EUNICE Delegation Visits Universidade Federal de Viçosa During Its Centennial Celebrations
From 26 to 28 August 2026, a delegation representing the EUNICE European University Alliance visited the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) in Brazil, bringing together colleagues from several EUNICE partner universities for three days of academic, institutional and cultural exchange.
The visit took place at a particularly significant moment for UFV, as the university celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The programme combined meetings with university leadership, faculty and researchers with visits to academic centres, laboratories and innovation facilities, providing opportunities to discover UFV’s academic strengths and explore areas for future cooperation.
The delegation brought together colleagues from six of the alliance’s member universities, together with the EUNICE AISBL office:
- Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France, France – Prof. Abdelhakim Artiba, Prof. Sébastien Grondel and Prof. Kathia Oliveira
- Poznan University of Technology, Poland – Prof. Teofil Jesionowski and Prof. Mariusz Głąbowski
- Polytechnic Unviersity of de Viseu, Portugal – Prof. José Costa and Prof. Lia Araújo
- University of Cantabria, Spain – Prof. Gabriel Moncalian
- University of Catania, Italy – Prof. Cristina Satriano
- University of Mons, Belgium – Claire Revercez
- EUNICE AISBL – Dr Magdalena Sikorska
Building bridges through academic exchange
The first days of the visit were dedicated to a series of technical and academic meetings across UFV. Representatives of EUNICE universities met with colleagues from different academic fields, including biological sciences and health, humanities and languages, chemical engineering, computer science and electrical engineering.
The programme also offered space for more focused exchanges between individual EUNICE institutions and the UFV.
Among the topics explored were graduate education, research and international cooperation, as well as opportunities for collaboration in specific academic and research areas.
A shared interest in international cooperation
On 27 August, the delegation took part in an institutional meeting with UFV representatives. The meeting included a presentation of EUNICE and discussions around graduate education, research and international cooperation – areas at the heart of the Alliance’s efforts to develop connections beyond its European network.
“International cooperation starts with bringing people together. Our visit to UFV showed how quickly shared interests can turn into concrete ideas for future collaboration,” said Dr Magdalena Sikorska, Secretary General of EUNICE AISBL
The day continued with an official reception hosted by the UFV Rectorate, bringing together the visiting delegation and representatives of the Brazilian university. Parallel meetings throughout the afternoon further connected EUNICE colleagues with UFV programmes and departments, including chemical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, agroecology and agricultural engineering. Discussions also touched upon the upcoming Academic Integration Symposium, where EUNICE is expected to be represented at UFV in October.
Discovering UFV’s innovation and academic ecosystem
The delegation’s programme also extended beyond traditional academic meetings. On 28 August, participants visited TecnoParq, UFV’s Technology Park, to learn more about the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and its links with companies and research initiatives.
A technical visit to UFV’s teaching, research and extension units offered another perspective on the university’s work, with a particular focus on its coffee and cocoa crops.
These visits highlighted the breadth of UFV’s activities and provided the EUNICE delegation with an opportunity to experience first-hand the links between education, research, innovation and engagement with the wider community.
Celebrating 100 years of UFV
The visit concluded with the delegation joining UFV’s official centennial celebrations. On the evening of 28 August, EUNICE representatives attended the official ceremony marking the university’s 100th anniversary, followed by the UFV Centennial Ball.
Being present for this milestone offered a particularly memorable conclusion to a week centred on connection and exchange. The visit brought together colleagues from across the EUNICE network while opening new perspectives for dialogue with one of Brazil’s longstanding universities.
Beyond the meetings themselves, the visit to Viçosa demonstrated the value of creating opportunities for universities and people to meet in person, discover each other’s expertise and identify common interests. For EUNICE, such exchanges contribute to building a wider international network in which cooperation in education, research and innovation can continue to grow.
