17 April 2008 ORT Moscow College wins grant for excellence The Russian Government has awarded a grant worth 58 million Rubles ($2.48 million) to the Moscow ORT Technology College, effectively recognising it as one of the best educational institutions in the country. The College successfully competed against hundreds of other institutions to receive the grant, which is part of the federal governments policy of supporting innovative vocational colleges. Most importantly, winning this grant is official recognition of the College as one of the best innovative educational establishments not only in Moscow but in the whole of Russia, said Yuri Mironenko, the Director of the ORT Moscow Technology College. This grant also means that we can significantly upgrade our facilities and so provide students with the skills and knowledge that are in high demand among leading companies. The Technology College, which has been part of the ORT network since 1996, has long had a reputation as one of Moscows leading educational establishments. In 2005, Moscows education authority recognised ORTs high standards by amalgamating three vocational colleges into the ORT Technology College. Consequently, the Colleges 2,400 students are enrolled in courses ranging from finance, advertising, fashion and retail to vocational retraining and qualification upgrading for teachers, and part-time courses in drawing, painting and 3-D graphics. Since 2001, the College has hosted the Jack Lawson Vocational Training Centre (pictured), which is sponsored by the Carole and Geoffrey Lawson Foundation. The VTC provides courses in Information and Communication Technology and Jewish Studies for local people as well as forming the hub of an increasingly sophisticated and far-reaching distance learning network. This is wonderful recognition of the hard work, dedication and professionalism of the staff at the ORT Moscow Technology College, said Avi Ganon, World ORTs Representative in Russia, Belarus and Central Asia. ORT continues to be at the forefront of practical education and training in Russia that is relevant to prevailing needs 128 years after it was founded in this country. The federal government grant is icing on the cake of the Moscow education authoritys continued support for the Colleges innovations. This support has meant we have been able to establish a catering studio, new design studios, video studios and a resource centre for catering in which we have master-classes given by top chefs from the citys finest restaurants, Mr Mironenko said. He added that the College was on the way to becoming an elite educational establishment offering graduates the best possible opportunities to pursue their career of choice in Russias leading businesses. We realise that all this would be impossible without the start-up and long term support we have received from ORT, Mr Mironnenko said. ORT provides us with our core philosophy, technical support and training aids as well as wide-open horizons for our teachers and students. I look forward to this fruitful cooperation continuing. World ORT Director General Robert Singer said: I am delighted by this latest recognition of ORTs work. This time last year it was the ORT de Gunzburg School in St Petersburg which won the prestigious Presidents Prize for innovation and excellence. Now the ORT Moscow Technology College has won this well-deserved grant. With the right support, ORT schools and colleges can, and do, achieve superb results.