More than a seal, UTEC "is a consolation prize; I lost in all the fields" of education, acknowledged yesterday the former president José Mujica at the inauguration of the second regional institute for technological studies. The now senator dreamed of a "brutal decentralization of the UTU" and to make local universities outside the Codicen, but had to settle for the UTEC that has enrolled 850 students.
The headquarters opened yesterday in Durazno, where the former Emilio Penza Hospital used to operate, has a capacity for 2,000 students. The authorities intend that between this institute and the one already consolidated in Fray Bentos, UTEC will have 3,000 students by 2020.
In Durazno, the following degrees are offered: Irrigation, Drainage and Effluent Management Engineering; Technologist in Renewable Energies, and Technician in Information Technologies.
The first 16 graduates of the latter course were awarded their degrees. These students had begun their studies in a provisional seat, in Air Force facilities, and continued in the institute that was inaugurated yesterday but that had been opened unofficially.
In addition to Mujica, UTEC councilors Pablo Chilibroste and Rodolfo Silveira, the president of Codicen, Wilson Netto, the mayor of Durazno, Carmelo Vidalín, and the vice-president Lucía Topolansky were also present.
The vice-president told the Presidential website that "the UTEC cost a lot, it was a bet that was necessary but that had to risk to make it happen", and that she "knows the key role played by the legislators of the interior to make it happen". (Production: Víctor Darwin Rodríguez)
Source: El País
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