A total of 301 graduates were invited to speak. The first speakers were graduates from the School of Business and Social Sciences, the School of Architecture, the School of Communication, the School of Engineering, and the Institute of Education. Each speech reflected the hard work and dedication of those who had completed this stage of their academic training.
A message to the graduates
Grünberg began his speech by warmly welcoming ORT officials, faculty members, and recent graduates, assuring them that “they can be proud, ” because their presence there was “a testament to their determination, ability, and resilience in the face of challenges.”
Education is a collaborative effort between teachers and students; we learn from each of you as we teach.
In that regard, he encouraged them to find their own path. He argued that there are no right answers to questions such as “Should I seek the stability of a job or the adventure of starting a business?” or “Should I devote myself to public service or to personal development?” What matters most, he emphasized, is self-confidence.
Special acknowledgments
Grünberg went on to pay a heartfelt tribute to Julio Fernández, the university’s current vice president, who will be stepping down from that position this month.
"My dear friend, esteemed colleague, and co-founder of the modern ORT, is retiring in a few days after several decades of leading some of the university's most important projects," he noted.
He also highlighted the importance of the university’s former president, Charlotte de Grünberg, to the development of ORT. He emphasized the significance of her work, noting that, in his words, it transcended boundaries that at the time seemed insurmountable.
“She was a great female entrepreneur at a time when such women were few and far between, and she recognized the importance of integrating technology into the national education system nearly 50 years ago, when it was a largely overlooked educational option,” he said.
On the current global context
When discussing the current global context, the rector the graduates, noting that their graduation took place amid a moral decline in which “racism has resurfaced in one of its worst forms: anti-Semitism.”
He added that everyone has an ethical duty to fight against it and defeat it, and to learn to live together without fear of those who think differently.
In addition to prompting reflection, Grünberg highlighted the challenge facing the graduating class: coexisting with new forms of intelligence, which until now had been the exclusive domain of human beings.
The synergy between people and machines has the potential to bring greater value and prosperity to everyone, but it requires adaptation.
In any case, he clarified that it is not true that the more tasks artificial intelligence can perform, the fewer jobs humans will have, and that the major challenge will be ensuring that the pace of relearning exceeds the pace of technological change.
Closing remarks
At the end of his speech, the rector graduates that “whatever they do and wherever they are, ORT will always be their home.”
He also encouraged them to find their own path and pursue their ambitions, always keeping in mind how they can contribute to the country.
Full video of the speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upLc2rJIuro