Good morning, everyone.
First of all, I would like to thank those who have entrusted me with sharing some thoughts, which I will do from the perspective of my field, which is Social Communication.
The degree program in Social Communication is a relatively new field of study in our country, but one of great importance, given the profound changes and advancements that have taken place in this area. It is the major advances in communication that have led to the professionalization of the field, and in turn, that professionalization is what drives constant progress. This feedback loop is what fuels continuous renewal.
ORT University rose to that challenge. The university’s professional, human, and academic standards are on par with those of renowned universities around the world. And that should be a source of pride for those of us who have attended this institution and for society at large: knowing that we have educational institutions that meet international standards. We can compete. We can be efficient and effective in this globalized world. And that is no small achievement.
The role of the communicator is often simplified to that of a mere transmitter of a message. But communication must be understood as a transdisciplinary science—that is, one that intersects with other social sciences. It must be understood as a complex discipline through which communicative processes are created and maintained, and through which the processes by which people give meaning to their relationships are studied and discovered. Thinking about communicative processes is one of the most important challenges. And it is the challenge we must face: not only to practice the profession, but to professionalize and develop it. That is our challenge.
This is a challenge we cannot tackle without embracing the social responsibility that comes with being communication professionals, and without carrying out our work ethically and freely—and, most importantly, with sensitivity and humility. Only in this way will we be able to work toward building a more humane society.
And to wrap things up, I’d like to make a request and offer some very special thanks. My thanks go to my family, my teachers, the staff, my classmates, and my friends—all of whom have been with me throughout these years.
I would like to thank the university for allowing me to be part of this institution even though I couldn't afford it.
And finally, a request to the ORT administration: please continue to support the university’s current scholarship programs—both those that reward academic excellence and those that focus on social factors—so that knowledge can be shared and made accessible to all, which are key contributions to building a better society. So that we can raise the standards of the profession, seeking more diverse and representative realities that reflect society as a whole.
Thank you all.