Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

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Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

Established:	1969
Type:	Private
Location:	São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Campus:	Urban, 90.55 ha
Website:	www.unisinos.br

Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos) is a university maintained by the Antônio Vieira Association, which is the legal name of the Jesuit Province in Southern Brazil, a part of the Society of Jesus, founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. One of the largest private universities in Brazil, it has more than 30,000 students (including undergraduate, graduate and continued education programs) in its São Leopoldo campus, in Rio Grande do Sul State. It is also part of a network of more than 200 Jesuit colleges and universities worldwide, with 2.2 million students.

As a Jesuit university, Unisinos embodies almost five centuries of tradition. Its institutional project is based on the principles of Ignatian pedagogy: research and education should be beneficial to humankind, in all its dimensions, and promote justice.

At its 37th year, Unisinos prides itself on its innovative capabilities. Boasting up-to-date methods and using new technologies, on the lookout for changes in the contemporary world, Unisinos is evolving without renouncing its traditional values. Unisinos has more than 900 professors–of whom 86% have either a Master’s or a Doctor’s degree, which is above the national level–and about 900 employees in its staff. More than 55,000 alumni have graduated from Unisinos, and their chosen careers reflect the strategic options taken by the institution: transdisciplinarity, continuing education (“education for life”) and regional development.

In 2004, Unisinos became the first university in Latin America and one of five in the whole planet to receive ISO 14001 certification, which is granted to institutions committed to the natural environment. In 2006 it was chosen by SAP AG, a German company, the largest in the business of management software, to siege the company’s first development unit in southern Brazil.