In Montevideo, the organization was founded in 1942 by members of the Jewish community who wanted to support the waves of immigrants fleeing Nazi barbarism, teaching trades to facilitate their social integration into the economy and public life of the country. ORT Uruguay University is the largest private university in the country, with more than 12,000 students in five faculties and institutes. It was recognized as a university by the Ministry of Education and Culture on 17 September 1996. Established in 1942, ORT Uruguay is a private non-profit membership of World ORT, one of the largest non-governmental educational organizations in the world, with over 250,000 students. Founded in 1880 by the Jewish community of St. Petersburg, it is currently present in over 60 countries.