Federal University of ABC (UFABC) - São Paulo, Brazil

Located in the region known as "ABC", the Federal University of ABC (UFABC) was established to contribute to the education of the Brazilian people, advance knowledge in engineering, mathematics, computing, natural and human sciences, and address the demands of regional industrial activity and public administration. Founded in 2006, UFABC now operates across two campuses, in the cities of Santo André and São Bernardo do Campo, both situated in the metropolitan region of São Paulo.

With an interdisciplinary approach and a pioneering pedagogical model, UFABC offers 31 undergraduate programs, including four interdisciplinary entrance programs and 27 specific programs, along with 31 graduate programs across various fields of study. The university has heavily invested in research and graduate studies, fostering a spirit of knowledge exchange beyond Brazilian borders. Over the years, UFABC has built a reputation for high-level interdisciplinary and international research and teaching.

In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023, UFABC ranked fourth among Brazilian universities in the international perception category. In the QS Latin America University Ranking 2023, it placed 98th among 428 institutions in Latin America and 25th among 98 Brazilian institutions. Additionally, UFABC excelled in citations per article, securing the 8th position in Brazil.

The university's research excellence is further reflected in the international recognition of its research groups, whose high-impact academic production has strengthened UFABC's global collaborations and positioned it as a strategic partner for foreign institutions.

The SPRING Program is supported by two graduate programs: Territorial Planning and Management, and Public Policies, both of which offer master's and doctoral degrees at the São Bernardo do Campo campus. These programs are part of the Center for Engineering, Modeling, and Applied Social Sciences (CECS), which also houses corresponding bachelor's programs in Spatial Planning and Public Policies. The Territorial Planning and Management Program focuses on three key research areas: (1) Territorial Dynamics; (2) State, Policies, Planning, and Management Instruments; (3) Methods and Techniques in Territorial Management and Planning. The Public Policies Program is also structured into three research clusters: (1) Public Policy Analysis and Management; (2) Institutions, Society, and Democratic Governance; (3) Public Policies in an International Perspective.