Active Internationalization: Case UniFacens

The presentation aims to show ways found for a Brazilian institution to diminish the asymmetric results face by Latin American institutions which send more students abroad than receive overseas students.

The discussion encompasses UniFacens’ internationalization actions due to the integration with its 8 innovation centers (LIS – Laboratório de Inovação Social; Smart Campus; FACE - Núcleo de Empreendedorismo; LINCE – Laboratório de Mecânica; LIGA – Laboratório de Inovação de Games e APPS; LRI – Laboratório de Inteligência Artificial e Robôtica; LMA – Indústria 4.0 e FAB LAB). Through these laboratories we are fully connected with our 12 international higher education partners in 7 countries (Portugal, the USA, Spain, England, Israel, Germany and Italy). In doing so, there are several actions, we develop with them having in mind the return to our campus. Some of these activities:
1st) Research Projects;
2nd) OIL (Online International learning) with the involvement of our incoming and outcoming students;
3rd) Visiting Professors (workshops and lectures);
4th) Short Courses
5th) Members of international networks – receiving students via Field trips programs;
6th) International events in our campus, egs.: International Games Marathon and Science day with the participation of our international higher educations' students and faculties.

The above-mentioned actions help us not only to receive more overseas students and faculties, but also to give opportunities for our lower level students, having some intercultural experiences and international knowledge at home. These action also results from some recent awards and recognitions:
- IDTechEx Award 2018 (Best IoT Technology Development);
- University of The Year Award 2018 - Babson in the USA (UniFacens Entrepreneurship Center - FACE);
- Smart Cities UK 2017 (Smart Campus UniFacens);
- Association of Automotive Engineering - Social Responsibility Award (Social Innovation Laboratory - LIS) in 2017.

Overall, we do not pursue in having heaps of cooperation agreements, but the few we have, we try many possibilities to make them active and effective.