Students from Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (Chile) Experience McMaster’s Academic and Cultural Life Through Three-Day Immersion

Students from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), Chile recently took part in a three-day academic experience at McMaster University, immersing themselves in the university’s rich academic environment, research culture, and community life. The visit offered a blend of scholarly engagement, cultural exploration, and meaningful connections with faculty and students.

“Our partnerships across Latin America are deeply valued and continue to enrich McMaster’s academic community,” said Bonny Ibhawoh, Vice-Provost, International.  “Visits like this strengthen the ties between our institutions and open doors for new research collaborations, student exchanges, and lifelong connections.”

This initiative was led by Dr. Rodrigo Narro Pérez Faculty Coordinator for the Latin American Network at McMaster University (LANMU) and Assistant Professor in the School of Earth, Environment and Society and in collaboration with the Office of International Affairs (OIA). The initiative reflects McMaster’s commitment to strengthening academic connections between McMaster and universities across Latin America. “McMaster has excellent faculty, staff, and students with ties to Latin American and through LANMU we want to continue these ties as well as create new ones. The visit from students from PUCV is a great example of the type of research and teaching activities that McMaster and LANMU can offer to the region.”, said Narro Pérez.

Throughout the program, participants attended presentations and discussions led by McMaster faculty and researchers, learning about the university’s strengths across disciplines— engineering, health sciences, sciences, business, humanities and social sciences. They explored opportunities for international collaboration and research, with sessions that highlighted pathways for Chilean and Latin American scholars to pursue graduate studies and joint projects at McMaster.

Students also had the opportunity to engage in open conversations with faculty and current students from Latin America during an “Ask Me Anything” session and a Latin American student panel where current students shared the innovative research they are doing at McMaster. These exchanges fostered dialogue on academic life, cross-cultural perspectives, and the student experience in Canada.

Beyond the classroom, students experienced McMaster’s vibrant campus atmosphere firsthand. They toured the university and surrounding Westdale neighborhood, visited the McMaster Museum of Art and some of McMaster’s world-class research facilities, including the McMaster Nuclear Reactor and the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy.

The three-day visit concluded with a closing celebration hosted by the Latin American Network at McMaster University (LANMU), reflecting the spirit of collaboration and shared learning that defined the entire experience.

About the Latin American Network at McMaster University (LANMU)

LANMU is a multidisciplinary network dedicated to fostering academic collaboration, research partnerships, and cultural exchange between McMaster University and institutions across Latin America. LANMU also provides support to Latin American/Latinx students through the Latin American/Latinx Student Mentorship Program, a unique program not seen in any other Canadian university. The network works closely with OIA to support visiting scholars, students, and joint initiatives.  LANMU also supports various student organizations on campus including OLAS McMaster (Organization of Latin American Students), BRASA McMaster (Brazilian Student Association) and LABS (Latinx Student Association of Bachelor of Health Sciences Students) – these student groups create space for the McMaster community to learn about Latin America through social, cultural and linguistic programming as well as advocate for broader support of the McMaster Latin American community.