2017 Yearbook - Universidad ORT Uruguay

8 2017 Yearbook In 2017, ORT in Uruguay celebrated its 75th anniversary. Founded in 1942 by members of the Jewish community, its original purpose was to support immigrants fleeing Nazi persecution by teaching them trades that would facilitate their social integration into the country’s economy and civic life. It is a member of World ORT one of the world’s largest educational organizations, which began its work in 1880 in St. Petersburg, Russia. From the 1950s to the 1970s, ORT Uruguay consolidated and expanded its educational offerings into more advanced technological fields, training the technicians and professionals the country needed for its development. Under the leadership of Engineer Bernard Wand-Polak, director of World ORT Latin America in the 1970s and 1980s, ORT Uruguay created its first computer science programs. Beginning in 1980, ORT Uruguay grew rapidly, becoming one of the leading institutions in the training of technicians in computer science, electronics, and telecommunications. The growth in student enrollment was accompanied by significant expansion in facilities and technology. The recognition of the Systems Analyst program in 1988 marked the first tertiary authorization granted by the Uruguayan government to a non-governmental educational institution. That same year, ORT established the first business school in our country, and in the early 1990s, it began offering programs in the fields of communication and design. INSTITUTIONAL NEWS 2017 In 1995, the National Government established the first legal framework for the operation of private universities in Uruguay. In 1996, ORT was granted authorization to operate as a university, becoming known as Universidad ORT Uruguay. Following its institutional recognition as a university, two new academic units were created: the Institute of Education in 1998 and the School of Architecture in 1999. These units joined the existing ones: the School of Engineering, the School of Business and Social Sciences, and the School of Communication and Design. In 2003, ORT established the Department of Jewish Studies, whose objective is to promote Jewish culture and history through the publication of books and the production of films, documentaries, conferences, and exhibitions. Universidad ORT Uruguay research across all its faculties in close collaboration with the business sector. For its part, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), established in 2009, promotes and fosters the development of new entrepreneurs. ORT Uruguay has changed significantly over its 75-year history, but it remains committed to its mission of supporting the country’s development by providing quality education. More information: History of ORT in Uruguay: 75 Years in Uruguay