UA Peru Microcampus Celebrates First Graduating Class

University of Arizona microcampus partner the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences held a commencement ceremony for the Class of ’2021 – the first cohort to graduate with Arizona degrees.  The Class of 2021 cohort includes 66 students, 50 of whom were able to attend the ceremony on the UPC Villa Campus this May. They graduated with degrees in sustainable built environments, business administration, communication, industrial engineering, and PPEL (philosophy, politics, economics and law). 

SIE professor Ricardo Valerdi spoke to the audience about the University of Arizona mascots, the “Gatos Salvajes,” or Wildcats. 

“On behalf of the faculty, we are all proud of the students for their ability to adapt – not only to a bilingual format but also a bicultural one,” Valerdi said. “Many professors at the University of Arizona are not American but come from many other countries. You all learned to adjust to these changes, and it will serve you well in your professional lives.”

Mildred Curran, SIE senior academic advisor, worked closely with the undergraduate dual degree students who spent a Study Arizona semester on the UA main campus in Tucson. Curran played an integral role in helping the students acclimate to life in another country, hosting them for Thanksgiving and making them feel welcome.

“I had the pleasure of connecting with these students and with their families, so being able to celebrate their graduation together, along with the faculty and staff at UPC, was an amazing experience," Curran said. "I am so glad for these students and for this program, and I can’t wait to meet the new cohort that will be joining us here this coming fall.”

The dual degree programs offered in partnership with UPC are growing in popularity. The second cohort, the Class of 2022, includes 98 students. Cohort 3, set to graduate in 2023, currently has 123 students enrolled.