Internationalization
PPGEC is tightly aligned with the Institutional Development Plan of the Federal University of Viçosa (PDI/UFV), which targets graduate internationalization as a core strategic objective. Institutional goals include placing UFV among the top 1,000 universities in international rankings (THE and QS), expanding English-taught course offerings, promoting dual degree agreements, and strengthening collaborative joint programs. In synergy with these milestones, PPGEC incorporated internationalization into its Strategic Plan (2025–2029) as a major milestone to increase its international prominence and scientific relevance.
Faculty Profile and International Involvement
The program features a highly qualified faculty of 23 professors, 7 of whom have completed partial or full academic education abroad (approximately 30%). A key asset is Professor Ann Honor Mounteer, an international faculty member with solid academic background from Canadian and North American universities. Multiple professors sustain continuous ties with global institutions, facilitating partnerships in co-advising, joint publications, and dissertation committees with international researchers.
International Students and Global Alumni Tracking
PPGEC has steadily increased its global appeal for international students. Through 2024, four international students from Colombia, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Venezuela were regularly enrolled. Within the same timeframe, three international students successfully graduated. Among Brazilian alumni, several are currently working abroad as researchers or pursuing PhD programs at prestigious universities in Germany, Portugal, and Austria. These career paths reflect the program’s global reach and training quality.
Academic Mobility and Sandwich PhD Program
PPGEC actively participates in the Brazilian Sandwich PhD Abroad Program (PDSE), sending several students to leading global institutions of excellence. Key research areas highlight sustainability, biofuels, structural safety, and geotechnics.
Foreign Language Course Offerings
The program has significantly expanded its English course catalogue, currently offering four regular courses, with two additional ones in development. Covered fields include construction materials, ecotoxicology, sanitation, eco-efficient construction, scientific writing, and technological entrepreneurship. Special topics courses have also been delivered by visiting experts, such as a probabilistic modeling seminar taught by Prof. Xavier Romão. Furthermore, core mandatory courses CIV 797 and CIV 799 are now taught in English, promoting full integration for non-Portuguese speaking students.
Theses and Dissertations in Foreign Languages
Scientific output written in foreign languages has grown significantly. During the 2021–2024 quadrennial evaluation period, over 10% of final dissertations and theses were written in English, spanning diverse topics within sustainable materials, environmental sanitation, and geotechnics. This choice advances the program’s international outreach and enhances students’ competencies in global science communication.
Structural Implementations and Bilingual Communication
PPGEC deployed key structural measures to support its internationalization framework. A Permanent Committee for Internationalization was established to propose and supervise targeted actions. Additional milestones include a fully operational bilingual website (Portuguese-English), official institutional channels on social media (Instagram and LinkedIn), and trilingual admission calls.
Agreements, Institutional Programs, and Global Networks
The program takes part in institutional internationalization programs, including Move La America, GCUB, and the UNITA alliance. It also provides remote and on-site courses taught in English, actively publicized via UFV’s International Relations Office (DRI). Ongoing collaboration with the DRI and the Office of Research and Graduate Studies streamlines new international agreements and anchors existing operations.
Collaborations with International Researchers
PPGEC maintains strategic alliances with several international researchers, working on co-advising, thesis defense committees, scientific papers, and research projects. Core collaborators include specialists from Germany, France, Spain, and Portugal, focusing on construction materials, geotechnics, sanitation, seismic modeling, and sustainability. These alliances also boost international funding and anchor the program within global scientific networks.
Organization of and Attendance at International Events
Faculty members actively organize and participate in international scientific congresses, such as Slope Stability 2024, hosted in Minas Gerais with global institutional backing. PPGEC also sponsors technical and academic visits from international professors, including Prof. Xavier Romão, who delivered courses and lectures at UFV, reinforcing student training and the program’s global scientific dissemination.
Evaluation and Future Perspectives
The indicators of these internationalization policies are reflected in the growing numbers of international students and graduates, increased English scientific production, solid cross-border partnerships, and PPGEC’s active presence in global cooperation networks. The program aims to consolidate this framework by expanding bilingual channels, enriching its course list, promoting incentive policies, and increasing outbound student mobility. Supported by upgraded laboratory infrastructures and highly qualified scientific output, PPGEC stands ready to sustain and advance its global academic footprint.