I am really moved by this unexpected homage.
I must say that I have always found the best of my satisfaction in my daily work. This is still true after more than 30 years as a leader and CEO of ORT in Uruguay.
Many thanks to you, Dr. Labadie, and the School of Administration and Social Sciences, for bestowing this wonderful plaque on me in recognition of my work.
I will now make a brief reflection on what ORT means to me in my closing remarks of this extraordinary event.
ORT has 133 years of existence as an organisation.
71 years in Uruguay.
What kept ORT with an intact vitality in dozens of countries on several continents for so long?
ORT as an idea.
The essence of ORT as an idea is the promotion of the training of individuals for the development of productive activity in its various forms, within the countries where it operates, according to their time, their history, and their geographical and social conditions.
This key idea has been the guiding principle in all their endeavours, both locally and around the world.
A principle that has proven to be a clearly attractive and realistic goal for its continuation and development in the most varied fields of technology and knowledge. Though, not sufficient.
Another principle that permeated through the years all institutional activities: the quality imperative, which was never absent from the educational offer given its rigurosity, its permanent updating, and its adaptation to the particular circumstances of every period and country.
Within this framework all our educational proposals were created, aiming at providing the country with the possibilities to innovate on fundamental issues to contribute to national growth, an inescapable goal for Universidad ORT Uruguay.
Therefore, ORT in Uruguay is the child of three founding principles:
1) The development of productive activity;
2) The notion of quality. As an example, we refer to the recent addition of Dr. Dan Shechtman - Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2011 – as current President of the Academic Advisory Council of World ORT; and
3) The contribution to national growth.
Lately, and as a result of ethical concerns regarding the not necessarily discriminated use of the new technologies, we need to warn about the inherent danger that progress may entail, and teach to learn to deal with this kind of uncertainty.
During the first 25 years of the School of Management and Social Sciences, major changes on the training of parties concerned with the fields covered by this School occurred. The achievements bear witness to the fact it was widely worthy to enthusiastically embrace the undertaking that today celebrates its first quarter of a century.
I thank the first graduates of the school for having opted at the time to our new proposal, and for their presence here today. Also, to the faculty from the same time, including those who join us still today, and in this room.
I also wish the best of success for our graduates today.
Very special thanks to my peers, colleagues, and collaborators for having achieved a cohesive and visionary team, with the vision and ability to meet new challenges, and for having supported me through all these years.