Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil)

The Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) is one of the largest federal universities in Brazil. UFRGS originated as the Escola de Farmácia e Química in 1895, which united with several other higher education institutions as the Universidade de Porto Alegre in 1934. This became the Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul in 1947, which became a federal university in 1950. UFRGS now has an enrollment of over 50,000. UFRGS’s website>>

Extension at UFRGS

Extension programs at UFRGS are under the direction of the Pro-rector for Extension. Extension programs fall into a variety of thematic areas, including Communications, Culture, Human Rights, Education, Environment, Health, and Technology. The Pro-Rectorate for Extension at UFRGS offers Fellowships for full-time undergraduates who are willing to commit at least 20 hours per week to a specific Extension project. These extension projects exist across the various faculties of the university. Learn more>>

The Department of Education and Social Development

The Department of Education and Social Development (DESD) was established in the early 1990s. DESD has a strong Extension approach, seeking dialogue with rural communities and urban movements, public bodies and other sectors involved in improving the quality of life of the population. To this end, DESD undertakes joint educational activities, cultural, scientific and recreational activities that involve the academic community with members of the community. Learn more>>

Anti-Racism Education Program

This Extension program aims to develop an anti-racism curriculum in schools in Porto Alegre. Specific goals of the program include developing teaching practices to combat racism and discrimination in the schools, strengthening the identity and self-esteem of the black community, training and certifying teachers to implement the National Curriculum Guidelines for the Education of Racial-Ethnic Relations and the Teaching of Afro-Brazilian History, creating forums and spaces in the academic community to facilitate teaching projects and research lines that focus on ethnic and racial themes and producing and publishing teaching materials targeted to different school environments.

The Knowledge Connection Program

The Knowledge Connection Program began at UFRGS in September 2005. The Knowledge Connection aims to: provide particular assistance for students from underprivileged backgrounds and tracking the academic progress of these students, and the enhancement of their knowledge, contributing to better links between the university and the poor communities from which these students come. Learn more>>