Perhaps you sense the echoes of history here at UTU Central. This building has been at the heart of technical education in Uruguay since 1878.
UTU Central started as the Arts and Trades School. It was founded on December 31, 1878 during Lorenzo Latorre’s presidency. The school began in a military installation. It was under the War Ministry. Initially, many students were troubled youths arrested by the police or army. They were taught reading and a trade.
In 1887, the school shifted to the Justice, Culture and Public Instruction Ministry. It was renamed the National Arts and Trades School. UTU Central represented Uruguay at the Paris International Exposition in 1889. This event inaugurated the Eiffel Tower. That same year, the National Charity and Public Beneficence Commission took over its administration.
In 1890, UTU Central moved to this very location on San Salvador Street. This is in Montevideo’s Palermo neighborhood.
The National Charity and Public Beneficence Commission stopped managing it in 1908. The Industry, Work and Public Instruction Ministry created a Directive Council. Pedro Figari joined the school’s Directive Council two years later.
In July 1916, the Directive Council became the General Direction of Industrial Education. Pedro Figari became its first director. He made significant changes. Figari eliminated the boarding school system. He transformed it into a mixed-sex education institute. Classes were then offered for women. Decentralization began expanding to the capital’s outer zones. It also expanded to cities in the rest of the country.
The Mechanic and Electro-technic school opened on May 8, 1922.
On September 9, 1942, the National School of Arts and Trades became the Work University of Uruguay. This happened after Law 10.225 was approved. UTU Central occupied the same building. It inherited the existing students.
Tertiary education cycles started in 1962. These cycles covered electronics, electrotechnics and mechanics.
In 1985, the Education Law changed UTU’s administration. The Professional Technical Education Council of the National Public Education Administration took over.
The Technological Engineer career started in 1986.
Today, UTU Central offers many education levels. These include basic cycle middle school and medium professional education. Also offered are medium technological education and tertiary level technicature. These are in collaboration with the University of the Republic Uruguay. Technological Engineering, diplomates and short trade courses are available too. Some courses require complete secondary education. This can be through regular secondary school or a UTU secondary course.
Its official name is now General Direction of Technical-Professional Education. Yet, it keeps its original acronym UTU. UTU Central now offers over 600 courses. These courses are grouped into eight areas. These are architecture and construction and informatics. Also included are industry, administration and commerce and arts and humanities. Services, journalism and communications and agronomy are also course areas.
UTU Central has shaped countless lives. It continues to be a vital institution. It provides technical and scientific education to Uruguayans. The legacy of UTU Central is etched into this building’s walls. It also lives on in the professionals who have passed through its doors.