O impacto da mobilidade acadêmica na formação profissional de estudantes de engenharia de alimentos da Universidade Federal do Ceará: um estudo de caso

Abstract

In a context marked by globalization and the increasing internationalization of higher education, international academic mobility has become an important strategy for university education. In addition to promoting knowledge exchange among institutions from different countries, this experience broadens students’ academic and cultural experiences and contributes to the development of multidisciplinary competencies, particularly in engineering fields, where the labor market increasingly demands highly qualified professionals. In this context, this study investigated how international academic mobility influences the professional development of students from the Department of Food Engineering at the Federal University of Ceará. For this purpose, a literature review followed by a case study involving semi-structured interviews with 10 participants, including undergraduate students and alumni of the program. The results demonstrated that the experience contributed to participants’ professional qualification through the development of behavioral competencies, such as autonomy, interpersonal relationships, adaptability, communication skills, time management, and financial management, as well as through the acquisition of technical knowledge aligned with emerging industry demands. Participants also recognized academic mobility as an important tool for professional training and a competitive advantage for career development and employability. The findings further indicated the need to strengthen the support and monitoring mechanisms provided by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Among the proposed improvements to mobility programs were greater collaboration between partner institutions, the establishment of an alumni system, and the provision of psychological support to participants. It is concluded that international academic mobility contributes to students’ professional development by enhancing their qualifications and expanding their academic and career prospects.