Rede Converge

The CONVERGE Network is a collective initiative to strengthen the internationalization of higher education and scientific research in Brazil. Bringing together institutions with diverse academic and geographic profiles, the Network promotes inclusive and balanced international cooperation aligned with global and regional priorities.

About Us

CONVERGE brings together six federal universities strategically located across different regions of Brazil:

• Federal University of Ceará (UFC) – Coordinating Institution

• Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF)

• University for the International Integration of the Afro-Brazilian Lusophone Community (UNILAB)

• Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA)

• Federal University of Roraima (UFRR)

• Federal University of Piauí (UFPI)

Building the Network

• Multiregional Scientific Diplomacy: CONVERGE connects institutions across three major Brazilian biomes: the Caatinga, the Legal Amazon, and the South Pampa, bringing historically underrepresented regions into global academic and scientific cooperation.

• Reducing Asymmetries: The Network brings together universities with different levels of internationalization experience and institutional capacity, fostering knowledge exchange, capacity building, and collaborative development among its partner institutions.

• Inclusion and Regional Integration: The 87 graduate programs participating in CONVERGE include 12 programs based in municipalities with a Municipal Human Development Index (IDHM) below 0.699. The Network has a strong presence in Brazil’s interior and border regions, expanding opportunities for international academic engagement beyond major urban centers.

• Proven Impact: Between 2017 and 2024, the institutions participating in the Network produced 37,636 research publications, including 11,549 publications resulting from international collaboration with more than 12,000 partner institutions.

Looking to the Future

CONVERGE is organized around seven strategic areas spanning education, research, innovation, and outreach, supported by a model of multilevel governance. Through this initiative, the Network contributes directly to 15 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and aligns its activities with 47 national priority policies.

By connecting institutions, regions, and research communities, CONVERGE seeks to advance scientific excellence, expand access to international opportunities, and foster innovation, social inclusion, and sustainable development in Brazil and beyond.

Funding

Capes-Global.Edu Program and Research Funding Agencies:

FUNCAP, FAPEPI, FAPERR, FAPERGS, FAPEMIG