Bruno Guillen

Bruno Guillen's journey is a testament to the power of seizing unexpected opportunities.  Bruno's decision to explore the possibility of teaching led him back to the secondary technical education institution where he had once been a student and graduated.  

What an incredible twist of fate to discover that they were actively seeking a teacher and Bruno's background as an electromechanical technician allowed him to step into the role and begin teaching workshop classes right away.  Starting with sixth-year electricity workshops, he took charge of the CAD workshop in 2013 to teach technical education and has never looked back. 

His work with computer equipment and 3D printers has had societal benefits, too with a social psychologist and rehabilitation doctor approaching the school in 2019 to discuss the problems of people with rheumatoid arthritis accessing devices. Together, they created a series of assistive devices that help sufferers with everyday tasks, including opening a bottle of water, working zips, fastening buttons, gripping pencils, pens and brushes, and making keychains that make it easy to open a door. Providing these items to those who need them is free, as the project is sustained by seeking donations and Bruno’s students succeeding in science and technology production contests. 

To ensure that as many students as possible are helped – many from impoverished backgrounds attend his school – Bruno works double shifts at the secondary school from Monday to Friday and half a day on Saturdays as a teaching assistant at the National Technological University. Bruno’s teaching approach incorporates inviting students who finish projects to help others who may be experiencing difficulties to offer peer support, generating empathy and mentoring among the student body. He also organises trips to show students how patients suffering from arthritis are coping and to prompt them to help with innovations that may alleviate their conditions. 

To help ensure students can move into a worthwhile career once they complete their studies, Bruno carries out extensive outreach to business and tech concerns, laying the groundwork for activities such as a trip to the Balseiro Institute and Atomic Center of the city. Here, students can see the projects the professionals are working on and their latest technology, machinery and other areas related to the curriculum and profile of the soon-to-graduate.  At events like this, his students get to see 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC milling machines and CNC lathes in full industrial use. 

Many of Bruno’s students are excelling in their university studies and going on to successful careers in industrial design, traumatology and medicine. He immerses himself in the life of his school, undertaking a wide range of work, including giving free tutorial classes to students who may be struggling with technical drawing, helping make the emergency evacuation plans for his school, designing and constructing metal stairs for a workshop, organised soccer tournaments, a youth week and technical education week, visited primary schools to explain what his institution does, helped in the construction and design of electric cars to participate in the YPF eco challenge.  His work has received multiple commendations at his school and has also been commended by the Ministry of Education.