Originally published in Portuguese by Elaine Alves, for the Jornal da USP, on May 4, 2023.

Photos: Marcos Santos/USP Images

In an effort to foster international mobility among students, USP’s cultural and academic events are paving the way. The International Intercultural Center, situated on the capital campus, boasts spaces from five countries, providing courses, events, exchange opportunities, and cultural activities for the entire USP community. Moreover, plans are underway to inaugurate additional corners, expanding the initiative’s reach even further.

Within USP, there are international environments available to the entire university community, and some of these spaces have been particularly successful in promoting academic exchange: the corners of the International Intercultural Center (CII) at USP’s Cidade Universitária campus in São Paulo. Established since late 2021, they encompass a slice of various countries’ cultures through courses, lectures, and events, while also fostering reading, cultural activities, and facilitating the dissemination of opportunities offered by foreign universities and USP’s partner institutions.

Currently, there are five corners at the university: Korea Corner, Israel Corner, France Corner, India Corner, and Ireland Corner – and more are in the planning stages: Québec/Canada, United States and Germany. There are plans for a total of 12 to 15 intercultural spaces, as explained by Jonathas Carvalho, assistant of the vice-president’s office, Professor Marly Babinski.

The corners offer visitors an opportunity to explore academic and cultural possibilities beyond Brazil. “For the USP community, it’s a great chance to get to know a bit about each country and its culture, and to interact with people from those countries. It’s also possible to learn more about studying and building an academic career abroad,” he states.

Aside from serving administrative purposes, the term “corner” is also translated as “little corner” and functions as a welcoming space for visitors, acting as focal points for international activities aimed at students, faculty, and exchange students at USP. The cultural activities promoted by these spaces are carried out in collaboration with consulates, embassies, companies, and higher education institutions from each country.

This is a pioneering initiative among Brazilian universities, and we aim to encourage new partnerships nationwide.

Undoubtedly, the USP International Intercultural Center (CII) is a pioneering and innovative initiative among Brazilian universities. By offering spaces dedicated to different cultures through the corners, promoting internationalization, cultural and academic exchanges, as well as facilitating interaction between USP students and international students through the USP iFriends Program, USP is demonstrating a strong commitment to cultural diversity and global collaboration.

By establishing a welcoming and conducive environment for sharing international experiences and promoting exchange and partnership opportunities, USP not only enriches the educational experience of its own students but also paves the way to encourage other Brazilian universities to follow suit.

The dissemination of this intercultural approach among universities in Brazil can strengthen the country’s international academic relations, allowing for greater collaboration between higher education institutions around the world. Additionally, by encouraging internationalization, Brazilian universities can attract more foreign students and researchers, contributing to the diversification of the academic environment and stimulating scientific and cultural advancements on a global level.

With USP leading this pioneering effort, it is expected that other universities in the country will be inspired to follow this path, thus strengthening cultural and academic exchanges between Brazil and other nations. The result could be a broader network of international cooperation and partnerships, benefiting not only the Brazilian university community but also the global community of learning and research.

Learn more about each of them below.

Korea Corner

As a pioneer among USP’s corners, Korea Corner was inaugurated on November 18, 2021, along with the space of the International Intercultural Center.

The space was created with the aim of bringing Korean traditions and history to Brazil, going beyond cultural elements that are already more popular among Brazilians, such as the K-Pop music genre.

K-Pop also finds its place in the display, featuring a collection of albums from various South Korean artists. However, the project goes further in promoting Korean culture through events and courses about South Korea, literature exhibitions, showcasing historical attire from the country, providing books for learning and studying the Korean language, workshops on Korean culture featuring films and series, as well as Taekwondo classes.

Among its diverse attractions, Korea Corner offers a virtual reality experience of famous locations in South Korea. For more information, visitors can approach the Academic Reception Assistance (ARA) located within the CII. The initiative also fosters partnership and exchange opportunities, acting as a calling card for USP students to establish connections between the entire university community and Korea.

Korea Corner is a partnership between USP and the Korean Cultural Center in Brazil, with financial support from the Korea Foundation.

Israel Corner

Resulting from the partnership between USP and the Consulate General of Israel in São Paulo, the corner features a permanent collection about the nation, with the aim of conveying the traditions and customs of Israel, as well as preserving the memory of the Jewish people.

Israel Corner was the second international space conceived within the International Intercultural Center, inaugurated on December 15, 2021. The opening ceremony saw the presence of diplomatic authorities from various embassies.

The initiative hosts exhibitions, workshops, and proposals to promote the Hebrew language, among other activities that encourage cultural and academic exchange between institutions from both countries. The space also displays traditional items from Israeli culture, such as a chalice used in the Jewish religious ceremony Havdalah and the musical instrument darbuka.

“This is a space that reminds us of the history of Israel and the Jewish people, but also transports us to the cosmopolitan and contemporary environment of the research centers in modern Tel Aviv. We are a people who believe in the power of education and science and are open to welcoming the talented students from USP to share ideas amidst such distant cultures,” stated Aviel Avraham, the vice-consul of Israel, during an interview with the Jornal da USP at the time of the corner’s inauguration.

France Corner

Inaugurated on June 22, 2022, France Corner commenced its activities within the International Intercultural Center with the objective of promoting French culture and offering exchange and extension opportunities in France.

A benchmark in disseminating the language and culture of the country, the corner is a result of USP’s French roots, as the university was founded almost 90 years ago with the assistance of illustrious researchers from France, such as Claude Lévi-Strauss, Fernand Braudel, Jean Maugüé, and Pierre Monbeig.

France is the primary destination for USP students participating in exchange programs, making it essential to strengthen ties between the two countries. Through collaboration between USP and the Consulate General of France in São Paulo, the space invites its visitors to engage in an intercultural dialogue, providing access to French works, language learning resources, collections of French films and music, among other offerings.

India Corner

On August 18, 2022, during the week of Indian Independence, the India Corner was inaugurated. Celebrating Indian culture, its opening ceremony included the lighting of the Ceremonial Lamp, a part of the traditional ritual symbolizing purification and wisdom.

The India Corner was introduced with the purpose of being a dedicated space for promoting Indian culture. As such, it showcases various traditional items for visitors to explore, along with workshops and classes on yoga, tabla (a musical instrument), Hindi language, and Indian cuisine.

The sociopolitical history of India also finds its place in the exhibition. The public can discover a section in the space dedicated to photographs of prominent figures in Indian politics and activism, such as Sarojini Naidu, an Indian political activist, feminist, and poet.

In collaboration with the Consulate General of India in São Paulo, the corner provides information about exchange and research opportunities, becoming a bridge for increased cooperation between USP and the South Asian country.

Ireland Corner

Inaugurated on August 31, 2022, the Ireland Corner holds a prominent spot within the USP International Intercultural Center, dedicated to promoting Irish culture and providing information about exchange and research opportunities in Ireland.

The space was introduced with the aim of fostering stronger cooperation between Brazil and Ireland, as it is a common destination for those seeking to live abroad, with around 50,000 Brazilians residing in the country. Through the corner, visitors can delve deeper into Ireland’s culture through celebrations, conversations, artistic productions, and cultural events.

A partnership between USP and the Consulate of Ireland in Brazil, the Ireland Corner offers a wide array of books about the European country, including a dictionary of the Irish language for beginners. Visitors can explore a collection of records from Irish artists, such as the band U2, as well as paintings and a gallery of traditional cultural items. The corner also hosts discussion groups and lectures to practice the official language of Ireland and to provide insights for prospective exchange students at institutions in the country.

The USP International Intercultural Center (CII) is a space dedicated to showcasing the cultures of other countries and serving as a hub for national, international, and educational academic affinities. It is affiliated with the USP International Office and aims to promote internationalization, cultural diffusion, exchange of experiences, and the dissemination of exchange and partnership opportunities. The entity is led by Sergio Proença, a professor at the School of Engineering of São Carlos (EESC), as president, and Marly Babinski, a professor at the Institute of Geosciences (IGc) of USP, as vice-president.

In addition to hosting the corners, the center serves as a meeting point for the USP iFriends Program, facilitating interactions between USP students and international students. It also organizes workshops to guide students participating in exchange programs and holds meetings to share experiences acquired in foreign universities and at USP.

The USP International Intercultural Center is located at the International Diffusion Center (CDI), on Prof. Lúcio Martins Rodrigues Avenue, 310, Block B, 1st floor, at Cidade Universitária, in São Paulo. Admission is free and open to all.