CBN Rio highlights one year of IMPA graduation in Rio de Janeiro

13/5/2025

In the report “One year after opening in Rio, IMPA Tech could be expanded to other states”, which aired last Tuesday (6) on Rádio CBN, reporter Mariene Lino took stock of the more than 12 months of operation of IMPA’s bachelor’s degree in Mathematics of Technology and Innovation.

“In just over a year, the undergraduate program of the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics, IMPA Tech, has already received more than 150 students from the five Brazilian regions. According to the institution, the students come from 24 states, the majority from the Southeast and Northeast,” says an excerpt from the report.

In an interview with Rádio, the institute’s director-general, Marcelo Viana, commented on the possibility of expanding the degree to other states. “We have a very ambitious vision of the role that IMPA Tech can play in higher education in Brazil. It proposes a new and daring way of thinking about the training of professionals in the broad area of mathematics, based on the real demands of the job market in the 21st century. I believe that this proposal will influence other institutions and, who knows, we may be able to replicate what is currently being built in Rio de Janeiro in other regions of the country.”

The selection process, the benefits granted to students and the study routine were also other points covered in the article. “The degree begins with a basic cycle of one and a half years. Then students choose their emphasis: Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science or Physics. They have theoretical classes in the morning and practical classes in the afternoon. The institution also provides student accommodation,” says the report.

In an interview, Nara Bobko, IMPA Tech’s academic manager, stressed the importance of student aid to ensure greater diversity among students. “We have people coming from very inland cities, very far away, which justifies the whole system that IMPA provides, accommodation and food aid. All this helps them to be able to come here, because it’s not just a question of having a grant here, they need to be able to be here,” he said.

The report also heard from undergraduate students who spoke about their experiences. Bianca Moreno, who entered IMPA Tech in 2024, recalled the moment she was approved. “When I found out I’d passed, it was incredible. I was very anxious about moving so far away. Even though I didn’t see my family that often, only on vacation, it was really worth it,” said the student, who left Fortaleza (CE) to study in Rio.

Student Lisandra Menezes, from Porto Alegre (RS), was approved for four other universities in the country, but opted for IMPA Tech. In Rio, she was enchanted by the practical classes. “I think it’s really cool when the teacher gives the students content and autonomy.”

Vinícius Prestes from Rio preferred to talk about the location of the degree at Porto Maravalley – a technology hub developed by Rio’s city government. Alongside technology companies and startups, students are encouraged to think of new solutions to society’s problems. “We’re introduced to a range of subjects, both academic and applied; this is, after all, a hub with several companies. And the ideal network for anyone who wants to work in technology.”

Check out the full report on the CBN Radio website.

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