Study was conducted by Advertising students from the School of Communication, Arts and Design of PUCRS
Photo: Bruno Todeschini
How do the young people from Porto Alegre see globalization in their everyday life? In order to address this question, Advertising students, from the School of Communication, Arts and Design of PUCRS interviewed more than 200 people aged 18 – 32. “We wanted to know how globalization affects the life of this population and how they deal with this process, in an effort to show possibilities of analysis of their actions in society, both at the municipal and global levels”, says Professor Ilton Teitelbaum, the research coordinator. The following students were part of the research team: Daniel Gontijo, Guilherme Radaelli, Jose Roberto Viegas, Luise Schunemann, Mariana Sotilli, Murilo da Rosa and Renata Bernardes.
Results show that the priorities of this audience are increasingly becoming more collective: “They look forward to an increasingly collaborative and socially engaged future as they can connect with one another. They also look forward to having more opportunities, equality and access to information,” Teitelbaum says. It is worth noting that 97% of respondents speak English and all of them (100%) have traveled or want to travel abroad. Out of those who have traveled, 72% went on tourism. When choosing a location, most take the experiences of friends or family members into account. Italy, England, Canada, the United States, and Spain are the most popular destinations among respondents.
The survey also shows a 25% increase in the number of students wishing to study abroad. Income is a decisive factor: 90% of young people in the upper class have already traveled overseas. On the other hand, 72% of members of the upper middle class have set foot abroad. For middle class individuals and below, these figures drop to 50%. “Traveling is something this generation dreams of, but study abroad opportunities, including undergraduate studies, is becoming increasingly popular,” the professor says.
Family ties are still the most important reason why these young people do not want to leave Brazil permanently. This propels them to believe that study abroad periods should last no longer than a year. They feel they are ready to return after they gain more experience or confidence, whether in financial or professional terms, or even in terms of family relations.
When it comes to permanent departure from Brazil, the quest for professional opportunities and better political conditions are the main reasons that have been brought up. Political motivations also lead 73% of LGBTQI + respondents to wish to go abroad.
