Johana Madrigal from Systemic Psychology obtained an international scholarship to study in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
When you entered Uni, did you know there were international programs?
Yes, when I entered college they explained to me that it was part of their program and that was one of the reasons I decided to go to college.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
Yes, because I had always wanted to go on exchange and decided that I should take advantage of the opportunity.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Yes, when I was in high school I also went on exchange, but that time it was to Europe.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
Meeting different people and places is the most interesting of all, because they are incredible experiences.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Because it was one of the options that I liked the most, since it is a country with a great cultural diversity and amazing places, besides being a great opportunity to learn another language and practice it.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I felt euphoric because it was completely incredible, everything was a mixture of emotions and I wanted to start getting to know everything.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
They were incredibly kind, they were always helping us with everything, people no matter if they knew you or not were very gracious. It was a warm welcome full of surprises.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
The food, definitely because there is no place that compares to Mexico, as well as the family and friends.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Going on a trip with my new friends from other countries and meeting more people from Brazil.
And the hardest part?
The most difficult thing was learning to speak Portuguese, because the pronunciation is complicated.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
As a person I hope to learn new things, meet new people and share new experiences, as well as get to know myself better.
Professionally, to learn new knowledge, gain new tools and connections that will be useful to me in the future.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Of course you will, because it is an experience that you will not regret and that you will enjoy very much.
Alfonso Puente, from the Bachelor's Degree in Culinary Art, obtained the international scholarship to study at the Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
When you entered Uni, did you know there were international programs?
Yes, some colleagues had already told me about the existence of these programs.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
No, I didn't really see myself making an exchange.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
Living a new experience, learning another language and simply the challenge of leaving your comfort zone to live in another country.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Because of the subjects offered in my area of study.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
At first a bit of nostalgia, fear and worry, as it was a totally new experience for me, plus the fact that I am at a great distance from my country.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Excellent, the attention and kindness are very good, we felt at home and accompanied from the first moment.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
I think what I missed the most was the food, it is really a total change to Brazilian food. Also my family and friends.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
To be able to visit some tourist places in the country, learn the language and make new friends.
And the hardest part?
I think not being with your family and friends is one of the hardest parts.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
The truth is that I learned a lot from this experience. I matured, I was able to get out of my comfort zone, professionally I learned new things to apply in our environment and professional area.
Would you recommend these opportunities offered by UNI to your colleagues?
Yes, very much, the truth is that this experience is worthwhile, it prepares you for your personal and professional future.
María José Villanueva of Systemic Psychology obtained the international scholarship to study at the Universidad Mayor de Santiago de Chile.
When you entered Uni, did you know there were international programs?
Yes, actually that was one of the main reasons why I chose UNI, because it was my dream to be able to do some exchange.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
It was a little difficult, because I was constantly being told that being a psychology student made it more complicated to win a scholarship, but I tried very hard and although sometimes I applied for the scholarships and did not win, I was never discouraged and I kept trying until I succeeded.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, it is the first time I travel outside of Mexico and the first time I live alone, so it was a lot of new experiences, but I can say that it is one of the best things that has happened to me.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
To fill myself with new and different knowledge, to see how my profession was developing in another part of the world, but I also wanted to meet people, to be taught their culture and to be able to teach mine as well.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Because I had read that in South America the studies in psychology have an impressive progress and that there was very good preparation in this regard.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
It was very scary, because at the beginning I did not understand that it was not a vacation, that I was going to live in a country far away from mine and that I had to say goodbye temporarily to everything I knew, but at the same time I was very excited to know that I could say that the first time I left Mexico was to study, that I finished my career in another country and that the first time I lived alone and became independent was in another country.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
The teachers and school authorities were always very kind and attentive to all of us, they were even very permissive because, although they understood that we were going to study, they also understood that we were going to learn and they gave us a lot of freedom, but without ceasing to demand our responsibilities.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
What I miss most about Mexico is my family, the food, my friends and my routine, I left my comfort zone and very drastically, but without a doubt something that has made me sad these last few days is that I missed my graduation with my friends, I missed my ceremony and although I wouldn't change for the world to be here, I can't deny that I would love to return to spend it there and live that moment that I waited for 4 years.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
I think what excites me the most are the friendships I have formed, that have become family, and have been in good and bad times, because even when we are living a very good experience, not everything is rosy all the time and I am happy to know that I have them, I am excited to know that they are friends that I will keep and that our friendship will not only stay in Chile, that later I have a house in Germany, England, Italy, Spain and that they know that they also have a house in Mexico.
And the hardest part?
For the same reason that the most exciting thing has been all the bonds I have created, definitely the hardest thing at this time are the goodbyes, knowing that this moment is coming to an end and everyone must return to their country, but it is part of the experience.
But also the famous "homesickness" was complicated the first few months, feeling so far away from everything you know and knowing that there is still time to return to that, made some days not so good, but it is also part of.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
As a person I am happy to know that I come back as someone completely new, that I have matured and learned many new things.
Professionally, it is something that I am sure will open many doors for me and I will be able to put into practice everything I have learned here.
Would you recommend these UNI opportunities to your peers?
Yes, definitely, because they are unique opportunities that often only happen once in a lifetime, so you have to take advantage of the fact that UNI gives them to us.
Elena Cano of Industrial Administrative Engineering obtained an international scholarship to study at the Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil.
When you entered Uni, did you know there were international programs?
Yes, I was already aware because I knew people who had gone on exchange with UNI and we received a lot of support to make this possible.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
I did believe that I was going to study and live abroad for the most part, which is why I decided to study at the University of Celaya.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, I had never lived or studied outside of Mexico.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
The great opportunities you can get by having a semester studied abroad on your resume, as well as speaking an extra language.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
I decided to study in Brazil because it is one of the strongest countries in engineering and because PUCRS University is one of the best.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I was excited about all the new things I was going to experience studying here.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
I was received in the best possible way, they were always very attentive and were at my disposal in case I had a question or something they could help me with.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
What I miss most about Mexico is the food, I miss our seasoning. Here in Brazil the food is not spicy at all and it's always the same, so it becomes very repetitive and you get tired of it.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
The most exciting thing I have experienced is the university experience because it is very different from what I know in Mexico, the teachers are perfectly prepared and the educational system is very good.
And the hardest part?
The most difficult thing is to adapt to a new place with a new culture and a different language.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
I hope to continue using everything I learned this semester to keep growing and reach my goals.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
I highly recommend these experiences, but I also recommend preparing yourself beforehand, being very well informed about what is involved in going to live abroad for a semester.
Luz Sofía Mares from Architecture obtained an international scholarship to study at the Universidad Mayor in Chile.
When you entered Uni, did you know there were international programs?
Yes, I knew that the Uni had several programs to study abroad.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
It was something I wanted to do at least once, I had already set my mind to it.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Yes, I once received a scholarship to study English in Canada.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
I was always interested in learning about other cultures, ways of thinking and living, I wanted to know what is beyond what I usually know. How are the classes, the schools, the teachers and the student community.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
I had been told that I had a very good academic level and also with respect to the career of Architecture and I have verified it.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
At first I was afraid to be alone and start everything new because I didn't know anyone or anything, but then I became curious to experiment and live together more.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
I was given an induction day where I met the student community, the school and also other exchange students. That's how I started to get to know those who are now my friends.
What do you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
I missed the food, the warmth of the Mexican people, the cordiality and friendliness of the people and the patriotic events. From Uni I missed the attention they pay to their students, that any process is solved quickly and that I can express doubts without having to go several times. And of course, my teachers. Also the discipline and punctuality.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Living alone, proving to me that I am able to adapt very well to new experiences, to start from scratch in terms of my routine, my lifestyle, social relationships and school. It helped me grow in all aspects.
And the hardest part?
The most difficult thing would be the same as I said before, school has its degree of difficulty, but it was the least of my problems, really adapting and starting from scratch was the most difficult and exciting at the same time because I was exposed to continuous changes and nothing was established, that is to say; every situation that was presented to me I had never lived before, so I had to know how to face it at the moment.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
This stay helped me to think beyond, I changed my way of thinking in every aspect of my life, I started the change in what I would like to become and know that after this I can be prepared to take important steps such as working and finishing school, losing the fear to try whatever I propose.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Of course, it is a very enriching experience and it changes you as a person; therefore, as a student and a professional.
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.
