Name: Karen Zimmermann
Age: 22
High School: Beit Sefer Mevo’ot Eron (Israel)
Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies
Employment: Negotiation Manager at DP Global Services (Toronto, Canada)
Interview published in January 2010.
In 2007, Karen began pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies at ORT University. In 2009, she traveled to Canada where she completed a semester-long exchange program at the Schulich School of Business at York University.
According to Karen, the idea of studying at ORT arose in 2002 following a presentation given at the Colegio y Liceo Latinoamericano while she was in her senior year of high school. “At that time, I didn’t really know what I wanted to study, but I was impressed by the university’s organization, services, and atmosphere, and I was determined to study at ORT,” she recalled.
In 2002, Karen moved to Israel, where she lived until 2005. Upon returning to Uruguay, she decided to study at ORT University. In 2007, she began pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
She notes that the program is very well-designed. “There is a balance between politics and business that makes it unique among the options available in Uruguay. The option to take electives allows students to focus on the area that interests them most. The professors are very approachable, and student-professor interaction is constantly encouraged in class,” she said.
Karen recalled her first days at the university: “At first it was difficult; I didn’t know anyone, I was coming from another country, and I was shy about speaking in class.” She believes that ORT’s facilities facilitate interaction with other students. “The open spaces, the cafeteria, and the terraces are key places for socializing. Even extracurricular activities (including parties and sports) and the large number of group projects encourage interaction,” she said.
In the second semester of her degree program, Karen met with the Coordinator to explore the possibilities of an exchange program at universities in Canada. In 2009, she traveled to York, where she studied at the Schulich School of Business at York University. “The experience is unparalleled. Schulich was recently ranked number one among the world’s business schools by The Aspen Institute in Washington,” she noted.
She currently works at DP Global Services, a company that provides other companies with temporary staff trained in the specific areas they need. “I’m in charge of negotiations between the company and clients,” she explained.
In 2010, after completing her exchange, she will continue her studies at ORT University.