[PMI] Ibero-American Students with Many Dreams at PNU

Pusan National University (PNU) has a unique international student community—the Ibero-America(Latin-America) Alumni Association, composed of students from countries on the other side of the globe. The name “Ibero-America” might be unfamiliar, but it refers to the countries in the Americas that were once colonies of Spain and Portugal. 

Although it was only established in September 2024, the passion of this newly formed alumni association burns brighter than anyone else's. Currently, 40 Ibero-American students from more than ten Ibero-American countries are creating a new “family” together. On February 11st, “Channel PNU” sat down with Maria Almendra Sotelo (School of Global Studies, 22), the founder and prior president of the Ibero-America Alumni Association, to hear their passionate stories.

Q. Please briefly introduce yourself and explain your role in the alumni association.

A. Hello, I’m Maria Almendra Sotelo, a student in the School of Global Studies as well as the founder and president of PNU Ibero-America Student Association. My main duties include organizing events, managing the budget, and acting as a communication bridge between the students and the school. And also, as my graduation approaches, I'm also planning elections for the next term

Q. We heard the Ibero-America Alumni Association was recently established. What prompted its creation, and what goals does it aim to achieve?

A. This is the first official community at PNU for students who speak Spanish and Portuguese. I felt that the Ibero-American community should act as a representative of PNU and build a platform to strengthen our bonds. Although we come from many different countries in Latin America, we are still a minority. As more Ibero-American students are coming to PNU, it has become even more important to raise our voices as a community. Our ultimate goal is not just to support our members academically and socially, but also to introduce our cultures and traditions to those who may not be familiar with them.

Q. In an alumni association with students from diverse cultural backgrounds, what is the most important principle of collaboration or core value?

A. One of the biggest features of our alumni association is that it includes students from over 10 countries, such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Chile, etc. While we share a common linguistic background, our cultural values and perspectives are quite diverse. However, I believe that these differences help us to connect. Emphasizing open communication and empathy seems to be the key to fostering cooperation and mutual respect in a community with great diversity.

Q. What makes the Ibero-America Alumni Association stand out?

A. The diversity of our members from different countries is a major strength, but I believe the warmth and positive attitude of Latin Americans are  key characteristics of our network. Even though we’ve come from faraway countries to Korea, we naturally form strong community bonds wherever we are. Latin Americans have a remarkable ability to turn challenges into opportunities, and I think that’s a special trait we bring to this community. Anyone who joins our alumni association can make great friends and experience a culture that values solidarity and perseverance.

Q. Cultural differences may lead to challenges in collaboration or communication. Could you share how these challenges were overcome and what efforts were made to bridge cultural gaps?

A. Since Our association was a new community, the biggest challenge we faced at the beginning was building trust among members. At first, many people were skeptical about whether the organization could provide meaningful and practical support. However, as time passed, we organized various events and shared useful resources, which has gradually encouraged  student participation.

Q. What are some of the major activities currently being carried out by the Ibero-America alumni association? What are their goals, and what value do they provide to members?

A. As mentioned earlier, I believe that building trust is essential for running an alumni association. Therefore, the initial activities focused on helping members get to know each other and the vice president and me to understand the needs of our members. Some of our ongoing major activities include study sessions to support academic achievement, social gatherings to strengthen ties between members, and Christmas parties to share our traditions and cultures. Among them, the study sessions were the most successful activity last semester. Since academics are a crucial part of university life, these sessions have played an important role in supporting our members.

Q. Lastly, since the alumni association is just beginning, I’d like to know what your future plans and vision are.

A. In the future, we hope to create continuous connections so that our alumni can build beneficial networks both personally and professionally. At the same time, we aim to promote inclusivity and cultural exchange. As our alumni association grows, we hope to connect with Korean students and other international students who are interested in Latin American culture, languages, food, music, and more. Lastly, I want to let all Ibero-American students at PNU know that our community welcomes you, and we will support you in every way possible. You are always welcome!

Reporter Thadar-Soe

Translated by Thadar-Soe