[[File:LogoUCU.png|thumb|Logo UCU|link=Special:FilePath/LogoUCU.png]]
[[File:Universidad Católica del Uruguay Dámaso Antonio Larrañaga.jpg|alt=|thumb|UCU Campus Montevideo]]
[[File:Campus-UCU-PDE.jpg|thumb|UCU Campus Punta del Este|link=Special:FilePath/Campus-UCU-PDE.jpg]]
==<span id="docs-internal-guid-40ef68fe-7fff-81af-3506-62f9f516a9c1"><span style="font-size: 17pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overview</span></span>==
<div><span style="font-size:small;text-aling:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>The '''
Catholic University of Universidad Católica del Uruguay
(UCU)'''
, founded in 1985, is
a the oldest and largest private university in Uruguay
opened in 1985. It was the only private university in the country for
11 years until 1996more than a decade.
Its full name is Universidad Católica del Uruguay Dámaso Antonio Larrañaga, and UCU is
a work of run by the Society of Jesus
.</big></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:small;text-aling:justify"><span style="font-family:arial(Jesuits) and is recognized nationally and internationally for combining academic excellence,
helveticasocial commitment,
sans-serif;"><big>Its and innovation. The main campus is
spread out in 10 locations located in
'''Montevideo
in (Parque Batlle
Neighbourhood; there are two other )''', with additional campuses
, in
'''Punta
Del del Este
''' and
'''Salto
''', and outreach centers in other regions. UCU has six academic units: '''Health Sciences, Business Sciences, Law and Human Sciences, Engineering and Technologies, UCU Business School, and the Graduate School''', with over 11,000 students. The university also operates several specialized centers, such as: *'''Íthaka Center''' (Innovation & Entrepreneurship).*'''Ludus Center''' (Educational Innovation).*'''Agora Center''' (Leadership and Public Life).*'''Ignis Center''' (Research on Digital Culture and Communication).*'''University Health Clinics''' (Primary Care and Community Health).*'''Berit Center''' (Jewish Studies). UCU’s strategic orientation combines '''academic rigor, internationalization, sustainability, and innovation''', aligning with Jesuit values of service and leadership.
==Promoting student innovation and entrepreneurship==<
/big></span></span></div><div
><span style="
fonttext-
sizealign:
smalljustify;">
<span style="font-familyPromoting '''student innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E)''' is one of UCU’s strongest pillars. The '''Íthaka Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' plays a leading role, providing students with mentoring, incubation, workshops, and competitions that allow them to '''discover, learn, and experiment''' with new ideas.Main initiatives include:
arial *'''Hackathon “Suma Innovación a tu Carrera”''', awarding scholarships to high school students through innovation challenges.*'''LOOP Innovation Week''' (2018–2019) → evolved into '''UCU Week''', held annually since 2021, where classes are suspended and students access entrepreneurial workshops,
helveticadesign sprints,
sansand innovation bootcamps.*'''Innovation Community''' (since 2020), a student-
serif;"><br /><big>The university is first divided into six Academic Units:</big></span></span></div>driven initiative to solve campus challenges.*'''Podcast “Onda Emprendedora”''' and open sessions with local entrepreneurs.*'''“Intervalos” Project''', live student interviews with CEOs and business leaders.*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Health Sciences</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Business Sciences</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Law Between 2023 and Human Sciences</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica2025,sans-serif;"><big>Engineering and Technologies</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-sizeÍthaka launched additional programs:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>UCU Business School</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Graduate School</big></span></span></div>
<div><span><br /><big>The university is divided into departments*''Potenciá Gastronomía'':</big></span></div>training and networking for culinary entrepreneurs.*''Mujeres que Construyen'': supporting women in construction and design industries.*''Capacitaciones EDMP'': training in entrepreneurial design and management practices.*''Emprendimiento que Quiere Crecer'': accelerator program for scaling startups.
*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arialIn 2025,helveticaUCU students joined the '''University Innovation Fellows (UIF)''' global network,sans-serif;"><big>Psychology </big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Administration and Business</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Wellness and health</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Exact and Natural Sciences </big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Social Sciences</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Law</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Education</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Organizational Studies</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Humanities and communication</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Computing</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Engineering</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Neuroscience consolidating UCU’s role in fostering entrepreneurship aligned with Stanford d.school and learning</big></span></span></div>Twente University frameworks.
<div><span><br /><big>There are ten specialized centers==Actively supporting the university technology transfer function==UCU supports technology transfer and intellectual property (IP) processes through its collaboration with '''Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación (ANII)''' and Íthaka. Although UCU does not yet have a fully independent '''Technology Transfer Office (TTO)''', Íthaka provides guidance on:</big></span></div>
*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Ludus Center</big></span></span></div>'''Patent registration''' and IP rights.*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Continuing Education Center</big></span></span></div>'''Legal mentoring''' for student and faculty startups.*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Language Center</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Methodological Center</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Ignis Center</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Agora Center</big></span></span></div><div>*<span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Ithaka Center</big></span></span>'''Seed fund competitions''' that include IP advisory services.
*Habitat Center*University Health ClinicsIn 2024, UCU launched new training modules on '''IP law, startup financing, and innovation contracts''', strengthening its role as a facilitator of technology transfer in Uruguay’s academic ecosystem.
*<div><span style="font=Facilitating university-size:small;"><span styleindustry collaboration=="font-familyUCU actively connects students and faculty with industry partners. Collaboration channels include:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Berit Center</big></span></span></div>
==Promoting student innovation entrepreneurship==<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-40ef68fe-7fff-81af-3506-62f9f516a9c1"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*'''Universidad Católica del UruguayÍthaka Mentoring Program''' believes that innovation and entrepreneurship are of huge importance and, therefore, has various different ways to promote its students to engage in this arealinking projects with industry experts. Not only are there courses that indirectly provoke students to feel intrigued and widen their knowledge in this area, but UCU also provides courses, clubs and workshops that facilitate this learning process. Some faculties offer a wider variety of these activities than others but all students, no matter their major, have the possibility to innovate and become an entrepreneur if they desire so.</span></span></span></big></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Particularly, </span>*'''<span style="text-decoration-line: underline; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">IthaKa</span>Ignis Convoca'''<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Innovation and Entrepreneurship centre), and Students Affairs department are responsible for promoting, mentoring and supporting the students with their ideas and projects. For instance, ÍthaKa centre organized the three-day-long engagement called “Innovatón” in Punta Del Este, where attendees learned the well-known Design Thinking process.</span></span></span></big></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><br />Moreover, UCU has taken part in organizing LOOP, an “innovation week” in both 2018 and 2019. LOOP is a week-long bootcamp focused on teaching design thinking by tackling down social challenges, targeted to university students and anyone with an interest encouraging participation in international innovation and problem solvingcontests.</span></span></big></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial*'''IdeasLab''',helvetica,sansa pre-serif;"><span>In 2020 a group of students interested in innovation, gathered incubation program to notice problems happening at that time in university and think of creative solutionsvalidate business models. This was called the Innovation Community.</span></span></big></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial*'''Circular Opportunities''',helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Ithaka ,working together with the Communications Department,started an initiative to organize a Hackaton called “Suma Innovación a tu Carrera” ( literally “Add Innovation to your career” ) in which last year students from different high schools participate in a innovative hackaton where they can win scholarships to study at the university.</span></span></big></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Since 2020, the University has added some events and regular inspiration events like a new podcast called "Entrepreneurial wave" and the Open Sessions for entrepreneurs .Furthermore, a new project called “Intervalos” was launched last year, and it consists of students interviewing local support sustainable business leaders like CEOs,and sharing it on live via Zoom meetingsmodels.</big>
Employment and career integration:
Last year*'''Career Fair (Feria Laboral)''', the largest in the country, where 80+ companies meet UCU launched the "students annually.*'''UCU week"Job Portal''' (since 2023), a week long eventmatching students with internships and jobs. During this, clasess are suspended *Professional practices in order for the students to have access to all kinds of projects'''Engineering, workshopsCommunication, open lectures and games. Apart from thisMedicine, there are a lot of I&E activities. The goal is to make give this topic an interesting and innovative approach. AlsoBusiness''', students may suggest in advance some topics of their best interest, so that they can learn more about them in this weekoften developed with companies as final projects.
<span style="font-size:small;"><br />In 2023, we have different projects that encourage students to learn and participate more in I&E initiatives, all organized by Centro IthakaAcademic–industry innovation:
#Onda emprendedora*'''Engineering Promotion Fund (ANII)''' supports senior-year entrepreneurship projects.#Potenciá gastronomía*'''“Challenges” courses''' in Computer Science (team-based solutions to real problems in 3-week sprints).#Capacitaciones E*'''Graduate School Capstone Program''', requiring every graduate student to engage in applied professional practice.D.M.P#Mujeres que construyen#Emprendimiento que quiere crecerThese collaborations ensure UCU graduates are prepared for '''interdisciplinary teamwork and market challenges'''.
</div>
==Encouraging faculty innovation and entrepreneurship: ==<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>When a student has an idea and wants Faculty are actively encouraged to pursue it, it is extremely important to have the universityintegrate innovation in both '''s support teaching and guidanceresearch'''.</big></span></span></div><br /><div style="textThe '''Ludus Center''' supports professors in adopting '''project-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helveticabased learning,sans-serif;"><big>This is the reason why IthaKadigital transformation, our I&E center was created. IthaKa`s principal aim is to incubate students´ ideas and materialize them. The main mission of this center is to bring our university community closer to the entrepreneurial ecosystemAI in education''', promote innovation offering training and creativity for the development of ventures that contribute to the development of a more prosperous, fair and humane societycertification programs.</big></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arialProfessors also act as mentors within Íthaka’s programs,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>In fact, Ithaka already created many entrepreneurs and innovators. For instance, Sebastian Fernandez, an Engineering guiding student of UCU, together with íthaka's help and support founded a successful enterprise called TuPase. TuPase is an App that allows companies to involve their employees in physical activity by providing access to the largest network of sports centers startups in Uruguaylegal, Boliviafinancial, Costa Rica, Paraguay and Panamatechnical aspects. /big></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big><span id="docs-internal-guid-175cf5d5-7fff-67cb-eb8f-b23119daf2c7"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students ́ organizations Several UCU faculty members are also highly promoted by Ithaka, proof of this is the Entrepreneur ́s Club at Punta del Este ́s Campus. Here, students from UCU and other universities who would like to become themselves entrepreneurs and already entrepreneurs of the city gather and take part in talks to inspire, teach entrepreneurial skills and promote innovation.or serve as con</span></span>su</bigspan></span>lta</span></div><div></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arialnts for companies,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big><span id="docs-internal-guid-175cf5d5-7fff-67cb-eb8f-b23119daf2c7"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">IthaKa not only offers a wide variety of workshops for circular economy entrepreneurs but also competitions for students to develop bringing industry expertise into the innovation part during their studies such as “Suma innovación a tu carrera” or “Tecnolog”classroom. For those who need some mentoring, IthaKa also helps find someone through its mentoring innovation program.</span></span></big></span></span></div><div></div>
Also, there's a culture that gives tools to innovate in education. For example, Ludus is a center that gives tools and courses to teacher about innovating in the classroom. For example, this year 2023, [[CategoryRecent highlights (2023–2025):Universities]]we have an event a[[Category:Universities]]bout Projects Based Learning.
==Facilitating university*Expansion of '''faculty mentoring networks''' in Íthaka programs.*Faculty-industry collaboration==led applied research projects with direct commercialization potential.*Growth of '''interdisciplinary teaching teams''', e.g., Medicine + Engineering in health-tech projects.*Launch of '''faculty innovation workshops''' in sustainable business and circular economy.
<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>UCU facilitates the relationship between industry and the university in multiple ways, some of which are described below.</big></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big><b>Innovation & Entrepreneurship</b></big></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>There are two main programmes that regulate and connect the entrepreneurship and innovation that takes place in university with real-life organizations, business and markets. The first one is the mentoring program offered by Ithaka. This one supports students, culture empowers professors, and alumni in developing their ideas in the pursuit of transforming them into entrepreneurs. This program launches a call to help eight companies, where in three months they assign them a mentor who has experience in the area each project needs, the programm counts with 25 academic staff as mentors. In fact, the seed funds competitions have a designated budget for Ithaka’s members. Also, Ithaka offers legal mentoring by a lawyer and professor of the university.</big></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><big>The second one is the “Ignis Convoca” programexplore entrepreneurial pathways, which while also gives students support but, at the same time, pushes them to participate in contests regional and international.</big></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big><span id="docs-internal-guid-13109c4b-7fff-7bf1-9cd7-927874d96264"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The university, a few years ago, organized activities to facilitate validation with incubators. An example of this was IdeasLab, a pre-incubation program, where mentoring, tutoring and training were given by mentors creating role models who help validate the participant ́s business plan.</span></span></big></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><big><span id="docs-internal-guid-13109c4b-7fff-7bf1-9cd7-927874d96264"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moreover, as UCU believes that social responsibility and engagement is important, it promoted with Ithaka a program called “Circular Opportunities” that provided tutorships and training to entrepreneurs trying to address social and environmental problems. These programs are no longer available in the university, but those mentioned above have increased their impact on the entrepreneurial area of the university.</span></span></big></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big><b>Job opportunities facilitators</b></big></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>“Feria Laboral” is an annual event. It is mainly a fair whose aim is inserting students into the labour market. This activity consists of a large number of companies from different fields gathered for this day in the university to describe, inform and offer different career opportunities that students can apply for.</big></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big><span id="docs-internal-guid-36e22a4e-7fff-ac8f-703d-47ebb2fe419e"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are several internships available as well, for inspire students that want to start working at the university, such opportunities include being part of the centers, the administration or the technical support. In addition, in the last year, a job portal has been developed, where students can upload their curriculum and discover job proposals that suit their skills.</span></span></big></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big><b>Work-practice opportunities</b></big></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Universidad Catolica del Uruguay offers infrastructure and resources for making pursue their own professional practices before graduation.</big></span></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big><span id="docs-internal-guid-dddfe150-7fff-034d-40ed-28c9e32574d9"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">UCU is currently going through a changing process, the whole university is turning into a more insightful and transversal education center aiming for an interdisciplinary and intercareer process of education and formation. Ucu is trying to make professionals adapt to today’s needs by teaching them that knowing a lot of only one thing is not the best way to approach the work market. Today’s needs require a deep but not professional knowledge about a vast amount of topics. UCU is making us try to be profesionales at projects and working in teams of different professions rather than solo workers.</span></span></big></span></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big><span id="docs-internal-guid-dddfe150-7fff-034d-40ed-28c9e32574d9"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a way to promote an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit in students, UCU has a wide variety of offers regarding work practices. In most majors, internships are offered in external companies for students who are about to finish their studies. In some departments, students are invited to carry out projects in collaboration with companies and with academic staff, as are the base of audiovisual technicians, the UCU business in company and the original content production line programs.</span></span></big></span></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big><span id="docs-internal-guid-dddfe150-7fff-034d-40ed-28c9e32574d9"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The engineering department has the engineering promotion fund by the ANII to promote engineering projects and many of the final year students chose to do the entrepreneurship variant of the final project.</span></span></big></span></span></div>The Computer Science career has incorporated a new kind of course, known as "Challenges"ventures. This is an opportunity for the students to show their streng
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[[Category:Universidad_Católica_del_Uruguay]]
s and innovative ideas as they work together on a three-week long pro
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ctThe '''Universidad Católica del Uruguay (UCU)''' fosters strong connections between academia and industry, in order to find a solution for a ensuring that students, faculty, and alumni engage with real problem that -world organizations, businesses, and markets. Collaboration is present in our societypromoted through structured programs, mentoring, fairs, and work-practice opportunities. <br /><div><span style==="font-size:small;"><span styleInnovation & Entrepreneurship="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big><span id="docs-internal-guid-dddfe150-7fff-034d-40ed-28c9e32574d9"><span style="background-colorUCU integrates entrepreneurship with industry via several flagship programs: transparent; font-variant-numeric *'''Íthaka Mentoring Program''': normal; font-variant-east-asianSupports students, faculty, and alumni in developing business ideas and transforming them into startups. Each year, eight projects are selected and paired with expert mentors, including 25 academic staff members. The program also includes access to '''seed funds''' and '''legal mentoring''' from UCU professors.*'''Ignis Convoca Program''': normal; verticalEncourages participation in '''regional and international competitions''', connecting students with global innovation networks.*'''IdeasLab (pre-alignincubation program)''': baseline; whiteProvided training, mentoring, and validation for early-spacestage ventures, laying the foundation for UCU’s incubation culture.*'''Circular Opportunities''': pre-wrap;">And last but not leastAlthough no longer active, this initiative trained entrepreneurs addressing '''social and environmental problems''', there is leaving a program offered by legacy of socially responsible innovation within Íthaka. ===Job Opportunities and Career Integration===UCU facilitates student access to the graduate school named Capstonelabor market through multiple initiatives: *'''Feria Laboral''': An annual career fair bringing together more than 80 companies from diverse sectors, providing information and direct hiring opportunities for UCU students.*'''UCU Job Portal''' (since 2023): An online platform where professional practices are supportedstudents upload CVs and apply to internships and jobs tailored to their skills.*'''On-campus internships''': Opportunities for students to gain experience in administration, research centers, given that are mandatory for every graduate studentand technical support within the University itself.</span></span></big></span></span></div>
==Engaging with regional and local economic development efforts=Work-Practice Opportunities=<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Uruguayan government is helping the startup industry flourish by implementing these institutions : National Agency of Research UCU emphasizes '''interdisciplinary and Innovation (ANII) and National Development Agency (ANDE). Enhancing thistransversal education''', the Co work spaces and the special Centers dedicated to supporting preparing students, postgraduates and graduates with an entrepreneurial spirit are an important base in the progress of the realization of ideas.</span></big></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Regarding to ANII, this institution makes available to the public funds for research projects, national and international postgraduate scholarships and incentive programs for innovative culture and entrepreneurshiptoday’s job market, both in the private and public sectors.</span></big></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">In relation to ANDE, their aim is to contribute to productive economic development, in a sustainable way, with social equity and environmental and territorial balance.</span></big></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Ithaka is the Sponsoring Institution of Entrepreneurship (IPE) in front of the National Research and Innovation Agency (ANII) and the National Development Agency (ANDE).</span></big></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks to the support of ANII and ANDE, Ithaka´s pre-incubated entrepreneurs will have access to capital to carry out the validation of their idea.</span></big></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">In turn, the Ithaka center has launched two competitions, Tecnolog and Kenn S George to promote and help the different entrepreneurs that apply. These are two workshops where the teams that submit their projects will be trained and the winner will obtain seed capital for their entrepreneurshipwhich demands teamwork across diverse disciplines rather than isolated specialization.</span></big></span></div>
*Most degrees include '''mandatory internships''' in external companies, particularly in senior years.
*Certain programs invite students to carry out '''joint projects with companies and academic staff''', such as audiovisual production, business consulting, and content creation.
*The '''Engineering Department''', supported by the '''Engineering Promotion Fund (ANII)''', allows senior students to complete an '''entrepreneurship-focused final project'''.
*'''Computer Science “Challenges” courses''': Three-week innovation sprints where teams propose solutions to real societal or business problems.
*'''Graduate School Capstone Program''': A compulsory applied project for all graduate students, directly connecting them to professional practice and industry partners.
Since last yearThrough these initiatives, IthaKa has joined forces with the Municipio CHUCU consolidates itself as a '''bridge between academia and industry''', promoting innovation, employability, ANDE and the Ministry of Interior, by supporting the project entrepreneurial spirit among its students and faculty.</div>==Engaging with regional and local economic development efforts==<div style="Andrés Abt Entrepeneurs´ sentry boxestext-align: justify;" (Garitas para emprendedores Andrés Abt). The main goal >[[Category:Universities]]o
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this project is to generate new job oportunities by allowing entrepeneurs to install their businesses in the old police sentry boxes that are now in disuse.
The chosen entrepeneurs are expected to adapt the sentry boxes, creating a space to show and sell their products and services, while they also contribute by improving the appearance of the place, adding a service to the c
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munity. <div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:small;"><big>The '''<span id="docs-internal-guid-da02c675-7fff-5720-b0ee-7f1b6ab3a6c5"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">UCU ́s Strategic Plan for the Future</span></span>Uruguayan government'''</big></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-da02c675-7fff-5720-b0ee-7f1b6ab3a6c5"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a diverse and alarming world, we have has been strengthening the challenge of committing ourselves to startup ecosystem through the creation '''National Agency of sustained value in Research and Innovation (ANII)''' and the relationships and decisions we make daily'''National Development Agency (ANDE)'''.</span></span></span></big></span></div><div><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arialBoth institutions play a central role in funding,helveticamentoring,sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-da02c675-7fff-5720-b0ee-7f1b6ab3a6c5"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In UCU ́s Strategic Planand supporting innovation initiatives in Uruguay. ANII provides grants for research projects, the aim is to be more innovativenational and international postgraduate scholarships, creative, inclusive and open to the worldprograms that foster an entrepreneurial culture in both public and private sectors. ANDE focuses on sustainable economic development with social equity and territorial balance. </span></span></span></big></span></div><div><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-da02c675-7fff-5720-b0ee-7f1b6ab3a6c5"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When students learn UCU, through the sky isn't the limit''Íthaka Center''', therefore UCU is constantly reinventing so that the academic experience is enhancedrecognized as an official '''Sponsoring Institution of Entrepreneurship (Institución Patrocinadora de Emprendimientos – IPE)''' before ANII and ANDE. UCU is achieving that by providing day Thanks to day new coursesthis recognition, careers, or even a new institution (Íthaka’s pre-incubated entrepreneurs gain access to capital and resources to validate and scale their ideas. Íthaka also runs competitions such as it is UCU Business School)'''Tecnolog''' and '''Kenn S. </span></span></span></big></span></div><div><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arialGeorge''',helveticawhich provide teams with workshops,sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-da02c675-7fff-5720-b0ee-7f1b6ab3a6c5"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every day that passesmentoring, and seed capital for the winning projects. These initiatives have positioned UCU tries to be a better university, where all as one of the stakeholders contribute to overall sustainable developmentmost active universities in fostering early-stage entrepreneurship in Uruguay.</span></span></span></big></span></div><div><br /></div>
Since 2023, Íthaka has partnered with '''Municipio CH''', '''ANDE''', and the '''Ministry of Interior''' in the '''“Andrés Abt Entrepreneurs’ Sentry Boxes” project''', which repurposes disused police booths into spaces for entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their products. This project not only generates new job opportunities but also contributes to urban renewal and community integration.
===UCU’s Strategic Plan for the Future===
Aligned with its '''Strategic Plan 2025''', UCU commits to fostering value creation in academia and society. The University’s priorities include becoming more '''innovative, inclusive, creative, and globally connected'''. UCU constantly reinvents itself through new degree programs, interdisciplinary approaches, and initiatives such as the '''UCU Business School''' and international partnerships.
Looking ahead, UCU is preparing to reinforce this commitment through the creation of a '''Vice-Rectorate for Innovation''', which will unify and expand all entrepreneurial, technological, and creative initiatives within the institution. This new structure will act as a transversal axis across faculties, ensuring that innovation is not only a support area but also a '''core element of the university’s identity'''.
By consolidating a dedicated Vice-Rectorate for Innovation, UCU seeks to accelerate its growth, attract international collaborations, and position itself as a '''regional benchmark in innovation-driven higher education'''. This initiative will strengthen collaboration with industry, foster research commercialization, and empower students and faculty to lead projects with real and lasting impact.<br />
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==Related Links==
[[Fellow:Leticia Juncal|Leticia Juncal]]
[[Fellow:Marco Montelatici|Marco Montelatici]] {{CatTree|Universidad_Católica_del_Uruguay}}
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