The educational model at Centro Universitário Facens positions students as protagonists in their learning process, combining theory and practice through real-world challenges from the market, society, and the planet.
Our holistic development approach encompasses technical and behavioral competencies, stimulating self-awareness, proactivity, and entrepreneurship.
The Experimental Projects Hub (UPX) is a module within the curriculum of our undergraduate courses, promoting the development of technical and socio-emotional skills, as well as expanding socio-environmental awareness and entrepreneurial attitudes. Our students devise solutions for a wide range of challenges, addressing both local and global issues, thereby meeting socio-environmental and market demands. UPX activities are always aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sustainable Projects Guide of Centro Universitário Facens.
Our educational model aims to develop a systemic, multidisciplinary vision in our students, integrated with the entire Smart Campus® Facens ecosystem. Each semester in the Engineering and Technology courses focuses on a macro theme in UPX:
In 2023, we offered 18 postgraduate courses at Centro Universitário Facens, totaling 76 classes that benefited from our infrastructure and various opportunities for professional and personal development. Notably, the MBA in Management and Innovation in Smart Cities provides solid training in management and insights into trends and innovations applicable to conglomerates and cities, making them smarter, more humane, and sustainable.
The MBA offers a holistic view of key national and international case studies and best practices in areas such as energy, health and quality of life, industry, education, urban mobility, transportation, security and cybersecurity, information and communication technology, social innovation, environment, architecture and urbanism, and new business models.
Learn more about our postgraduate courses.
The "Mundos Possíveis: onde olhares se cruzam” (Possible Worlds: Where Perspectives Cross) extension program, developed by Enlace (Emotional Collaboration Laboratory), involves Facens students in communities in Sorocaba and surrounding regions, connected to NGOs and community collectives. The methodology includes visits, diagnostics, and the development of transformative proposals by students and community actors in a longitudinal format—each semester, students from different courses and disciplines develop individual and collective proposals, continuing the process from the previous semester.
Engaging in change-making activities, improving people's quality of life, and applying academic knowledge in real-world contexts brings satisfaction and encourages these practices. It fosters in future professionals a responsible and committed outlook toward the needs of vulnerable populations. Benefits for communities include:
Groups of 8 to 10 students are responsible for a community each semester, where they promote transformative initiatives such as home renovations, building toys, health awareness campaigns, and donations.
Project Phases:
These actions have uncovered "invisible" talents within communities—dancers, poets, painters, musicians, artisans, entrepreneurs, and builders. Supporting these talents not only offers development opportunities but also promotes diversity and stimulates innovation and economic growth. Such efforts empower communities and inspire others to pursue their aspirations, creating a virtuous cycle of achievement.
The interventions contributed to holistic care, fostering connections, strengthening bonds, and raising awareness of rights, thereby making "possible worlds" a reality and building relationships beyond the classroom.
Students engaged with various communities, including indigenous villages, homeless populations, quilombolas, women victims of violence, and children.
To learn more about, visit: Mundos Possíveis.
One of Enlace's main tools is the Enlace Metro, a self-guided learning journey. Framed as a metro ride narrative, students are invited each semester to participate in this path to develop socio-emotional skills, available on a learning management system. They follow the activity route, self-assess in various aspects, and can monitor their personal growth over time.
The Enlace Metro is divided into four routes, each with three or four stations, featuring theoretical content with interactive sections, curiosities related to the theme, reference videos, animations with metro characters (designed to foster student identification), tips for cultivating socio-emotional skills, and reflective activities on discussed topics. The journey begins in the first semester with the Boarding Station and continues from the second to the eighth semester.
At the end of the Boarding Station, students are invited to complete a self-assessment comprising two questionnaires: the WHOQOL from the World Health Organization, evaluating quality of life across physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains, and the PILTEST, assessing life purpose. These assessments are repeated at the end of each semester and can be tracked via an online dashboard.
In 2023, 41 teachers and 2,546 students participated.
In the Enlace Metro, we explore three zones of self-awareness: me with myself; me with others; and me with the world. This experience develops various competencies, such as those in the Sustainable Awareness track, including connectivity and belonging; empathy and compassion; integrity, authenticity, and commitment; and critical thinking—all essential for building a more just and sustainable world.
Learn more about Metrô Enlace.
The Educador Sustentável Award recognizes and values innovative practices by educators who promote sustainability in education. Teachers are honored for integrating sustainable concepts into curricula, involving students in practical projects, and contributing to forming conscious citizens committed to sustainable development.
The award highlights initiatives that transcend conventional teaching, encouraging social and environmental transformation.
The Educador Sustentável Project was a finalist in the "Next Generation Learning and Skills" category of the Green Gown Awards International and received a "Highly Commended" distinction. In 2023, we received 16 initiatives in the Sustainable Educator category—recognizing classroom teaching and learning practices—and 10 initiatives in the Honorable Mention category—recognizing guidance on projects and research promoting sustainability.
Educador Sustentável Award: recognizes initiatives impacting students on topics related to the 17 SDGs and overall sustainability, including classes, dynamics, cases, and projects applied in the classroom.
Honorable Mention: open to academic works where the submitting teacher is directly involved as a supervisor, not necessarily completed.
Get inspired by our teachers' shared practices. Download the e-book: Educador Sustentável Award
In 2023, Facens' major events were divided into three annual moments, focusing on continuous learning, innovation, diversity, and integration. Named Plugin: Careers and Market, Plugin: Projects and Competitions, and UP! Facens, these events collectively engaged over 3,748 students.
During Plugin: Careers and Market in the first semester of 2023, students participated in talks, workshops, and a career fair. We partnered with 15 companies and hosted over 56 talks and workshops to boost our students' technical and socio-emotional development.
The Plugin: Projects and Competitions event occurred in the second semester of 2023, where students applied their skills in competitions and showcased projects developed during the semester. In 2023, more than 400 student projects were presented, and 16 competitions were held, involving over 3,500 students.
Find out more about Plugin.
Established seven years ago, Freshman Week has offered new students in Engineering, Architecture and Urbanism, Technology, and Health courses an important opportunity to integrate with the Facens community. In 2023, Freshman Week was rebranded as UP! Facens.
Held on February 23-24, 2023, the event welcomed over 248 students. Activities focused on our institutional pillars: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, and Internationalization, reaffirming our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The experience was enhanced by a digital immersion in the "Facens World", a game created by our Games and Apps Innovation Laboratory (LIGA) specifically for UP! Facens.
We also organized significant solidarity actions during UP! Facens. Veteran students, along with the Athletic Association, the Social Innovation Laboratory (LIS), and the Facens Health School, coordinated donations of coconut water boxes to the chemotherapy department of Santa Casa de Sorocaba and toys to daycare centers serving children aged 3 to 10 in the Sorocaba region.
Solidarity Actions during UP! Facens
Learn more about UP! Facens here
The Student Sustainability Committee is an organization created in 2021, comprising students from Centro Universitário Facens. Its purpose is to develop projects related to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing a space for learning and leadership.
Specific projects and activities are guided by members of the Facens Sustainability Committee, aiming to encourage students to learn about sustainable actions and practice them daily.
The Facens library offers modern and comfortable facilities, providing an environment conducive to study, research, and creativity. Accessibility resources in the collection area include platforms, tactile keyboards, voice scanners, screen readers, Braille printers, tactile flooring, tablets, and service counters designed for wheelchair users or individuals of shorter stature.
Beyond its welcoming atmosphere, the library hosts various events throughout the year that combine art and sustainability. These initiatives not only enrich the user experience but also promote empathy, sustainable attitudes, and reflection on societal issues, fostering new perspectives through creativity and encouraging impactful initiatives.
Some of our initiatives include:
Book Exchange: Encouraging socialization and circular economy by allowing a read book to become new to someone else.
Decoration and Sustainability: On festive occasions, the library is adorned with decorations made from recyclable waste collected on the Facens campus, attracting more users to enjoy the space.
Established in 2015, the mission of the International Relations Department (DRI) is to create opportunities for promoting knowledge and leadership in a global context. This includes fostering a global perspective on human issues and promoting values and activities geared toward responsible, humanistic, and compassionate global citizenship.
Facens institutionalized higher education internationalization in 2019 with the implementation of a dedicated policy.
To support our students in exploring international opportunities, the Facens Language Institute, in partnership with CCBEU (Brazil-USA Cultural Center) and the Confucius Institute for Business at FAAP, offers courses in English, Spanish, German, Japanese, Italian, Mandarin, and Portuguese for foreigners, both in-person and online. We are also an official TOEFL iBT testing center.
In 2023, we achieved:
27 students approved for mobility programs:
16 in the Global Study program.
7 in Double Degree programs.
4 for paid internships abroad.
3 COIL projects completed;
68 scholarships awarded for international study, with tuition waived by the partner institution.
TOEFL iBT Exam Administration on Campus
In 2023, we administered the TOEFL iBT exam three times on campus, accommodating up to 15 participants per session.
A total of 24 candidates took the test, most of whom were external participants from São Paulo, coastal regions, Sorocaba, and neighboring cities.
Facens Around the World is a series of episodes aiming to document the experiences of students involved in international opportunities offered by Facens. Featured activities include study and internship programs abroad, virtual exchanges, and international research projects.
To learn about these stories, access the playlist here:
This is an updated general overview for 2023 on the level of internationalization at Facens. Mobility programs and on-campus activities were suspended from 2020 to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
363 students sent for study and paid internships abroad
(since 2017)
40 international partnerships, including higher education institutions, thematic networks, research centers, and Language Institute certifications
(active in 2023)
164 visiting students, interns, professors, and researchers on campus
(since 2015)
16 international academic publications
(since 2020)
25 achievements in international competitions
(since 2017)
6 multinational laboratory rooms on campus
(in 2023)
15.846 international experiential activities on campus
(since 2018)
7 international collaborators working on campus
(in 2023)
