The Universidade Estadual do Paraná (Unespar) recently hosted its IV Seminário de Internacionalização: Educação Global e Transformação Acadêmica, bringing together academics, administrators, and students to explore the evolving landscape of higher education in Brazil. Held on June 10 and 11, 2026, at venues in Curitiba including the Auditório Antonio Melillo and SEARC-TELAB, the event underscored the growing emphasis on global citizenship and cross-border academic collaboration within the country's public university system.
Organized by Unespar's Escritório de Relações Internacionais (ERI) in partnership with the Campus de Curitiba II and Faculdade de Artes do Paraná (FAP), the seminar featured a mix of conferences, lectures, roundtables, workshops, and working groups. National and international guests contributed perspectives on teaching, research, extension activities, creative practices, and academic cooperation, all framed around the formation of global citizens.
Context of Internationalization in Brazilian Higher Education
Brazil's higher education sector has increasingly prioritized internationalization as a strategic pillar for quality improvement and global competitiveness. State universities like Unespar play a vital role in this shift, complementing federal institutions in expanding access to international opportunities. The ERI at Unespar coordinates mobility programs, partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives that align with broader national goals set by the Ministério da Educação (MEC) and funding agencies such as CAPES.
Recent efforts at Unespar include an innovative international specialization program developed with partner institutions in Angola, Argentina, and Mozambique. This lato sensu postgraduate course, the first of its kind at the university, involved 50 students and emphasized intercultural knowledge exchange across Latin America and Africa. Such initiatives demonstrate how regional public universities are building sustainable networks beyond traditional North-South flows.
Program Highlights and Key Discussions
The two-day agenda addressed practical and conceptual dimensions of internationalization. Sessions examined curriculum integration of global perspectives, student and faculty mobility challenges, and the role of digital tools in fostering virtual exchanges. Working groups allowed participants to brainstorm collaborative projects, while roundtables highlighted successful case studies from Brazilian and foreign institutions.
Emphasis was placed on education for global citizenship, encouraging universities to prepare graduates for interconnected labor markets and multicultural environments. Discussions also touched on equity considerations, ensuring that internationalization benefits reach students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds across Paraná's multiple campuses.
Unespar's Strategic Role Through the ERI
Unespar operates across several campuses in Paraná, serving thousands of students in undergraduate and graduate programs. The ERI serves as the central hub for international relations, managing agreements, promoting language policies, and supporting research collaborations. Its work aligns with institutional plans to embed international and intercultural dimensions into core academic functions.
By hosting this seminar, Unespar reinforced its commitment to positioning Paraná's higher education on the global stage. The event built on previous editions, evolving from project presentations and partnership showcases to deeper explorations of transformative impacts.
Photo by Iago Yoshimi Seo on Unsplash
Benefits for Academics, Administrators, and Students
For faculty members, the seminar offered networking opportunities that could lead to joint research grants or co-authored publications. Administrators gained insights into best practices for managing international offices and compliance with Brazilian regulations on foreign partnerships.
Students benefited from exposure to global education frameworks, potentially inspiring participation in mobility programs or double-degree pathways. The focus on global citizenship also supports career readiness in fields requiring cross-cultural competence, from education and arts to public administration and environmental studies.
- Enhanced understanding of funding opportunities through CAPES and similar agencies
- Strategies for integrating international content into existing courses
- Models for inclusive internationalization that address regional disparities
Challenges in Implementing Internationalization Strategies
Despite progress, Brazilian universities face hurdles such as limited funding for mobility, language barriers, and bureaucratic processes for validating foreign credentials. Regional institutions like Unespar must balance local priorities with global ambitions, often operating with fewer resources than larger federal counterparts.
The seminar provided a forum to discuss solutions, including virtual collaboration tools and South-South partnerships that reduce costs while maintaining academic rigor. Participants explored ways to leverage existing agreements for reciprocal exchanges that benefit all parties involved.
Implications for the Future of Higher Education in Brazil
Events like this seminar signal a maturing approach to internationalization, moving beyond isolated mobility toward systemic transformation. As Brazil continues to recover from economic pressures and pandemic disruptions, such gatherings help align institutional strategies with national development objectives.
Looking ahead, Unespar and similar universities may expand hybrid programs that combine in-person and online international components. This approach could broaden access while fostering innovation in teaching methodologies suited to a digital, globalized world.
Actionable Insights for Higher Education Stakeholders
University leaders are encouraged to audit current internationalization policies and identify gaps in faculty development or student support services. Researchers can seek out ERI-coordinated calls for proposals to initiate new collaborations.
PhD-track job seekers and early-career academics should monitor Unespar's announcements for opportunities in internationalized programs, which often value candidates with cross-cultural experience and language skills. Administrators might consider benchmarking against Unespar's ERI model when strengthening their own offices.
Looking Forward: Sustaining Momentum
The success of the IV Seminário de Internacionalização reflects growing recognition that global engagement strengthens Brazilian higher education's resilience and relevance. By continuing to host these dialogues, Unespar contributes to a more interconnected academic community in Paraná and beyond.
Stakeholders interested in following developments can visit the official ERI resources for updates on future events and partnership opportunities. The emphasis on global citizenship education positions participants to drive meaningful change in their institutions.
