Eréndira Velázquez of Mechatronics Engineering obtained the Uni scholarship to study for a semester in Medellín, Colombia.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, when I went to ask for information I was told about the opportunities to do a semester abroad and that was one of the reasons why I decided to study at the University of Celaya.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
Since I was a little girl it was one of my dreams and since I started it was a motivation to strive and be one of the lucky ones to have the scholarship, so when I got the news I was thrilled!
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, it was my first time and being in a country I was really looking forward to visiting made it very special.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
Mainly to get to know different cultures, the people, their gastronomy, to be able to broaden my personal horizons, to take advantage of the opportunity to be a better person and to increase my self-confidence.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
It was a country that called my attention since I was 15 years old and when I saw the call I did not hesitate for a minute to choose Colombia.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
At first I did not believe it, I had mixed feelings, I felt nervous and at the same time very happy but mainly proud to be in that country, with an open mind and with very high expectations.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
I was received very well, with open arms, the teachers and classmates were very attentive to me and made me feel at home.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
What I miss most about Mexico is my family, the food and the spicy food. What I miss most about UNI is being able to be an on-site mentor in the STEM program and having the opportunity to share my knowledge with the girls.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Every day is exciting, because you have different experiences every day, but the most exciting thing is the group of friends I made from different countries, because with them I have had very good experiences and two great Colombian friends because every time we see each other we learn new things about our countries.
And the hardest part?
The most difficult thing is to adapt to the change of currency because they use larger figures than I am used to and the terms that are usually used on a daily basis.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
To be able to apply the knowledge acquired in my internship, to use their teamwork methods, the tools they use for deliverables and to be able to add in my resume that I did a semester abroad. Also, to have my skills better developed.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Of course, it is an incredible experience because you meet people from different countries and it helps you grow as a person and professionally, so if you have the opportunity, take advantage of it to the fullest. Thanks for your support!
Marco Alberto Zapata Solís, Industrial Engineering, made his stay at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil, thanks to the international scholarship program Uni. Porto Alegre, Brazil, thanks to the international scholarship program Uni.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
No
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Yes
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
Learning new languages, cultures and meeting people from different countries.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Brazil is a country that I have always liked, so having a new opportunity to visit a country that I love and being able to live for a few months and learn more about the culture was what motivated me to come to Brazil.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
A little uncertain about the language, but at the same time I was excited.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
It was amazing, very attentive and always friendly and willing to help us with anything.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
To my friends and teachers.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
The joy that people have, the impetus they get from meeting new people and especially foreigners.
And the hardest part?
Learning the language took me a short time, I started speaking well in less than a month, but learning a new language from scratch when I was already living in this country was a bit difficult at first.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
As a person, to enjoy the experiences I lived here, to remember the friendships I made in this international experience and as a professional, to continue learning everything within my reach and also to continue practicing the language because it is something I would like to continue improving, to learn different languages to help me in my professional training.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Of course I did! I thank all the people who supported me to be able to live this great international experience PUCRS - UNI!
Lisette Dianee studies Global Business and was awarded the international scholarship to study at the Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, Portugal.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, in fact, it was one of the many reasons why I entered the University of Celaya.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
Being positive, I thought that someday I would make it; however, in the blink of an eye it happened.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Yes, but for a very short time, being a whole semester in another country and alone is a completely different experience that I really enjoyed.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
I was motivated to become more aware of my abilities to both adapt in a completely different environment, as well as communicate and work with different people.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Something very important about Portugal is that it has one of the main ports in Europe and because of my career I was interested in learning about trade and logistics, as well as cultural and economic exchange.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I felt a little scared and desperate because at first I couldn't communicate very well with people, but little by little I got used to it.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
I was very well received, they were always accompanying us along the way.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
My family, friends, the ease of communicating with professors and of course the food.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Every day that I live here for me is exciting, however, I consider that traveling and getting to know this country better has been a great experience.
And the hardest part?
The most difficult thing was adapting to the language, although it is similar to Spanish there are things that are not understood because of the fluency with which they speak it, and also adapting to a new work method.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
To learn a new language, to trust in myself, the abilities I have, to expand my vision of the world, to experience and enjoy new ways of life, as well as to travel and get to know different places.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Of course, these opportunities are worth gold, they help you grow both professionally and personally, they open up your panorama and change the perspective you have on different topics. Thanks to everyone who supported me in achieving this dream!
Claudia Daniela is studying Culinary Art and won the uni scholarship to study at Hallym University in South Korea.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, in fact it was one of the main reasons for me to stay at the university; it is impressive the connection with different countries and the ease of mobility that the university provides.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
It was a motivation from the beginning, I didn't know I would make it, but I always strived to be a candidate. So, when I found out that I made it, it was happiness and satisfaction at the same time.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, thanks to other projects I had the opportunity to participate in online programs in other countries and win a pass to be in Brazil, unfortunately the pandemic started and these plans were cancelled; so this being the first time makes it even more special.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
The simple fact of learning, I am an enthusiast for new cultures, to be able to have the experience of learning from another educational system, absorbing different perspectives on things, is something that filled me with enthusiasm.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Simply the culture, Mexican culture to Korean culture have many differences, thanks to social media you can visualize some, however, it was lake that I wanted to experience on my own and it was definitely an unforgettable experience.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
It was completely turning around what I was used to, completely leaving my comfort zone, learning from scratch manners to adapt to the customs and society, understanding the way of dressing and even changing the taste of the foods I was used to, as well as adding to my diet foods that were not so common before, all these changes made me feel lost at the beginning, but as the days went by, the experience became fascinating and a lot of learning.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
I was surprised by the kindness and speed of all the staff, from our first days the managers were very attentive to all our requirements, as well as they were always alert in case we had any problem with in my case the blocking of my bank cards and my email.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
Of course, in addition to the food I was used to, the feeling of warmth of all the people around you, whether you know them or not, as well as having people related to your career with similar knowledge to share and develop, specifically in my case, in the gastronomic subject, although I can have interesting conversations with people about gastronomy, there are related concepts and terms that are not so easy to explain or understand.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
I consider that every day I spend here is exciting, Korea is a country full of surprises, the simple fact of being able to cross the country in one day just with your cell phone in your hand and your "T money card", or eating food that you had never thought of, even being a tourist one day and the next day becoming a climber, thanks to everything that this country has, makes this trip an adventure.
And the hardest part?
Of course loneliness, although it has wonderful things, it is true that it is a very individualistic country and, that is, coming from a country as sociable as Mexico, the change is noticeable, because each person here concentrates on his or her own affairs.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
I am sure that so far I have broadened my mind and my perspective of what awaits me in the world, my hunger to explore and develop more of my skills grew, as well as my social skills in other languages, the fact of going out of your comfort zone gives you a very vast learning experience.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Yes, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity that is difficult to obtain by other means, so if you are ready and have the opportunity; it is best to take it as soon as possible. Thanks to all who supported me in this great adventure!
In an institutional event with special guests representing the Government of the State of Guanajuato, the municipal government of Celaya, business associations and Higher Education Institutions (HEI), the University of Celaya officially launched the call for the Unichallenge contest in its 2022 edition to challenge the creativity and innovation of the people of Guanajuato to come up with an event that will boost the economic and social reactivation of Celaya.
Since 2018, every year the University of Celaya launches the call for the Unichallenge whose axis is to analyze a specific local problem to which university students, together with expert mentors, offer tailored solutions.
Those who accept the challenge must organize their team composed of a maximum of 5 members: on the one hand, 4 university students (maximum 2 from the same IES); and, on the other hand, an expert mentor (teacher or graduate of one of the institutions in which the students participate), with the requirement of having the accompaniment of a mentor or organization from the public or private sector specialized in event organization (without him or her being part of the team). There will be cash prizes for the first 3 places. The call for entries is open from August 9th until August 31st of the same month of the current year. Get to know the phases of the contest and accept the challenge. Check the terms and conditions here!
From its first edition to date, the challenges for the participants of the contest have been diverse: the responsible use and consumption of water, the positioning of Celaya's cajeta at a national level, the strengthening of the sense of identity of being from Celaya, to name a few. The important thing about the challenge is to engage young people in the solution of real problems so that they get involved, raise awareness, act and also learn from the talent of teachers, mentors and/or specialized organizations.
Our institution is very grateful to have the support and collaboration for the Unichallenge initiative to continue to be a reality thanks to the synergy that has been generated between society, government, companies and higher education institutions of important presence in Celaya and the state of Guanajuato, in order to contribute to the proactive solution of the great global challenges of the local and regional level, for the benefit of the youth of Guanajuato and the common good.
Bianca Sofia studies Communication and Audiovisual Media and completed an academic stay at the Polytechnic Institute of Guarda in Portugal thanks to the Uni international scholarships.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, it was one of the reasons I chose UNI.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
It was one of my goals from the beginning, but I didn't think it would be so easy and so soon.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico? Yes
What motivated you to study in another country? To be able to meet and have friends from different countries, to get to know another culture and to represent my country.
Why did you decide to study in that country? Because it would be a country that would take me out of my comfort zone because of the language, but at the same level it would be a bit easy because of my mother tongue. Also because of Portugal's location it is easy to get to know other countries.
What did you feel when you arrived in the new country? I felt a lot of fear, but at the same time a lot of excitement for the challenge it would be.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived? Very well, they always made me feel welcome and I felt the support of others.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI? My family, my friends and the food.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience? Having a group of friends from different countries, getting to know their culture and being able to travel together.
And the hardest part? At the beginning, it was very complicated to take classes in another language.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience? Having this experience will help me in my personal growth and strengths to start my working life, being able to work in multicultural teams adds confidence in myself.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues? Of course I do, they are opportunities that we should not miss, thank you for your support!
Joana, de Ingeniería Biomédica, obtuvo la beca internacional Uni para estudiar en Oviedo, España.
When you entered UNI did you know there were international programs?
Sí, cuando fui a conocer la UNI me comentaron que existían estos programas y que tenía varios convenios con distintas universidades de otros países.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
Sí, era uno de mis objetivos, aunque no tenía claro a donde, ni en que semestre; pero al conocer las experiencias de mis compañeros me interesó mucho más, y trabajé para lograrlo.
¿Ya habías vivido o estudiado fuera de México? No, solo de vacaciones.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
Principalmente el hecho de que esta experiencia podría ayudarme a mi crecimiento profesional y personal; y además de conocer nuevos lugares, culturas, tradiciones y personas.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Porque fue uno de los primeros lugares que se abrieron después de la pandemia y me interesó mucho conocer España y lo que podría aportar a mi carrera.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
Fueron muchos sentimientos, felicidad, nervios, miedo, orgullo, emoción, realmente era algo completamente nuevo, estaba en un nuevo país por primera vez separada de mi familia y amigos; conociendo sólo a mis tres compañeros; sin saber que esperar, pero con toda la actitud de salir adelante y cumplir con mis objetivos. Fue realmente emocionante.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Los administrativos fueron los primeros en recibirnos, son muy amables y nos ayudaron en todos los trámites. Los profesores fueron igualmente muy amables y atentos; pero equitativos, es decir no hubo ningún trato especial o diferente por ser estudiantes de intercambio.
En cuanto a mis compañeros, fue un poco complicado integrarme al inicio, pero algunos se acercaron a nosotros y poco a poco comenzamos a trabajar con ellos. Fue una experiencia muy agradable.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
Lo que más extraño de México sin duda alguna es mi Familia y amigos, la comida, las fiestas y tradiciones; porque realmente la cultura de México y España son muy diferentes. En cuanto a la UNI, a mis compañeros con los que he convivido estos dos años y medio, mis profesores y sobre todo mis prácticas profesionales.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Cada día ha sido muy emocionante, pienso que seis meses no son suficientes para terminar de conocer una ciudad como Oviedo, entonces, cada día era una nueva aventura; además conocer nuevas personas también es muy emocionante. Otra cosa que resaltar, es la oportunidad que tuvimos de viajar dentro de Europa, visitar Paris, Inglaterra e Italia.
And the hardest part?
Diría que acoplarme a la Universidad de Oviedo, primeramente, el sistema es muy diferente; además la cultura de estudiante cambia demasiado. Un punto importante es que estoy en el grado de Biotecnología y tratar de acoplarse a un nuevo sistema en una carrera de la que no se sabe mucho es muy complicado.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
Como persona, pienso que la experiencia de vivir sola, enfrentarme día a día con situaciones complicadas o frustrantes y aprender a controlar mis emociones, a administrarme, organizarme y otros aspectos que he logrado trabajar me ayudarán a crecer para bien.
Profesionalmente, considero que todo lo aprendido puedo aplicarlo en mi vida estudiantil, si bien, biotecnología no es mi carrera; todas esas estrategias de estudio y el sistema que usan aquí, sus métodos de trabajo, entre otras herramientas podría utilizarlas en lo que resta de mis estudios. Además de poder agregar a mi currículo el estudio en el extranjero.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by UNI to your colleagues?
Totalmente, si tienen la oportunidad de hacerlo deberían de aprovecharlo, tiene demasiadas ventajas en lo personal y profesional; sin duda es de las mejores experiencias que he tenido. ¡Gracias a mi familia y todos lo que me han apoyado!
Antonio Merino, de Comunicación y Medios Audiovisuales, obtuvo la beca internacional para estudiar en la Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana en Medellín, Colombia.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Fue una de mis motivaciones principales, el intercambio siempre fue un ideal.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
Sabía que estaría buscando oportunidades para ser un profesional apto para esta beca.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Cuando era niño estudié la primaria en Estados Unidos.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
El aporte que hace a mi carrera, los contactos y las vivencias que día con día se obtienen.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Estaba de vuelta de Europa; Sudamerica me parecía muy interesante, sobre todo Medellín.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
Emoción y un gran aliento por descubrir todo lo que este territorio tenía para ofrecerme.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Ha sido muy acogedora, me encantó todo: los cursos, las clases, mis compañeros.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
Poder entrenar con mi equipo de atletismo.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Conocer el país con mis amigos.
And the hardest part?
Que no hay comida que se parezca a la de casa.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
Quiero que esta experiencia sume a uno de mis sueños para mi último grado; quiero ser el orador en mi ceremonia de grado, por eso creo que es importante que este registro y buen resultado haya sido tan bonito.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
La suerte está creada para las personas que están preparadas desde antes que se ofrezca la oportunidad. Todos deberían tener esa suerte, trabajar por ello. Les va a encantar.
He realizado un trabajo final que estará participando en el final del curso cómo mejor trabajo de semestre. Le adjunto el link:
Mikel Guerrero is studying Global Business and won an international scholarship to study in Oviedo, Spain.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, one of the reasons I decided to study at Uni was because of its international programs.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
Yes, one of my main goals in my career was to study a semester outside of Mexico, it is not easy, but with dedication and effort you can achieve it.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Yes, I had the opportunity to do a year of high school in Canada.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
I think what drives me to study in another country is to get out of my comfort zone and routine, to fill myself with knowledge and experiences, as well as to get to know different cultures and environments. Other main reasons are personal and professional growth.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
I decided to study in Spain because I really like its culture and the activities you can do.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I felt very happy and motivated to get to know the culture and people.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
The University of Lleida received us in a very special way, giving us advice before our arrival as well as integration courses before the beginning of the school year. I am very grateful for their attentions to students from abroad.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
One of the things I miss is my family, friends and tacos.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
The most exciting things I have experienced are the different trips I have been able to do in Europe, the outdoor sports. Also making friends from different countries opens your vision and you get to know different cultures.
And the hardest part?
I believe the school evaluation system is different from that of Mexico.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
To continue developing different skills and abilities to apply them in my daily life as well as in my professional life since I am about to graduate.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by UNI to your colleagues?
Of course, I recommend and encourage my classmates to apply for all the scholarships offered by the university and set the goal of living an experience abroad. It is a great opportunity for them to get out of their comfort zone.
I am infinitely grateful for the support of my parents, the Internationalization Department, my academic director Alejandro Saldaña and everyone at UNI de Celaya.... THANK YOU!
