing an internship in Brazil before joining the International School, and that the experience exceeded her expectations. According to Wurck, the warm welcome she received at the university and her interactions with students from different countries are among the most memorable aspects of the program. “Brazil is a very welcoming and culturally rich country. I realized that despite our differences, people have much more in common than we imagine. It has been a very positive and enriching experience”, she said.
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João Antônio Roscia, a third-year Forestry Engineering student at Esalq and a USP Recicla scholarship recipient who conducts research on urban forest waste, represented the Brazilian students and participated as a student collaborator. Roscia emphasized that this experience contributes to both his academic education and professional development. “In addition to practicing English, we’re constantly talking about agriculture, forests, and research. We’re also sharing a bit of our culture and learning about theirs. This exchange has been incredible, and I’m learning a lot”, he commented. Of the activities already carried out, Roscia highlighted the visit to the Department of Entomology as one of the most memorable experiences. According to him, the laboratory was also a new experience for many Brazilian students, which made the experience even more enriching.
Over the course of the ten editions of the International School, students have come from South Africa, Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, the Netherlands, Peru, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Turkey. Brazil had the most participants with 99, including 95 students from Esalq and four from other Brazilian higher education institutions. Foreign countries accounted for 174 participants distributed among 91 institutions of higher education.
Written by Anna Pizzo, Communications assistant at Esalq
English version: Nexus Traduções, edited by Denis Pacheco
