Changes

[[File:LogoUCU.png|thumb|Logo UCU|link== <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-asianSpecial: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overview<FilePath/span></span> ==LogoUCU.png]]<div><span style="font-size:small;text-aling[[File:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>'''Catholic University of Uruguay''' is a private university in Uruguay opened in 1985. It was the only private university in the country for 11 years until 1996. Its full name is Universidad Católica del Uruguay Dámaso Antonio Larrañaga, and is a work of the Society of Jesus.</big></span></span></div><div><span stylejpg|alt="font-size|thumb|UCU Campus Montevideo]][[File:small;textCampus-aling:justify"><span style="fontUCU-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Its main campus is spread out in 10 locations in Montevideo in Parque Batlle Neighbourhood; there are two other campuses, in PDE.jpg|thumb|UCU Campus Punta Del del Este and Salto.</big></span></span></div><div><span style|link="font-sizeSpecial:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br/><big>The university is first divided into six Academic Units:<FilePath/big></span></span></div>*<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 and Human Sciences</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="fontCampus-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Engineering and Technologies</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size: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>PDE.jpg]]

<div><span><br/><big>The university is divided into departments:</big></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;">=<span styleid="font-family:arial,helvetica,sansdocs-serif;"><big>Odontology</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="fontinternal-size:small;"><span style="fontguid-family:arial,helvetica,sans40ef68fe-serif;"><big>Psychology </big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font7fff-size:small;"><span style="font81af-family:arial,helvetica,sans3506-serif;62f9f516a9c1"><big>Administration and Business</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small17pt;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serifArial;"><big>Wellness and health</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="fontbackground-sizecolor:smalltransparent;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Exact and Natural Sciences </big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="fontvariant-sizenumeric:smallnormal;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sansvariant-serif;"><big>Social Sciences</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="fonteast-sizeasian:smallnormal;"><span style="fontvertical-familyalign:arial,helvetica,sans-serifbaseline;"><big>Law</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="fontwhite-sizespace:small;"><span style="fontpre-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serifwrap;"><big>Education</big>Overview</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:arialThe '''Universidad Católica del Uruguay (UCU)''',helveticafounded in 1985,sans-serif;"><big>Humanities is the oldest and largest private university in Uruguay. It was the only private university in the country for more than a decade. UCU is run by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and is recognized nationally and communication</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arialinternationally for combining academic excellence,helveticasocial commitment,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 and learning</big></span></span></div>innovation.

<div><span><br/><big>There are eight specialized centres:</big></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>Ludus Center</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arialThe main campus is located in '''Montevideo (Parque Batlle)''',helveticawith additional campuses in '''Punta del Este''' and '''Salto''',sans-serif;"><big>Continuing Education Center</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-sizeand outreach centers in other regions. UCU has six academic units:small;"><span style="font-family:arial'''Health Sciences,helveticaBusiness Sciences,sans-serif;"><big>Language Center</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arialLaw and Human Sciences,helveticaEngineering and Technologies,sans-serif;"><big>Methodological Center</big></span></span></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arialUCU Business School,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></div>*<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arialand the Graduate School''',helveticawith over 11,sans-serif;"><big>Berit Center</big></span></span></div>000 students.

== 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 Uruguay''' believes that innovation and entrepreneurship are of huge importance and, therefore, has various different ways to promote its students to engage in this area. Not only are there courses that indirectly provoke students to feel intrigued and widen their knowledge in this area, but UCU The university 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(17operates several specialized centers, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-alignsuch as: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">IthaKa</span>'''<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 in innovation and problem solving.</span></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;"><span>In 2020 a group of students interested in innovation, gathered to notice problems happening at that time in university and think of creative solutions. 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,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Ithaka ,working together with the Communications Department,started 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 this year, and it consists of students interviewing local business leaders like CEOs,and sharing it on live via Zoom meetings.</span></span></big></span></div>

== Encouraging faculty innovation and entrepreneurship:*'''Íthaka Center''' (Innovation &nbsp; ==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 to pursue it, it is extremely important to have the university*'''Ludus Center'''s support and guidance(Educational Innovation).</big></span></span></div><br/><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>This is the reason why IthaKa, 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 ecosystem, promote innovation *'''Agora Center''' (Leadership and creativity for the development of ventures that contribute to the development of a more prosperous, fair and humane societyPublic Life).</big></span></span></div><br/><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><big>In fact, Ithaka already created many entrepreneurs and innovators. For instance, Sebastian Fernandez, an Engineering student of UCU, together with íthaka*'''Ignis Center'''s help (Research on Digital Culture and support founded a successful enterprise called TuPaseCommunication). TuPase is an App that allows companies to involve their employees in physical activity by providing access to the largest network of sports centers in Uruguay, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Paraguay and Panama. /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 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 entrepreneurs *'''University Health Clinics''' (Primary Care and already entrepreneurs of the city gather and take part in talks to inspire, teach entrepreneurial skills and promote innovationCommunity Health).</span></span></big></span></span></div><div></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;">IthaKa not only offers a wide variety of workshops for circular economy entrepreneurs but also competitions for students to develop the innovation part during their studies such as “Suma innovación a tu carrera” or “Tecnolog”. For those who need some mentoring, IthaKa also helps find someone through its mentoring innovation program*'''Berit Center''' (Jewish Studies).</span></span></big></span></span></div><div></div>

== Facilitating university-industry collaboration ==<div><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arialUCU’s strategic orientation combines '''academic rigor,helveticainternationalization,sans-serif;"><big>UCU facilitates the relationship between industry and the university in multiple wayssustainability, 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, 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 aligning 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 Jesuit values 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” program, which also gives students support but, at the same time, pushes them to participate in contests regional service 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 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 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 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><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;">And last but not least, there is a program offered by the graduate school named Capstone, where professional practices are supported, given that are mandatory for every graduate studentleadership.</span></span></big></span></span></div>

== Engaging with regional Promoting student innovation and local economic development efforts entrepreneurship==<div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Uruguayan government Promoting '''student innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E)''' is helping the startup industry flourish by implementing these institutions&nbsp;: National Agency one of Research and UCU’s strongest pillars. The '''Íthaka Center for Innovation (ANII) and National Development Agency (ANDE). Enhancing thisEntrepreneurship''' plays a leading role, providing students with mentoring, incubation, workshops, the Co work spaces and the special Centers dedicated competitions that allow them to supporting students'''discover, learn, postgraduates and graduates experiment''' with an entrepreneurial spirit are an important base in the progress of the realization of new ideas.</span></big></span></div><div style="text-alignMain initiatives include: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family: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, design sprints,helveticaand innovation bootcamps.*'''Innovation Community''' (since 2020),sansa student-serif;">Regarding driven initiative to ANIIsolve campus challenges.*'''Podcast “Onda Emprendedora”''' and open sessions with local entrepreneurs.*'''“Intervalos” Project''', this institution makes available to the public funds for research projects, national live student interviews with CEOs and international postgraduate scholarships business leaders. Between 2023 and incentive 2025, Íthaka launched additional programs : *''Potenciá Gastronomía'': training and networking for innovative culture culinary entrepreneurs.*''Mujeres que Construyen'': supporting women in construction and design industries.*''Capacitaciones EDMP'': training in entrepreneurial design and entrepreneurshipmanagement practices.*''Emprendimiento que Quiere Crecer'': accelerator program for scaling startups. In 2025, UCU students joined the '''University Innovation Fellows (UIF)''' global network, both consolidating UCU’s role in the private fostering entrepreneurship aligned with Stanford d.school and public sectorsTwente University frameworks.</span></big></span></div><div style =="text-align: justify;"><span styleActively supporting the university technology transfer function="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-familyUCU 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:arial *'''Patent registration''' and IP rights.*'''Legal mentoring''' for student and faculty startups.*'''Seed fund competitions''' that include IP advisory services. In 2024,helveticaUCU launched new training modules on '''IP law,sans-serif;">In relation to ANDEstartup financing,&nbsp; their aim is to contribute to productive economic developmentand innovation contracts''', strengthening its role as a facilitator of technology transfer in a sustainable way, with social equity and environmental and territorial balanceUruguay’s academic ecosystem.</span></big></span></div><div style =="textFacilitating university-align: justify;"><span styleindustry collaboration="font-size:small;"><big><span style="font-familyUCU actively connects students and faculty with industry partners. Collaboration channels include:arial *'''Íthaka Mentoring Program''',helveticalinking projects with industry experts.*'''Ignis Convoca''',sansencouraging participation in international innovation contests.*'''IdeasLab''', a pre-serif;">Ithaka is incubation program to validate business models.*'''Circular Opportunities''', an initiative to support sustainable business models. Employment and career integration: *'''Career Fair (Feria Laboral)''', the largest in the Sponsoring Institution of Entrepreneurship country, where 80+ companies meet UCU students annually.*'''UCU Job Portal''' (IPEsince 2023) , matching students with internships and jobs.*Professional practices in front of the National Research '''Engineering, Communication, Medicine, and Innovation Agency Business''', often developed with companies as final projects. Academic–industry innovation: *'''Engineering Promotion Fund (ANII) and the National Development Agency ''' supports senior-year entrepreneurship projects.*'''“Challenges” courses''' in Computer Science (ANDEteam-based solutions to real problems in 3-week sprints).</span></big></span>*'''Graduate School Capstone Program''', requiring every graduate student to engage in applied professional practice. These collaborations ensure UCU graduates are prepared for '''interdisciplinary teamwork and market challenges'''.</div><div style =="text-align: justify;"><span styleEncouraging faculty innovation and entrepreneurship="font-size:small;"><big><span style="fontFaculty are actively encouraged to integrate innovation in both '''teaching and research'''. The '''Ludus Center''' supports professors in adopting '''project-family:arialbased learning, digital transformation,helveticaand AI in education''',sans-serif;">Thanks to the support of ANII offering training and ANDEcertification programs. Professors also act as mentors within Íthaka’s programs, guiding student startups in legal, financial, Ithaka´s&nbsp; pre-incubated and technical aspects. Several UCU faculty members are themselves entrepreneurs will have access to capital to carry out the validation of their idea.or serve as con</span></bigspan>su</span></divspan>lta<div><br/span></divspan><div><span style="font-sizents for companies, bringing industry expertise into the classroom. Recent highlights (2023–2025):small;"><big> *Expansion of '''faculty mentoring networks'''<span id="docsin Íthaka programs.*Faculty-internalled applied research projects with direct commercialization potential.*Growth of '''interdisciplinary teaching teams''', e.g., Medicine + Engineering in health-guidtech projects.*Launch of '''faculty innovation workshops''' in sustainable business and circular economy. This culture empowers professors to explore entrepreneurial pathways, while also creating role models who inspire students to pursue their own ventures. ==Facilitating university-da02c675-7fff-5720-b0ee-7f1b6ab3a6c5"industry collaboration==<div><span style="background-color[[Category: transparent; font-variant-numericSchools]][[Category: normal; font-variant-east-asianUniversidad_Católica_del_Uruguay]][[Category: normal; vertical-alignUniversities]][[Category: baseline; white-spaceSchools]][[Category: pre-wrap;">Universidad_Católica_del_Uruguay]]The '''Universidad Católica del Uruguay (UCU ́s Strategic Plan for the Future</span></span>)'''</big></span></div><div><br/></div><div><span style="fontfosters strong connections between academia and industry, ensuring that students, faculty, and alumni engage with real-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arialworld organizations, businesses, and markets. Collaboration is promoted through structured programs, mentoring,helveticafairs,sansand work-serif;"><span idpractice opportunities. ===Innovation & Entrepreneurship=="docs-internal-guid-da02c675-7fff-5720-b0ee-7f1b6ab3a6c5"><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;">In a diverse Although no longer active, this initiative trained entrepreneurs addressing '''social and alarming worldenvironmental problems''', we have the challenge leaving a legacy of committing ourselves socially responsible innovation within Íthaka. ===Job Opportunities and Career Integration===UCU facilitates student access to the creation of sustained value in the relationships labor market through multiple initiatives: *'''Feria Laboral''': An annual career fair bringing together more than 80 companies from diverse sectors, providing information and decisions we make dailydirect hiring opportunities for UCU students.</span></span></span></big></span></div><div><span style="font-size*'''UCU Job Portal''' (since 2023):small;"><big><span style="fontAn online platform where students upload CVs and apply to internships and jobs tailored to their skills.*'''On-familycampus internships''':arialOpportunities for students to gain experience in administration,helveticaresearch centers,sansand technical support within the University itself. ===Work-serif;"><span idPractice Opportunities=="docs-internal-guid-da02c675-7fff-5720-b0ee-7f1b6ab3a6c5"><span style="backgroundUCU emphasizes '''interdisciplinary and transversal education''', preparing students for today’s job market, which demands teamwork across diverse disciplines rather than isolated specialization. *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-colorfocused final project'''.*'''Computer Science “Challenges” courses''': transparent; fontThree-variant-numericweek innovation sprints where teams propose solutions to real societal or business problems.*'''Graduate School Capstone Program''': normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In A compulsory applied project for all graduate students, directly connecting them to professional practice and industry partners. Through these initiatives, UCU ́s Strategic Planconsolidates itself as a '''bridge between academia and industry''', the aim is to be more innovativepromoting innovation, creativeemployability, inclusive and open to the worldentrepreneurial spirit among its students and faculty.&nbsp;</span></span></span></big></span></div>==Engaging with regional and local economic development efforts==<div><span style="fonttext-sizealign:smalljustify;"><big><span style="font-family[[Category:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-da02c675-7fff-5720-b0ee-7f1b6ab3a6c5"><span style="background-colorUniversities]][[Category: transparent; font-variant-numericSchools]][[Category: normal; font-variant-east-asianUniversidad_Católica_del_Uruguay]][[Category: normal; vertical-alignUniversities]][[Category: baseline; white-spaceSchools]][[Category: pre-wrap;">When students learn, Universidad_Católica_del_Uruguay]]The '''Uruguayan government''' has been strengthening the startup ecosystem through the sky isn't ''National Agency of Research and Innovation (ANII)''' and the limit'''National Development Agency (ANDE)'''. Both institutions play a central role in funding, therefore mentoring, and supporting innovation initiatives in Uruguay. ANII provides grants for research projects, national and international postgraduate scholarships, and programs that foster an entrepreneurial culture in both public and private sectors. ANDE focuses on sustainable economic development with social equity and territorial balance. UCU , through the '''Íthaka Center''', is constantly reinventing so that recognized as an official '''Sponsoring Institution of Entrepreneurship (Institución Patrocinadora de Emprendimientos – IPE)''' before ANII and ANDE. Thanks to this recognition, Íthaka’s pre-incubated entrepreneurs gain access to capital and resources to validate and scale their ideas. Íthaka also runs competitions such as '''Tecnolog''' and '''Kenn S. George''', which provide teams with workshops, mentoring, and seed capital for the academic experience is enhancedwinning projects. These initiatives have positioned UCU is achieving that by providing day as one of the most active universities in fostering early-stage entrepreneurship in Uruguay. 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 day showcase and sell their products. This project not only generates new coursesjob 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, careerscreative, or even a and globally connected'''. UCU constantly reinvents itself through new institution (degree programs, interdisciplinary approaches, and initiatives such as it is the '''UCU Business School)''' and international partnerships.&nbsp;</span></span></span></big></span></div><div><span style="font Looking ahead, UCU is preparing to reinforce this commitment through the creation of a '''Vice-size:small;"><big><span style="font-family:arialRectorate for Innovation''', which will unify and expand all entrepreneurial, technological,helveticaand creative initiatives within the institution. This new structure will act as a transversal axis across faculties,sansensuring that innovation is not only a support area but also a '''core element of the university’s identity'''. By consolidating a dedicated Vice-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 passesRectorate for Innovation, UCU tries seeks to be accelerate its growth, attract international collaborations, and position itself as a better university'''regional benchmark in innovation-driven higher education'''. This initiative will strengthen collaboration with industry, foster research commercialization, where all the stakeholders contribute and empower students and faculty to overall sustainable developmentlead projects with real and lasting impact.</span></span></span></big></span></div><div><br/></div>== Related Links ==

'''Fall 2023 Fellows''' [https://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Fellow:Martin_Silva Martin Silva] [Categoryhttps://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Fellow:Alfonso_Gesto Alfonso Gesto] [https://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Fellow:Sof%C3%ADa_Souto Sofia Souto] [https://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Fellow:Camila_D%27Oliveira Camila D'Oliveira] '''Fall 2025 Fellows''' [[Fellow:UniversitiesValentina Bartora Marchissio|Valentina Bartora Marchissio]] [[CategoryFellow:SchoolsFelipe Becoña|Felipe Becoña]] [[CategoryFellow:Universidad_Católica_del_UruguayLeticia Juncal|Leticia Juncal]] [[Fellow:Marco Montelatici|Marco Montelatici]] {{CatTree|Universidad_Católica_del_Uruguay}}<big><div style="border-top-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 2px; border-color: #a7d7f8; background-image: linear-gradient(#f7fafd, #cee7f8);"><span style="margin-left: 10px;">'''Related links'''</span><div style="margin-left: 12px;"><div class="CategoryTreeTag" data-ct-mode="20" 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href='/wiki/School:Universidad_Cat%C3%B3lica_del_Uruguay' title='School:Universidad Católica del Uruguay'>School:Universidad Católica del Uruguay</a></div><div class="CategoryTreeChildren" style="display:none"></div></div><div class="CategoryTreeSection"><div class="CategoryTreeItem"><span class="CategoryTreeBullet"> </span> <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs3756 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/Priorities:Universidad_Cat%C3%B3lica_del_Uruguay_Faculty_Projects' title='Priorities:Universidad Católica del Uruguay Faculty Projects'>Priorities:Universidad Católica del Uruguay Faculty Projects</a></div><div class="CategoryTreeChildren" style="display:none"></div></div><div class="CategoryTreeSection"><div class="CategoryTreeItem"><span class="CategoryTreeBullet"> </span> <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs3756 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/Priorities:Universidad_Cat%C3%B3lica_del_Uruguay_Student_Priorities' title='Priorities:Universidad Católica del Uruguay Student Priorities'>Priorities:Universidad Católica del Uruguay Student Priorities</a></div><div class="CategoryTreeChildren" style="display:none"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></big>----<br /><br /><br /><br />