2013 Yearbook - Universidad ORT Uruguay

5 Universidad ORT Uruguay Universidad ORT Uruguay, founded in 1942 as a technical school, is the largest private university in Uruguay, with more than 12,000 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 improving teaching and research methods, educational infrastructure, and faculty training. The academic staff includes more than 1,300 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. Our educational philosophy promotes critical thinking, the pursuit of quality, innovation, an entrepreneurial spirit, and respect for ethical standards in professional practice. Graduates and students distinguish themselves through their professional and creative contributions in their respective fields, earning awards and recognition and achieving high levels of employment. More than 13,000 graduates are successfully working in our country or abroad, in many cases in business or social ventures they have created themselves. INSTITUTIONAL OVERVIEW The academic infrastructure includes computer, electronics, and biotechnology laboratories, videoconferencing rooms, design, technology, and 3D prototyping workshops, and a professional TV studio. Students and faculty have access to two libraries, featuring specialized collections and access to electronic databases. ORT is a member of major 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 150 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, 2012.