Bianca Gama Pena and Philip Colodetti met in April. Their paths crossed when Pena heard about Colodetti’s interest in starting a study abroad program in Brazil focused on artificial intelligence, technology and business.
Pena, a professor teaching at the State University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, was in Miami with students from Laboratório de Tecnologia e Simulação to attend the World Youth Forum USA 2026—FIFA World Cup 2026 Special Hackathon.
And Colodetti, an instructor in the School of Engineering and Technology at West Campus with a specialty in AI, wanted to help his students immerse themselves in his parent’s culture.
After connecting, the duo decided to collaborate on a study program in Brazil focused on AI, the first of its kind at the College. The three-credit program—AI1001C: Artificial Intelligence Thinking—will take place during Summer A from May 10 through June 18.
“I feel like our students already have a connection to Latin America because we are based in Miami,” Colodetti said. “Miami is a hub for Latin America so [we should] open up this additional opportunity and market for them.”
Students can register for the program until December. Candidates must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and have completed 12 credits. Colodetti will review applications and interview interested students through Zoom.
The first two weeks will be hosted in São Paulo by Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing. Students will visit places like Museu do Futebol and Sala São Paulo while taking AI classes alongside their peers at ESPM.
In the last week, students will arrive in Rio de Janeiro where they will be greeted by Pena’s students from UERJ. They will have access to places like Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, ESPM’s Rio campus, and Copacabana.
“The most important component[s] are the academic structure and cultural exposure,” said Samila Sosic, the executive director of international education at Miami Dade College. “[Students will] visit various industry leaders and companies that have presence both in North and Latin America.”
Cost for the program will be $5,160 per student, including airfare, hotels in São Paulo and Rio, daily breakfast, ground transportation, activities, and travel medical insurance.
Applicants are encouraged to seek out scholarship opportunities like the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship, which offers up to $5,000 dollars for the trip, and the Javier Coto Scholarship, which covers the entire program.
Promotional recruitment videos have been created by MDC-TV including one that features Pena and two of her students. The script was partially written using ChatGPT and the video was edited by Ariel Rubalcava, the executive director and senior producer at MDC-TV.
“It was like a video for inviting the students and just to say hello,” Pena said. “We are very proud of welcoming [MDC students].”
To apply or to find out more information about the program,visit: https://philos-app.vercel.app/brazil
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