The Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG) has signed an unprecedented partnership with the Aspire Institute, a nonprofit educational organization founded by professors from Harvard Business School. The goal is to expand personal, academic, and professional development opportunities for FURG students and the broader university community through the Aspire Leaders Program—a free and online program designed for first-generation college students.

The program aims to empower young global leaders by offering comprehensive training in leadership, socioemotional skills, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, communication, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data. Priority is given to candidates who are the first in their families to attend university or who come from socially vulnerable backgrounds. The Aspire Leaders Program runs in multiple cycles throughout the year, allowing candidates to apply more than once.

In Brazil, the program is implemented through a partnership with Insper, which supports the rollout of the Aspire Leaders Program in the country. This initiative fosters the internationalization of FURG students by connecting them to a global network of opportunities.