The University of Zurich has approved the admission of the first Latin American student internationally since the start of the 2025 call.
Key points
Fernanda Ugalde is the first Latin American student accepted into the prestigious blockchain program at UZH.
Her admission was made possible thanks to her talent, the academic support from UABC, and the Meta Pool scholarship.
This achievement sets a precedent for Latin American students in the global blockchain ecosystem.
Fernanda Ugalde Garduño, a student of Software Engineering and Emerging Technologies at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), has been accepted into the prestigious summer program Deep Dive into the Blockchain at the University of Zurich (UZH).
Her achievement makes her the first Latin American student to be admitted to this course, which is considered one of the most important in the field worldwide.
This achievement would not have been possible without the support of the Blockchain Center at UZH and the backing of Meta Pool.
Who selected her as a beneficiary of their Industry Scholarship, a scholarship aimed at supporting outstanding students from emerging countries in the blockchain ecosystem.
What was the path to UZH like?
Fernanda's journey towards this achievement began with the support of Dr. David Abdel Mejía Medina, Director of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Sciences at UABC (FCITEC), and Dr. Leticia Cervantes Huerta, a research professor at the same faculty. With their mentorship, Fernanda submitted her application to the UZH program, competing with students from around the world for a place in this exclusive course.
Her talent and dedication made her stand out among the candidates, achieving not only acceptance into the program but also the Meta Pool scholarship, which covers part of the program costs and facilitates her access to this invaluable academic opportunity.
During the program, Fernanda will have the opportunity to learn from internationally renowned experts at UZH, one of the leading universities in Europe in blockchain education.
Additionally, she will have the guidance of professors from other prestigious universities and professionals from the sector.
As part of her commitment as a scholar, Fernanda will prepare a research paper on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Agents on Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and its relevance to the Meta Pool ecosystem.
Her participation in this program sets a precedent for Latin American students, demonstrating that talent and determination can open doors at the forefront of blockchain technology.
Her story not only inspires but also reinforces the importance of initiatives like the Meta Pool scholarships, which aim to empower the next generation of leaders in blockchain.