Training to lead is also a way to bring about change. With that conviction, 36 teachers and educational leaders from 14 departments across Uruguay began—in March 2026—the second cohort of the Certificate in Educational Management with an emphasis on Transformative Leadership.
The proposal, spearheaded by the Institute of Education at the Universidad ORT Uruguay and the ReachingU Foundation, aims to train specialists with the necessary skills to manage projects and lead processes of change and improvement in various areas of educational practice.
The call for applications once again confirmed the interest in this program: more than 130 people applied for one of the 36 scholarships, demonstrating a shared commitment to continuing to improve teaching practices and strengthen professional development for educators.
“Thank you for taking the plunge,”said Paula Mosera, executive director of the ReachingU Foundation. During the certificate program’s opening event, she highlighted the value of investing in continuing education, while acknowledging the commitment of those who decided to join the program. “We know that it’s difficult to make the decision to continue your education, and that doing so takes courage. That’s why we thank you for taking the plunge, because it’s very important to keep learning,” she added.
Mosera also emphasized that for years, the ReachingU Foundation has focused on professional development for teachers, as they are convinced of its ripple effect. In that regard, she noted that investing in educators means investing in a transformation that extends beyond the classroom: “The work you do has the power to transform schools and transform lives.”
“We now know that leaders aren’t born—they’re made, ”said Dr. Denise Vaillant, dean of the Institute of Education, referring to the central theme of the certificate program: transformational leadership, a key priority on both the Uruguayan and Latin American educational agendas.
During his remarks, he stated that the literature clearly shows that leadership has a particularly significant impact on schools located in vulnerable communities.“Only teachers and school leaders who are convinced that their students can learn are able to achieve meaningful learning outcomes, ”he said.
From that perspective, he explained that participants in the certificate program will not only have access to readings and conceptual frameworks, but also to a space for exchange with teachers and colleagues to “foster better learning” and“better citizens for tomorrow’s world.”