He is a high school mathematics teacher and served in that capacity from 2003 to 2012, teaching both in secondary schools and at the Council for Technical and Vocational Education. Since 2011, he has served as Training Manager at the Banco de la República Oriental del Uruguay, although he has been working at that financial institution since 2007.
In the midst of the pandemic, what was it like to defend your thesis online?
It was a good experience. Personally, I found it very interesting to be able to present my thesis with the participation of people I invited—something that wouldn’t have been possible if they had had to attend in person.
On top of that, this form of communication became a daily occurrence during the period of strictest restrictions due to the pandemic. Work meetings—and even family gatherings—via video calls are now part of our daily routine, which is why conducting legal proceedings through this channel is convenient and enjoyable.
Another advantage I think is worth mentioning is the reduction in travel time. While this doesn’t apply to me, I understand that for students from outside the city, attending the defense involves long hours of travel. This has consequences that go beyond the travel itself, as it often cuts into the rest time needed beforehand, which can affect the outcome. This format ensures more adequate emotional and physical preparation.
The only drawback I noticed is the lack of eye contact with the participants. In in-person sessions, we’re used to gauging how our message is being received by interpreting the nonverbal cues of our listeners. So, during video calls, when sharing a presentation, that ability to read people’s body language is lost.
What was it like to finish your final project under those circumstances? Did it change the process you had been following throughout the semester in any way?
The preparation process didn't change much. My communication with the academic advisor followed the same channels as for the final project in the first year of the master's program: emails, phone calls, and video calls.
The rest of the work is done individually, which means long hours spent alone in front of the computer—something the pandemic didn’t affect. Still, I think we were very lucky with the schedule, because by the time the restrictions went into effect, there were no more in-person sessions planned.
What motivated you to continue your education and training?
At the organization where I work, we have been driving significant changes in corporate training and development. For several years now, training designed and led by employees themselves has become increasingly prevalent and has had a more profound impact.
In addition, distance learning is combined with in-person sessions to create increasingly comprehensive training programs. All of this is supported by processes for identifying training needs, planning, implementation, evaluation, and administration, which are growing in both scope and specificity.
In these periods of sustained growth, there comes a point when it is necessary to make a qualitative leap that improves effectiveness, efficiency, and the quality of results. Otherwise, the only way to grow is by hiring more staff, which is not an option. That is where training is key. Acquiring the knowledge needed to make that qualitative leap paves the way for significant changes in the medium and long term.
Personally, learning has always been one of my favorite activities, so the Master’s in Trainer Development allowed me to enjoy it while also helping me improve my professional performance.
I found the master's program to be extremely enriching. Beyond the knowledge I gained, it allowed me to grow academically and learn about the processes of knowledge creation at the university level
What have you learned, or what is the most valuable insight you’ve gained from the graduate program?
Overall, without a doubt, the most valuable aspect was the experience of applying theoretical knowledge to a comprehensive project. Concepts take on a much deeper meaning when viewed through the lens of reality.
In particular, I was fortunate enough to be able to deepen my knowledge of knowledge management, one of the most important aspects of business education at the national level.
In your work, what aspect do you think you’ll be able to improve or enhance as a result of completing your master’s degree?
What I learned is directly applicable to my work. A large part of my job involves designing and implementing training programs, from the needs assessment phase through to evaluation. All of these aspects were central to the graduate program, which allowed me to apply what I learned throughout the training process.