2012 Yearbook - Universidad ORT Uruguay

4 2012 Yearbook INSTITUTIONAL OVERVIEW Universidad ORT Uruguay, founded in 1942 as a technical school, is currently the largest private university in Uruguay, with more than 11,000 students enrolled in degree programs across five faculties and institutes(1). It offers 62 professional degrees at the graduate, undergraduate, and short-term and technical levels in Architecture, Engineering, Biotechnology, Management, Economics, International Relations, Design, Animation, Communication, and Education. ORT has been a pioneer in introducing new degree programs and educational technologies in Uruguay. Each year, it dedicates significant resources to the continuous improvement of teaching and research methods, educational infrastructure, and faculty training. The academic staff includes more than 1,100 faculty members and researchers, selected for their professional excellence and commitment to teaching, more than a third of whom work on a full-time basis. The educational philosophy promotes critical thinking, the pursuit of quality, innovation, an entrepreneurial spirit, and respect for ethical standards in professional practice. Graduates and students are distinguished by their professional and creative contributions in their fields, earning awards and recognition and achieving high levels of employment. More than 12,000 graduates are successfully working in our country or abroad, in many cases in business or social ventures they have created themselves. The academic infrastructure includes practical and experimental laboratories in computer science, electronics, and biotechnology; videoconferencing rooms, project rooms, and laboratories for graphic, industrial, and fashion design; a professional-standard audiovisual production complex; and auditoriums and seminar rooms equipped with the latest multimedia technology. Students and faculty have access to two libraries, a film library, and a virtual library with access to databases that allow for online consultation of articles published in academic journals. ORT is a member of leading international academic associations, including the International Association of Universities (AIU) and the Union of Latin American Universities (UDUAL). It is a member of World ORT, an international educational network founded in 1880 by the Jewish community of St. Petersburg, Russia. It maintains academic cooperation agreements with more than 140 universities and international institutions worldwide to facilitate student exchanges and collaborative research and teaching projects. (1) Statistical Yearbook of Education, Ministry of Education and Culture, 2011.