Mauro Padula, a student in the Bachelor’s program in International Studies at Universidad ORT Uruguay, shared his experiences as a fellow with the Botín Foundation and Poncho International Week.
The Botín Foundation seeks to contribute to the comprehensive development of society by exploring new ways to identify creative talent. The Botín Foundation’s Program for Strengthening the Civil Service in Latin America, in which Padula participated, took place from October 9 to November 29, 2018.
What did the Botín Foundation scholarship entail?
The fellowship consisted of an intensive eight-week program held in Spain and Brazil. The participants, who came from various Latin American countries, gained in-depth knowledge of best practices and tools to help strengthen our countries and thereby improve the region as a whole.
What activities did you do?
The activities were very diverse. For example, courses were held in Norte de Santander, at the University of Salamanca, in Madrid, and at the Getúlio Vargas Foundation in Brazil, as well as team-building activities for the group—comprising 32 participants from different backgrounds—such as trips to the Nansa Valley or the Camino de Santiago.
What makes a degree in International Studies valuable for this type of program?
I think the most valuable aspect of the Bachelor's Degree in International Studies is its multidisciplinary nature. Each course gave me a different and more comprehensive perspective on what we covered in the classes at Botín.
I learned a lot from the program, as it covered a wide range of topics in fields such as economics, law, politics, and international relations. What I took away most was a commitment to service, proactivity, and integrity. These three values are essential for every public servant.
Fundación Botín: check out the photos from the experience.
PONCHO is a project under the European Union’s Erasmus+ Program. Its main objective is to promote the internationalization of participating Latin American universities. Poncho International Week took place from May 6 to 10, 2019, in Paraguay.
What motivated you to participate in Poncho International Week?
To have the opportunity to learn about the realities and projects of our Latin American peers, exchange ideas, and collaborate on new joint projects.
What was daily life like, and what activities did people engage in?
It was a very busy week of activities. The first day marked the conclusion of the PONCHO project. We reviewed the results of everything accomplished over the past few years. On the second, third, and fourth days, we held meetings, discussion sessions, and conferences to share each university’s practices and develop joint projects.
Finally, an international university fair was held, at which each country set up a booth showcasing its key features and academic programs, and all participants took part in a multicultural presentation.
How was the interaction with the other participants?
The exchange among the 40 participants gave me insight into other realities, allowed me to learn about their backgrounds and academic programs, and also provided me with their perspectives on the internationalization of higher education.
Poncho International Week: Check out the photos from the event.