IMPA Tech reaches nationwide with students from all states
Diversity of cultures marks the daily life of undergraduates in Rio de Janeiro
An undergraduate program that brings together different accents, cultures and histories. In just three selection processes, IMPA Tech has already welcomed students from all 26 Brazilian states and the Federal District. From cities in all regions of the country, these young people have found a new opportunity for academic, personal and professional growth in Rio de Janeiro.
Despite the uncertainties and insecurities that accompany a move, around 280 students have turned their dreams into reality. Today, they share a study routine at the IMPA Tech campus, located in Porto Maravalley, in Rio de Janeiro’s port area.
From the north to the south of the country, the students packed their notebooks, books and expectations to start this new cycle. The diversity of the country was seen in practice: the coordinator of the Psychopedagogical Support Center (NAP), Cristina Ramos, invited the students to identify their states of origin on a magnetic map.
Beatriz Nunes, left Rio Branco (AC) for the project’s inaugural class in 2024. “I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to study in Rio de Janeiro. It’s been a process of constant evolution. The institution offers much more than I expected, and I feel privileged to be with classmates and teachers who have vast experience in different areas,” she said.
The selection process for the bachelor’s degree in Mathematics of Technology and Innovation takes into account the candidate’s track record in scientific olympiads, such as medals won in the OBMEP (Brazilian Public School Mathematics Olympiad) or the score in the ENEM (National High School Exam) mathematics test. The process is annual and also includes group activities and individual interviews.
For Beatriz, the Olympiad was a turning point. “Participating in OBMEP was a unique experience that enabled me not only to improve my performance in my studies, but also to enter IMPA Tech. I’m grateful for this opportunity and I’m sure I’ll enter the job market with excellent training,” she said.
Nara Bobko, IMPA Tech’s academic manager, highlighted the profile of the newcomers. “The students are different, very promising, with interesting engagement. Here, they have integration between all regions of the country and can dedicate themselves fully to their studies. We offer them assistance to enable them to stay in the city, such as housing and food, and we pay for their travel from their cities of origin to Rio,” he said.
For Lisandra Menezes, who passed the 2025 selection process, studying at IMPA Tech is the realization of a dream. Originally from Porto Alegre (RS), she found in the course the academic environment she had always been looking for. “People here don’t like to sit still and always want to be learning something. That’s incredible. This was exactly the environment I was looking for when I was thinking about a degree,” she said.
The students who joined in 2025 arrived in Rio de Janeiro in March this year. Among them is Esley Pires, from Conceição (PB), who highlights the advantages of the program. “I left Paraíba and came to Rio de Janeiro because of the opportunities IMPA Tech offers. We’re next to technology companies, we have IMPA professors and the curriculum is innovative,” he said.
IMPA Tech is located in Porto Maravalley, a technological hub in Rio de Janeiro that currently brings together 107 companies, including startups, corporations, investors and government initiatives. In this environment, students are trained in a dynamic and innovative context. The space seeks to integrate academia, government and the private sector in order to consolidate the city as a global reference in technology.
