Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM)

The Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) is a public higher education institution recognised for its excellence in teaching, research, and outreach initiatives. Founded in 1960, it was the first federal university established in the Brazilian countryside, playing a fundamental role in both regional and national development. 

In the field of International Relations, UFSM hosts an undergraduate degree as well as the Postgraduate Programme in International Relations (PPGRI/UFSM), which offers an academic Master’s degree. This programme strengthens scientific output and trains qualified professionals to operate within the global arena.  

The PPGRI/UFSM is the leading proponent of this project, as it concentrates the largest number of permanent faculty members dedicated to research on Security and Defence in the African continent. These researchers possess extensive experience in fieldwork and human resources training within this theme, being linked to a research line focused exclusively on Security, Strategy, and Defence, which aligns perfectly with the scope of the project.  

Furthermore, the PPGRI maintains active cooperation with the Research Group on State Capacity, Security, and Defence (GECAP/UFSM) and the African Studies Research Group (GEÁFRICA/UNIPAMPA), reinforcing academic and scientific networks in the field. Additionally, the programme serves as the primary bridge connecting the participating national and foreign institutions, counting on the collaboration of international professors affiliated with the PPG itself.  

Finally, the PPGRI also contributes to the decentralisation of the Brazilian National Postgraduate System, bringing academic production and professional qualification to inland regions of the country, which have been historically marked by social vulnerabilities and a relative distance from state institutions.