National Union of Students (Brazil)

The National Union of Students (União Nacional dos Estudantes or UNE) is the most important student organization in Brazil. Founded on 22 December 1938, it represents more than 5 million students of higher education, and is headquartered in São Paulo, with branch offices in Rio de Janeiro and Goiás. Its main objective is to achieve education better conditions in the education sector. Although not officially linked to any political party, since 1980 it has been directed by members coming from the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB). In June 2015, the 54th Congress of the National Union of Students elected Carina Vitral, an economics student at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, as its new president.