Fabián Barros, M.A., academic coordinator of theBachelor’s Degree in Design, Art, and Technology and professor of Multimedia and Digital Arts, visited Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) in Tampere, Finland.
His trip, which took place in April, was part of the Erasmus+ International Faculty Mobility project that Universidad ORT Uruguay in partnership with TAMK. Barros participated in meetings with officials and faculty members from the Finnish university and led the workshop “The Entheogenic Machine” as part of TAMK’s Art, Music, and Media International Week.
“In December, we were visited by Professor Sohvy Sirkesalo, a faculty member and coordinator of the Arts, Music & Media degree program, with whom we developed a very good relationship,” she recalled. “When the exchange program came up, I was selected to go on this trip.”
The goal, he said, was twofold. On the one hand, to gain firsthand insight into the state of higher education in Finland, “which is in some ways considered the capital of education and the most innovative and interesting educational model in the world.” On the other hand, to build bridges between TAMK and ORT by sharing experiences and perspectives, as well as to explore “the possibility of some form of exchange or joint activities.”
While Barros was in Finland, the International Week of Media and Arts took place. “TAMK is a university of applied sciences, which means that while they do conduct research, their approach is much more practice-oriented—something that aligns closely with our School of Design, where the focus is much more project-based and production-oriented,” noted the coordinator. “In addition, they offer a Bachelor’s degree in Media & Arts, which is a relatively new program and shares many similarities with our Bachelor’s degree in Design, Art, and Technology.”
TAMK and ORT are on the same level
“Finland has a population of five million and no major cities; the population is spread out across the country. Tampere, where the university is located, has about 200,000 residents, and there are about three universities there, which are currently merging,” Barros explained. He also noted that Tampere was Nokia’s headquarters for many years, so there is a strong tradition of technology there.
Regarding the educational model, he noted that he was “pleasantly surprised” to find many similarities between TAMK and ORT. “Very project-oriented,” he summarized.
In fact, he participated in some student assessment and production activities.
On the one hand, he viewed an exhibition featuring the program’s first graduating class and saw displays of fine arts, visual arts, new media, mixed media, virtual reality, video art, and digital photography—“a range of contemporary art forms that we, in a way, also develop here.”
Satisfaction and enthusiasm. The standard is very high, but it’s definitely achievable in our context; there’s nothing we can’t do.
He also participated in the portfolio reviews for first- and second-year students, whom they refer to as “minors.” “The first session focused on audiovisual work, covering various styles and forms, including documentary, video art, and fiction. Then came the photography portfolio review. Once again, the feeling that it’s possible, that we’re very well aligned with this type of work, and that the results are entirely within our reach. I’m pleased with the outcome, with the exchange, and with the expectations they had regarding their careers—which are very similar to those our students might have. All of this, in a way, confirmed that we’re on the right track.”
Barros noted that both the faculty and the Dean of the School were “pleasantly surprised” by the Bachelor’s Degree in Design, Art, and Technology, “by the curriculum, the structure, the content, and the opportunities it opens up for students.”
"There's one word that stood out during the international conference," he said: "multidisciplinary." "That's the direction we're working in," he emphasized.
The goal is no longer to teach specific disciplines or tools, or to do a particular thing, but rather to teach people how to think through action, through engagement, and through collective work.
“All the department heads I met with expressed a strong interest in further strengthening our ties with ORT and in solidifying partnerships between our university and, in particular, the new bachelor’s degree program,” he said. “We are planning for the future—likely next year—to launch an international project involving both local and Finnish students.”
“One of our goals is to work ‘more in-depth and remotely, which is how we work today,’” says Barros. “We have the technology, since it would involve streaming and providing online updates on the various stages of the processes. The results we can achieve could be very, very interesting.”
Barros emphasized that the School of Design has always operated on the premise of multidisciplinarity. “Beyond each degree program, this is something we keep firmly in our sights and at the core of our mission; we are moving in that direction—through project-based work, learning by doing, and, of course, internationalization—because one of the key takeaways from this experience is that we are well-positioned to work on a global scale.” He noted that “we can produce from one place, but our market is the world, our field of action is the world, so let’s all push ourselves, open our minds, and think beyond Uruguay and the region.”