ABOUT THE CITY

“Sorocaba” is a word of Tupi-Guarani origin, which means land (flap) split or torn (çoro). The ground on which the city and the University are now built was the territory of two indigenous ethnic groups: the Tupinambá and the Guarani. In the urban area of the city, 07 Tupi-Guarani archaeological sites have been found so far.

Sorocaba is a municipality in the interior of the State of São Paulo, with a population of 695,328 inhabitants (estimated by the IBG E for 2021), being a regional capital. It has an area of 450.38 km².

It stands out as a pole of industrial development with a strong tendency towards business tourism. Its industrial production reaches more than 120 countries, reaching a GDP above R$ 32 billion, the 19th largest in the country. The main bases of its economy are the sectors of industry, commerce and services, with more than 22.000 companies. The machinery, steel and heavy metallurgy industries, the automobile industry, auto parts, mechanics, textile industries, agricultural equipment, chemicals, pharmaceutical petrochemicals, pulp and paper, cement production, wind energy, electronics, tools, and telecommunications stand out.

Sorocaba has diversified leisure and cultural options and its integration with the environment takes place in places such as hiking trails, 21 municipal parks with green areas, preserved riparian forests, lakes, streams, springs, trails for educational activities and the Quinzinho Municipal Zoological Park. de Barros, recognized nationally and internationally, for the work he develops in the areas of scientific research, conservationism, preservationism and environmental education.

UFSCar does not only receive students from the city where it is located, but from the Metropolitan Region of Sorocaba (which has 27 municipalities) and from all over Brazil. Since 2008, vacancies have been reserved for students who prove they belong to one of the indigenous ethnic groups in Brazilian territory, by means of a declaration of ethnicity and link with their community of origin. The selection of freshmen is made annually, through a specific selection process, with the offer of an additional place in each of the UFSCar course options. Currently, UFSCar has more than 40 indigenous peoples present on the 4 campuses.