Enriching Diversity: One in Every Ten UC Chile Students Is an International Student or a Member of an Indigenous Community

With aromas and flavors from Pakistan, UC Chile Computer Science Engineering student Choudhry Mustafein Cheema, celebrated diversity in the Encounter of Cultures, where his food stand won first place. Alongside him, Verónica Chaverini, a UC Chile Education graduate now in charge of the Ministry of Education’s international student program, was one among the more than 50 people gathered at the San Joaquín Campus to participate in the public report of the UC Chile Interculturality Program, and initiative created in 2021 that has built numerous institutional bridges. 

Among the attendees was UC Chile President Juan Carlos de la Llera, who emphasized that this is an increasingly deeply rooted and meaningful event for the university community: “In addition to being a celebration, this day is an invitation to recognize and value the diversity of cultures, languages, knowledge and experiences.” He added that Chile is now a diverse and pluralistic country, with over two million people identifying as members of an Indigenous community, and over 1.6 million belonging to migrant communities, a reality that is also reflected in our classrooms: one in every ten UC Chile students—totaling 2,700—is an international student or a member of an indigenous community. “This reflects a cultural richness that both challenges and also enrich us,” he mentioned. 

During a month dedicated to interculturality, with the motto “Crossing borders, creating futures,” multiple activities were organized by the UC Chile Interculturality Program with the Office of Global Learning of the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs. In collaboration with the Center for Intercultural and Indigenous Studies (CIIR, as per its initials in Spanish), the MIGRA Millenium Nucleus, and the Center for Social Conflict and Cohesion Studies (COES, as per its initials in Spanish), several activities took place, such as “Intercultural Health: an Indigenous People’s Perspective” with the UC Chile Faculty of Medicine; the textile exposition “Embroiderers from Solor,” in alliance with Crafts and Cultural Outreach; and the series “Dialogues with SERMIG: Migration and Society in Chile,” carried out with the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (National Service for Migration). 

For Roberto González, director of the UC Chile Interculturality Program, one of the main challenges is broadening the perspective on migration, which tends to focus on conflicts and national borders. In his view, the University can contribute to the debate by incorporating new perspectives, evidence and knowledge. “The program seeks to gradually transform the university culture from within,” he explains, highlighting the growing interest from different academic units in joining this task and strengthening ties with other universities and communities of the country, especially at the intersection of science and public policy. 

In its four years of operation, the UC Chile Interculturality Program has promoted activities ranging from academic reflection to gastronomy, always with an emphasis on community engagement. To date, it has established alliances with four ministries—Social Development, Education, Health, and Migration—, held 16 meetings with foreign universities, and worked with more than 300 educational institutions across the country. 

The program was created in 2021 as an interdisciplinary initiative that brought together 84 members of the UC Chile community, including faculty from 18 departments, students belonging to indigenous communities, and international students. Since then, González notes, it has become a space for connecting diverse perspectives and strengthening intercultural dialogue within the University. 

Intercultural ambassadors 

For Choudhry Mustafein Cheema, the Encounter of Cultures —one of UC Chile’s main initiatives during Interculturality Month—was an opportunity to break down stigmas and share traditions. With his Pakistani food stand, which won first prize, he participated in the gastronomic fair held on October 14 at the San Joaquín Campus, where the exchange of flavors became a symbol of cultural encounters. 

The enthusiasm for these events, with representatives from Peru, Mexico and other countries, culminated with the ceremony held in the History and Geography Auditorium on October 21, where the public account of the UC Chile Intercultural Program was presented. On this occasion, UC Chile President Juan Carlos de la Llera recognized Choudhry Mustafein Cheema and Colombian students Melissa Álvarez, from the Nursing program, and Felipe Jarma, from Political Science, as UC Chile Intercultural Ambassadors. 

During the ceremony, UC Chile President Juan Carlos de la Llera noted that interculturality is a central part of the UC Chile Dream, a vision of a university open to the world and willing to learn from other cultures. He explained that this spirit is reflected in the presence of hundreds of students from diverse backgrounds who choose to study at the institution each year, highlighting that “other cultures enrich our knowledge, our research and our disciplines.” 

Among the highlights of the Interculturality Month were Verónica Chaverini’s presentation on policy for international students and children, the upcoming inauguration of the Longkontukun Dungun Neuroscience and Education Laboratory at the Villarica Campus, and the Intercultural Mass, held on October 23 at 1:30 p.m., at the San Joaquín Campus. 

At the closing ceremony, UC Chile President Juan Carlos de la Llera reaffirmed that faith is a fundamental driving force for UC Chile, particularly in challenging times. He marked that the University aims to have an impact on the country through knowledge, research and dialogue with society, and highlighted that “UC Chile is a University that listens, welcomes, transforms and allows itself to be transformed by diversity.”