UNIVERSIDAD DE LOS ANDES

FACULTAD DE HUMANIDADES Y EDUCACIÓN

ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS MODERNOS

My Internship experience at ZOLCCYT, Mérida.

Ihiruye Rebolledo Piñero

Mérida, Diciembre del 2007

1
 UNIVERSIDAD DE LOS ANDES
FACULTAD DE HUMANIDADES Y EDUCACIÓN
ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS MODERNOS

My internship experience at ZOLCCYT, Mérida.

Informe final de Pasantías presentado por el Br. Ihiruye Rebolledo como requisito parcial
para optar al título de Licenciado en Idiomas Modernos

2
Nombre y Apellido: Ihiruye Rebolledo Piñero

Cédula de Identidad: 16.656.695

Carrera: Licenciatura en Idiomas Modernos

Tutor Académico: Prof. Olga Muñoz

Título del Informe: Informe de mis pasantías en la Zona Libre Cultural, Científica y

Tecnológica del Estado Mérida (ZOLCCYT)

Identificación de la Institución Sede:

- Organismo: Zona Libre Cultural, Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida

(ZOLCCYT)

- Departamento o Unidad: Oficina de Administración y Servicios

- Dirección: Dirección de Operaciones Generales

Nombre y Apellido del Responsable Institucional: Prof. Alberto Pérez Maldonado

Cargo: Asistente de Producción para la Promoción Institucional.

Duración de las pasantías: Doce (12) semanas

- Fecha de inicio: Dos (2) de Octubre del 2006

- Fecha de finalización: Veintidós (22) de Diciembre del 2006

3
 INDEX:

 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

 CHAPTER I: The Cultural, Scientific, and Technological Free Trade Zone of

Mérida State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

- ZOLCCYT’s organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

- Organizational Structure (diagram). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

 CHAPTER II: Department and Offices where I participated: My activities in the

Institution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Assigned Tasks:

- Investment and Business Opportunities in Mérida and the Free Zone”

Magazine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

- Others. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

 CHAPTER III: My experiences in the Institution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

- ZOLCCYT in the present. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

- The Institution and Me. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

- Doing the work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

 The Research. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

 Tentative structure to follow for the organization of information to use

in the creation of a magazine (diagram) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..20

 Editing and Processing the Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

 Drafting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

 The English version. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

 The result. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

4
 - Summary of Other jobs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

 Improving the presentation of the System of Companies in Fiscal

Operations (EROF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

 CONCLUSIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

- On the Institution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

- About the School of Modern Languages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

- About the personal experience and the Student situation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

 BIBLIOGRAPHY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

- Tangible reference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

- Virtual references. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

5
 APPENDIX:

Tangible:

 Petition letter for internships……………………...………….……………..A,1

 Acceptation letter for the internships……………………..………………...A,2

 Evolution of the corrections to the EROF system and web site……...B,1 – B,7

 List of Inscribed Companies…………………………………..............C,1 - C,3

Virtual:

 The full structure

 The work done

 The virtual version (Report)

6
 INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, at the beginning of the XXI century, the political, economic and social

tendencies have shown not to be as effective as previously thought. As these systems

where designed and established by foreign interests, the main problem is that those

system models are not adapted to the real needs of each organization and each country.

Because of this, organizations have implemented research strategies in order to find

effective solutions to be more flexible in today’s world. Globalization is considered the

principal influential phenomenon that directly affects institutional development (private

and public as well). Not just adapting themselves to this phenomenon, but also using it as

a tool in which institutions are constantly trying to participate directly as part of it. Being

aware of this situation, the Venezuelan government has been implementing strategies in

order of not being left behind in the international race. The principal strategy is to use

international trade, not only as an economic interest, but also as a way of social

development.

In 1995 a Special Fiscal Regime was declared by the National Government in

Mérida State, in which those products and articles justified as scientific, cultural or

technological reasons has not been just an economic interest but also a social one as they

participate directly in the national development. Considering that the Metropolitan Area

of Mérida and particularly the Capital City (with the same name) has a tremendous

potential in these three fields (Science, Culture and Technology), the creation of the
1
ZOLCCYT was the best option to take.

1
ZOLCCYT: Scientific, Cultural and Technological Free Trade Zone of Mérida State according to its
capital letters in Spanish.

7
 As a modern language student, since very early in my studies, I was interested in

this institution due to the possibilities it offered Mérida City and its residents. So, when it

was time to choose a place to do my internship, I collected information and wrote a small

report to explain to my Academic Tutor the reasons for my interest in this institution. I

started my internship there on October 2nd of 2.006 and finished on December 22nd of the

same year. I worked in the Direction of General Operations under the tutelage of the

professor Alberto Pérez Maldonado. My schedule was from 8am to 12m and from 1pm to

4:30pm during the twelve (12) weeks previously agreed. The following is a report on my

internship in the Scientific, Cultural and technological Free Trade Zone of Mérida. It is

divided in three main chapters; which are:

 CHAPTER I: The Cultural, Scientific and Technological Free Trade Zone of

Mérida (ZOLCCYT): A general explanation of the Institution that contains a brief

history, its function as institution, mission, vision, general and specific objectives, its

institutional organization and a small analysis about its present situation.

 CHAPTER II: Department and Offices where I worked in: My activities in

the Institution: A description of the Direction of General Operations and its Office of

Administration and Services and Office of Computing and Telecommunications.

 CHAPTER III: My experiences in the Institution: The Institution and Me: A

description of my situation at the ZOLCCYT; Doing the work: A detailed description

about the making of Investment Opportunities Magazine: The research, edition, treatment

of the information, writing, the English version and the result.

8
 CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions and final results of my Internship in general,

personal experience and some comments to the ZOLCCYT, Modern Language School

and its Students.

9
 CHAPTER I: The Cultural, Scientific, and Technological Free Trade Zone of

Mérida State:

On Friday, July 14th, 1995, the Venezuelan Congress decreed by law the Cultural,

Scientific, and Technological Free Trade Zone of Mérida state 2. It was created as a fiscal

tool that promotes international commerce with the goal of encouraging scientific,

technological, and cultural development of the state, and by extension the whole national

territory. The principal function, control and exoneration of the main taxes of those

companies that participate and promote the development in CC&T (science, culture and

technology), this is under the supervision of the Finances Ministry.

Since February 2003, ZOLCCYT has been working as a decentralized administrative

unit assigned to the Viceminister of Control and Regulation (which belongs to the

Ministry of Finance). Its general functions (control, promotion, and registration) are

coordinated in Mérida city by a board, which is led by a General Director who represents

the Finance Ministry. There are also representatives from the Science and Technological

Ministry, Culture Ministry, the Light Industry and Commerce, as well as representatives

from the University of the Andes, The State Government and Representatives from the

Municipalities which are in the Free Zone.

The Cultural, Scientific, and Technological Free Trade Zone exempts all companies

from the following taxes: Import Tariff (5-20%), Customs Tariff, Federal Sales Tax

(14.5%), Income Tax, Property Tax.

With the creation of ZOLCCYT, the Venezuelan government intends: To induce

creativity, knowledge, and research as principal tools for regional and national

development; To motivate development and the creation of companies that will make
2
Official gazette: Year CXXII, Month X, Number 4.937 Extraordinary. Caracas, July 14, 1995.

10
positive contributions to the economy; To strengthen importation and exportation of

cultural, scientific, and technological goods and services ; To generate jobs; To diversify

the state and national economies; To diminish dependence on foreign technology; To

improve the quality of scientific, cultural, and technological endeavors at the national

level.

ZOLCCYT’s organization3

General Direction: Directed by the representative of the Finance Ministry

(chosen by the President of the Republic) and administrated next to the other six (6)

institutional directors designated.

Department General Operations: Department in charge of planning,

coordinating, maintain and improve those administrative, technical and legal mechanisms

necessaries to guarantee the proper functioning of the institution. In order to achieve this

commitment the department has the Administration and Services Office and the

Computing and Telecommunication Office:

 Administration and Services Office: This office takes care of using the budgets

assigned by the General Directions and those financial resources given by the National

Executive.

 Computing and Telecommunication Office: This office is in charge of

administrating ZOLCCYT’s information systems, as well as its technological and

informational services which promote the Special Fiscal Regime, facilitating

communication between the Board members, and maintaining the internal and external

operating systems of the Free Zone.

3
All the ZOLCCYT’s information about its organization was obtained from its web site:
http://www.zolccyt.mrd.gov.ve/

11
 Department of Operations and Fiscal Control: This department evaluates and

approves registration of companies, evaluates and controls movement of goods and

services in the same companies and coordinates all formalities and requirements related

to compliance with the laws within the Free Zone.

Department of Planning and control of development and research: This

department monitors those companies that are registered with ZOLCCYT to be sure that

they are in compliance with the same goals and methods approved by the institution.

They also evaluate new companies that are interested in joining in the Free Zone to see

that their business plans are viable and in accordance with ZOLCCYT goals.

Department of Information and Communication: Department in charge of

promoting and informing the general public about those things related with the Free

Zone. It also plans and supervises the communicational policies with businesspeople,

private and public entities, civil societies and any other possible participant in order to

promote direct participation in the Free Zone.

12
 MINFINANZAS

MILCO

Principal FUNDACITE MÉRIDA

Board MINCULTURA (CONAC)

ULA

GOBERNACIÓN

MANCOMUNIDAD MUNICIPAL

General
Direction

Legal Consultancy and Coordination

of Human Resources (RRHH)

Department of General Department of Operations Department of Planning Department of Information

Operation and Fiscal Control and Control of and Communication
Development and Research

Administration and
Services Office

Offices where I worked

during my internships.

Computing and
Telecommunication Office

13
 CHAPTER II: Department and Offices where I participated: My activities in the

Institution

General Operations Department

Since its main function is to guarantee efficient service to the general public in

terms of ZOLCCYT’s activities (exploring, investigating, and spreading investment

opportunities in Mérida State, guaranteeing its beneficiaries access to the regime, and

developing actions to consolidate the financial and budget aspects of the institution)

Taking into account that investment participation is completely necessary, we can say

that at this time, the Department of General Operations is in charge of maintaining and

developing relations with the common businessperson. It also generates interest and

security for the investor, in order to create a socioeconomic link between ZOLCCYT and

regional and national society, and compel growth in the areas of culture, science, and

technology.

In order to achieve this sense of security and opportunity, it is necessary to spread

informational materials that motivate both the national and international investor.

Because of this, we can say that it is the right place for a student of Modern Languages

concentrating in International Organizations, to gain their first professional work

experience, in order to help the student to understand the organizational structure and the

possible strategies that may be used to reach a good working order. The Institution, as

much as the Student, is benefited by the important symbiotic relationship offered by the

internship experience.

14
Assigned Tasks:

“Investment and Business Opportunities in Mérida and the Free Zone” Magazine:

My internship was carried out in the Department of General Operations, where

my institutional tutor, Professor Alberto Perez (who directs the department), asked me to

work on the production of a magazine, both in English and Spanish, about the business

opportunities in Venezuela and specifically in the region benefited by the Special Fiscal

Regime, which was to be designed with the goal of promoting investment in the region.

In order to achieve this, it was necessary for me to create a plan that consisted of

three general steps: Study and Research, Planning and Organizing the Information

Obtained, and Producing the Material for the magazine in Spanish and its English

version.

The Study and Research step consisted primarily in researching the information

on the institution, and defining and understanding ZOLCCYT in Mérida. After this, I

had to conduct an exhaustive search for informational materials on the most important

Customs offices and the Free Zones worldwide, to use as models for obtaining the same

opportunities in the Free Zone in Mérida. To search for this information, I used the

Internet as the primary research tool, investigating the most prestigious customs offices

and their investment possibilities, information and materials on the Free Zone in Mérida,

and a variety of informative national and international publications, which was offered by

Professor Pérez.

Once this information was obtained, for the planning and organizing phase it was

necessary to create a tentative model of the magazine’s structure. With the goal of

facilitate the access to all the information, I made an outline of files composed of sub-

15
files that separated and classified all relevant information about the work; the three

principal files were:

 Venezuela: composed by general information on Venezuela as an ideal place for

investment. Sub-files: Social Character, Service Networks and the Cities with the

Index of Investment Attraction.

 Mérida and its opportunities: A summary of the current situation in Mérida

State and the Metropolitan Zone, with the goal of highlighting investment opportunities

in such places. Sub-files: Social and Economic Reality, Industrial Zone and Foreign

Trade Support, Institutional Support and Business Presence.

 ZOLCCYT: an exposition of ZOLCCYT’s performance and its investment

opportunities. Sub-files: Free Zone Data, Services and Infrastructure in ZOLCCYT,

Production Clusters with the Greatest Advantages and Opportunities.

Improving the presentation of the Fiscal Operations Company System (abbreviated

as EROF in Spanish):

In the Department of Information and Telecommunications, I was assigned a task

that consisted of drafting the set-up and menu for the EROF system.

Others:

I was also asked to organize a chart of all the companies registered in the Free

Zone, for which I used Microsoft Excel and its version in Open Office.

16
 CHAPTER III: My experiences in the Institution:

ZOLCCYT in the present:

Nowadays, the ZOLCCYT is an Institution that has not produced the expected

results. Even being well organized as an Institution, the Free Zone does not have active

investment participation. The activity of the Registered Companies is under the expected

prospects, so we can not consider the ZOLCCYT as a successful institution. So then, we

can conclude that even when the State offers infrastructures, specialized institutions,

supply and demand in science, culture and technology, it does not count with a foreign

trade culture. There is a void in the business company participation and as a result there

is not an exploitation of regional development. Aware of this problem the Free Zone has

given especial treatment in order to motivate the investment through strategies that

promotes security to the investors. The automation of the EROF System (The Fiscal

Operation Companies System) and the promotion of the possibilities of investment in a

regional level are fundamental strategies to follow. The Department of General

Operations has assumed a responsibility almost absolute in order to reach these

objectives.

The Institution and Me:

ZOLCCYT has become one of the most important institutions for the economic

and society of Mérida State, because of this, is not difficult to see the high cultural,

scientific, and technological potential of the city, and comprehend the great advantages

that a duty-free zone could lend to the ability to take advantage of this potential. As a

Meridian, since the beginning of my studies at the University of the Andes, I felt exited

with the idea of doing my internship at ZOLCCYT, and when I explained this to my

17
academic tutor, she asked me to do a little research and write a small report that

explained my reasons for being interested in it. I did the research on ZOLCCYT, mainly

using the Internet, and later on, I went to their offices to ask for informational material.

This way I was able to understand a little more about the Free Zone and focus my interest

into inspiration for my goals. My reasons were simple:

 Get to know ZOLCCYT well enough to understand its function and guidelines,

and be able to identify the possible work and economic opportunities that this institution

offers the region, and thus be able to plan my professional future.

 To help the Free Zone in any capacity that requires people who speak foreign

languages and understand the international organizations behavior for being able to help

in any way its development.

 To gain my first work experience that would test my knowledge, and measure my

professional and academic capacity.

Writing this report for me was a way to confirm my interest in this institution.

Once the institutional procedures for my internship were done, Professor Olga

informed me that the Free Zone needed a student of Modern Languages to be in charge of

creating an Investment Opportunities Magazine in Mérida. It was very encouraging for

me to know the main purpose of my internships in the institution because in that way I

would have the chance of learning about it.

My internship at ZOLCCYT began the October 2nd, 2006, with Professor Alberto

Perez as my institutional tutor, and Professor Olga Munoz as my academic tutor. The

first day I was given note-taking material and I was assigned a small cubicle with a

computer and internet connection. I was quickly introduced to the personnel and

18
assigned my first task: to search for and understand informational material on the Free

Zone to familiarize myself with the Institution. I also received from Professor Alberto a

“tentative structure” (a draft) to use as a guide for creating the magazine.

Doing the Work:

The Research:

Making a magazine about the business opportunities in Mérida was very much in

line with my personal interests. Because of this, researching the investment opportunities

in the Free Zone and in Venezuela was an activity that I enjoyed very much. With

Internet access and the material that had been given to me, it was very easy to conduct

research on the current situation of the country, its demands and offers of economic

opportunities. I must admit that I was surprised at all the sources of information and the

numeric figures that I saw; I never imagined that there would be so much access to

institutional information at the national level. Once I began to collect and study all this

information, I realized the amazing quantity of positive data and figures, the excellent

working order of the gubernatorial websites, and the potential of Mérida and Venezuela

in general. I even realized our national superiority in this kind of material when I

compared it with systems and models from other countries. The research was perhaps the

longest phase; in order to work on the magazine I had to study many different themes and

research a lot of data. It should be noted that the personnel in the Free Zone were always

available to clarify any doubts that I had.

19
 Tentative structure to follow for the organization of information to use in the

magazine creation:

Investment Opportunities in the Free Zone:

The cities with more Investor

Attraction Index (IAI)

Venezuela: the best Option in the Caribbean: Social Character

Service Chains

Social and Economic Reality

Mérida and its Opportunities: Institutional support and Business presence

Industrial Zones and Foreign Trade Support

Services and Infrastructure in ZOLCCYT’s

Municipalities

The Free Zone: ZOLCCYT: Free Zone’s general data

Clusters and Productive Chains with more

Advantages and Opportunities

Editing and Processing the Information:

With all the information I needed, I began to compare the current situation in this

country with other places, to get a better idea of what’s really relevant and important to

foreign investors interested in Venezuela and specifically in the benefited areas by the

special fiscal regime in Mérida. When I was doing the research about the advantages in

Venezuela and its investment opportunities, I never imagined the quantity of benefits and

resources that our country has. With an enormous human potential, many natural

20
resources, and a strategic geographic position, Venezuela in general and Mérida in

particular, are places of extreme interest from the point of view of investment. Making

such a comparison of Venezuela with the situation in other places in the world, it woke

up an enormous interest in these opportunities, as much a Venezuelan citizen interested in

his patrimony, and as a possible investor. It’s also important to note that Venezuela is not

only a place of great wealth and key geographic presence, but also that paradoxically,

contrary to what one is used to hear, Venezuela is benefited by economic stability,

offering security to the businessperson and his holdings, which is perhaps the most

important factor for the investor. For me, the most impressive thing I learned from my

internship experience was the discovery of so many investment possibilities, so easy to

reach.

Drafting:

To create the body of the magazine, it was first necessary to classify all the

information obtained. This information was classified into files and sub-files, which were

based on the tentative titles and sub-titles under which the body of the magazine would

be developed. Once all this information was organized, I drafted paragraphs that

summarized the most relevant aspects for people interested in investing in Venezuela and

specifically Mérida and the Free Zone. Drafting it was a challenge, seeing as I was not

familiar with either the economic terms, or how to speak about such information.

Although in the beginning I felt somehow frustrated by these obstacles, I simply drafted

the documents that I considered adequate, and under the constant tutelage of Professor

Alberto, I was able to overcome those obstacles, get into the subject, understand the

language. In creating the draft, it was necessary to accumulate and combine much of the

21
information into numerical figures and statistics, and thus show many relevant

characteristics in a direct and practical way.

The English version:

Once the draft or skeleton of the magazine was finished, I began working on the

English version. From the beginning I was nervous with this phase because I was asked

to make a translation, and I don’t think I have the capability of doing such a work, so the

solution was to make an English version that relied on its own drafting and style. This

meant writing the entire document again, but in a different language, so as not to commit

errors in the coherency or sense of the text. Creating an English version was not so

difficult once I understood how to deal with each point, but even so, I was stress knowing

that I was responsible for this version and that for as much as I tried to be accurate, there

would be doubts that only someone specialized could clarify. It’s important to note that

the Free Zone is still not very clear in understanding the capacities and profile of a

Modern Language student, specializing in International Organizations. Many times I

have been assigned (not only for this work but also for others) to make translations,

which always puts me in a difficult position because I know that such a task requires a

specialized education; although I have explained this problem many times, I still have

been assigned the work of translating. Because of this preoccupation, I felt obligated to

look for help in revising the text in English. And even though it has been revised,

because of the strategic importance of this magazine, I consider it necessary that

ZOLCCYT find a professional translation consultancy in order to guarantee the desired

quality in an institutional and social level.

22
The result:

The final result I was reaching for throughout my internship was to be able to

finish the total content of the magazine; because of this, it is necessary to clarify that by

not finishing it, the final result I had hoped for was not achieved. Considering that: in the

past, other interns had worked on the idea of a magazine would highlight investment

attributes and would promote investment opportunities in the state and specifically the

Metropolitan Zone; and that the section called Clusters and production chains was never

completed due to lack of up-to-date information, we can conclude that even if it was not

finished as expected, we progress a lot in the magazine’s content and structure.

As far as the institution is concerned, I think that the results could have been

better. If it is true that ZOLCCYT values its interns and offers them the opportunity of

their first work experience, I personally could not feel that value that ZOLCCYT, as an

institution, gave to its interns not as simple interns, but as the possible future generation

that will exploit its benefits and as potential tools that facilitates the reaching of the

institutional goals. The results that I contributed to were: completing the three chapters

that formed part of the tentative body of the magazine in Spanish; complete and edit part

of the information managed in the Free Zone for the creation of the magazine; classifying

the useable information (texts, graphs, photos, etcetera.); and creating an English version

for two of the three chapters of the magazine.

Perhaps at a personal level I could see more tangible results. In the first place I

should mention that the most relevant result is having completed my internship. Second I

must admit that I felt particularly surprised by the quantity of information that I could

obtain during my stay in ZOLCCYT, information that fits perfectly with the interests I

23
expressed to my academic tutor when I told her of my aspirations for interning at said

institution.

Summary of Other works:

Improving the presentation of the System of Companies in Fiscal Operations

(EROF)

Another work that I consider worth mentioning in this report was the participation

in improving the presentation of EROF system. To take advantage of my stay in the Free

Zone, Professor Magaly Reyes asked me to help her with drafting web site and with

creating the version in English. The strategy I used was to experience firsthand the

entrance by putting a virtual company through the approval process, and in this way I was

able to try out the three registration phases and see for myself any possible faults.

Through studying the entrance I was able to see various errors of distinct

magnitude. The main mistake was in the wording, which made understanding the site and

the steps to follow for registering difficult to understand. These mistakes would be easy

to correct, but even so the general design was complicated; the system wasn’t adapted to

the user’s needs, but instead forced the user to try and adapt their own understanding to

be able to navigate through the system. When I made this observation to professor

Magaly, she explained that although this was true, at that time nothing could be done

because the problem had to be resolved as soon as possible. This comment surprised me

because it seemed illogical to mask the problem instead of resolving it completely.

After I detected and relayed the problems to professor Magaly, I dedicated

myself to drafting, step by step together with the instructions that would be published at

the same time in the form of a leaflet. The system was that I did the draft, and then took

24
a physical copy of it to Professor Magaly to be approved, and once it was approved I took

the same document to the lawyer Marabeth Marquez (from the Legal advisor and

Coordination of Human Resources) to be revised. This system seemed very inefficient to

me because it required more time for the revision, which slowed the progress on the

work. Also, many of the corrections were incomprehensible or contradictory, which is

reflected in the fact that a total of more or less thirty (30) rough copies were used before

getting the final result. It must be noted that each rough copy needed to be printed,

corrected and approved by Professor Magaly and then by Miss Marabeth. I think that a

little more organization would bring more effectiveness and improve the quality of the

work.

25
 CONCLUSIONS:

My internship in the Scientific, Cultural, and Technological Free Zone in Mérida

state was a productive and interesting experience, as much at an institutional level, as at

an academic and personal level. But I feel the need to express that there were different

results according to which point of view one sees it. In order to better express this point,

I have divided the conclusion into three parts which, although they may only reflect my

point of view, try to reflect upon and show the results, details and commentaries on each

organization in particular (Academic and Institutional), and of course, personal.

On the Institution:

Firstly, it would be good to begin with a great gesture of gratitude to ZOLCCYT

for having opened its doors to me so cordially and welcoming; this branch of the

SENIAT enjoys and is backed by an enormous human potential that never hesitated to try

and clarify any doubts I had. During the length of my internship I felt extremely useful as

a person and as a worker (in this case, an intern), whose contributions, taking into

account ZOLCCYT’s usefulness for the community and the importance of the work in

developing the Free Zone as an institution, although small, were the result of a job that

goes beyond the simple content of an investment magazine, and were in fact a way to put

my professional and personal abilities to the test, which I feel responded well to the

situation.

On the other hand, I think it is worth mentioning that a more realistic motivation

regarding the strictly professional relationship between student and institution is

necessary. Even if I was treated very well in the Institution, I never saw any final product

of my staying in ZOLCCYT. I must admit that I felt very disappointed to find out that I

26
would not complete the magazine and that I would not be able to see the final version. I

am also worried to think that the material that I gathered for that work will remain filed

away and will never be used for anything more than a bibliography for other interns,

leaving the magazine project an unending spiraling work that will only be used by

interns.

Within ZOLCCYT I only felt a professional value from my institutional advisor

(Professor Alberto Perez), but not from the Free Zone in general. I’d like to make a

emphasis at this point because ZOLCCYT is a quite new project that still has not come to

bear fruit, and therefore should offer greater importance to interns. An intern should be

seen as a tremendous tool, regarding the results of their work and in the development and

innovation in the institution. In this way their effectiveness would increase and a door of

mutual benefit would be opened. I’m sure that if ZOLCCYT gave more value to its

interns, these would be considered abruptly useful as well as perhaps the most useful tool

as far as the maturity of ZOLCCYT as an institution is concerned. We should not forget

that the University of the Andes is not just one of the main influences in the Free Zone,

but is also the main inspiration behind its creation.

About the School of Modern Languages:

I would like to start this part of the conclusion thanking to the School of Modern

Languages. Through my internship experience I was able to realize how much I have to

offer professionally thanks to my academic education. Although I felt nervous because of

all the doubts and ambiguities that we all suffer during our studies, and especially in

following the International Organizations Option, I can assure that I was able to carry out

all the activities that were assigned, which I attribute to my superior education.

27
 I must admit that I felt extremely fortunate having got Professor Olga Munoz as

my Academic Advisor because if it hadn’t been for her I would have arrived at the Free

Zone with many more doubts and less confidence of what I was capable or not of doing.

Through my experience, I can say that doing a small report on the institution where one

wishes to do their internship is tremendously helpful. I even think that it should be

required by the advisor; seeing as it is the student’s first work experience it is very useful

to conduct a bit of prior research on the desired institution, on reports from former interns

at the same institution or similar institutions, and based on that small study, draft one’s

personal and professional expectations of the internship. I believe that my positive

internship experience is owed in large part to that small report that I had to make

beforehand.

It is not out of place to say that during my internship I was asked to do

translations and although I always insisted and reiterated that I was not qualified for such

work, even so, the English material was necessary and the solution that I created was to

draft a version in English. The School of Modern Languages should monitor these

institutions so that this kind of problem does not keep occurring. On the other hand, to

find an acceptable solution or just to face the situation and make an English version is

also a very useful and significant labor experience. So, we can say that even if making

translations is a very useful and significant experience for the Student, it could be a risk

for the institution. So, in case that it is absolutely necessary for the International

Organizations Students to make translations, it is very important to have a specialist in

order to check all the work done.

28
 I also consider that the School should promote more to the ZOLCCYT as the ideal

institution to do the internships. The Free Zone is an institution that follows an activity

very compatible with the profile to follow for the International Organizations Option

Student, and if there is something to doubt about is the lack of maturity that the

organization still has, situation that only would change with time, I believe that it is

important the direct participation of the Modern Language School in this process and

specially the International Organization Direction due to the significance of this career in

such institution. The symbiotic relation between these Institutions is essential for the

development, growth, and adaptation of both inside the nowadays world. This

relationship depends mainly in the Modern Language School as it is in here where the

Student is advised when it is time to choose an internship place.

About the personal experience and the Student situation:

Personally I am very satisfied with my internships, and even if I did not reach the

final objectives, it molded in me the start of a professional character as a Modern

Language graduated and as a possible investor in Mérida City.

As a Student of Modern Languages I feel the necessity of clarifying that it is

indispensable to have an idea about the personal interests when is time to choose a place

to make the internships. This is because the International Organizations Option is still a

very complex and broad career. I recommend to all students to start making a brief

research (as I mentioned before) about the institution and his or her expectations about it.

By sure I would not obtained so many benefits if I would not have a defined ideal about

all my goals in the institution and even if it can be considered that this behavior depends

more in the individual character than the education, it is of extremely importance that

29
each student looks for advice in order to comprehend the professional advantages that

ZOCCYT offers and the importance of this Institution not just for Mérida but also for the

whole country.

To me it was very useful to carry on an every day journal with all the notes of my

works, activities and events of the office during my internships. It was very helpful to

register of each labor (and all the necessary steps to complete them) using the respective

tools (photocopies, virtual and tangibles supports, notes, etcetera) in order to avoid any

kind of misunderstanding or unexpected situations caused by any lack of organization or

any other inconvenient, besides having this background helps a lot when it is time to

write the final report.

By last, I would like to make a call to the Modern Language Students to

recommend the Free Trade Zone of Science, Culture and Technology of Mérida State as

a place to make their internships. Even if it is an Institution that nowadays it does not

offers a lot of opportunities in a labor way, it is maybe the Mecca of the Culture, Science

and Technology (as its name says) in Mérida State, perhaps not now but by sure it will be

in a future. In other words, the advantages of making the internships in this Institution go

beyond an academic requirement but to experiment by flesh to work in the center of

social, economical and cultural activity in the country.

30
 BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Tangible reference:

 Gaceta Oficial de la República de Venezuela (1995). Ley sobre la Zona Libre

Cultural Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida (Published by El Congreso

de la República de Venezuela. Nº 4.937 Extraordinario. CXXII-X ) Caracas,

Venezuela.

 Zona Libre de Colón (2004-2005) FOB Zona Libre de Colón.Vol 22.

 Zona Libre Cultural Científica del Estado Mérida (2004). Identificación

Exploración Económica de las Ventajas y Oportunidades para Desarrollar la

Industria del Software en Mérida. Mérida Estado Mérida. Ministerio de Finanzas.

Editorial Venezolana C.A.

 Zona Libre Cultural Científica del Estado Mérida (2004). Identificación de

Nuevas Oportunidades de Negocios en Mérida en el Sector Farmoquímico.

Mérida Estado Mérida. Ministerio de Finanzas. Editorial Venezolana C.A.

 Zona Libre Cultural, Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida, Dirección de

Operaciones Generales. (2006). Mérida: Centro Latinoamericano de Desarrollo de

TIC’s. Zona Libre Cultural, Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida

(ZOLCCYT). Mérida, Estado Mérida. Autor: PEREZ Maldonado, Alberto.

 Zona Libre Cultural, Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida, Dirección de

Operaciones Generales. (2006) El programa de exploración de negocios y análisis

de oportunidades de inversión en Mérida y su Zona Libre CCyT. Mérida Estado

Mérida. Autor: PEREZ Maldonado, Alberto.

31
 Zona Libre Cultural Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida, Dirección de

Operaciones Generales. (2006) La exploración de negocios y oportunidades de

inversión en Mérida y su Zona Libre. Mérida, Estado. Mérida. Autor: PEREZ

Maldonado, Alberto.

 Zona Libre Cultural, Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida, Dirección de

Operaciones Generales. (2006). Las oportunidades de desarrollo de la industria

cinematográfica y editorial en Venezuela a través de la Zona Libre de Mérida. ,

Estado Mérida. Autor: PEREZ Maldonado, Alberto.

 Zona Libre Cultural, Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida, Dirección de

Operaciones Generales. (sin año) Las oportunidades de inversión en Mérida y su

Zona Libre en los sectores vinculados con cultura, ciencia y tecnología. Mérida,

Estado Mérida Autor: PEREZ Maldonado, Alberto.

 Zona Libre Cultural, Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida, Dirección de

Operaciones Generales. (2006). Las producción de formulas y medicamentos en

Venezuela: La opción Mérida. Mérida, Estado Mérida. Autor: PEREZ

Maldonado, Alberto.

 Zona Libre Cultural, Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida, Dirección de

Operaciones Generales. (2006). Síntesis Memoria y Cuenta Año 2006. Zona Libre

Cultural, Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida (ZOLCCYT). Mérida,

Estado Mérida. Autor: PEREZ Maldonado, Alberto.

 Zona Libre Cultural Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida, Dirección de

Operaciones Generales. (2006) Zona Libre Cultural, Científica y Tecnológica del

32
 Estado Mérida (ZOLCCYT). Mérida, Estado Mérida. Autor: PEREZ Maldonado,

Alberto.

Virtual references:

 United States of America’s Customs & Border Protection [On Line]. Washington

D.C, USA. < http://www.cbp.gov/> [Reference day: 2 April 2006]

 Australian Customs Service [On Line]. Barton - South Canberra, Australia.

<http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm> [Reference day: 2 April 2006]

 New Zealand Customs Service [On Line]. Hamilton - Palmerston North,

Queenstown and Timaru, New Zealand.

<http://www.customs.govt.nz/about/Who+We+Are/default.htm> [Reference day:

2 April 2006]

 San Isidro Industrial Free Zone [On Line]. Santo Domingo, República

Dominicana. <http://www.zfsi.com/> [Reference day: 2 April 2006]

 Zona Libre de Colón [On Line]. Colón, Panama.

<http://www.zonalibredecolon.com.pa/main_eng.htm> [Referente day: 2 April]

 Zona Franca de Iquique [On Line]. Iquique, Panama. <http://www.zofri.cl/>

[Referente day: 2 April]

 Zona Libre de Cultural, Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida [On Line].

Mérida, Venezuela. <http://www.zonalibremerida.gob.ve/index.html> [Reference

day: 2 April]

 Consejo Nacional de Promoción de Inversiones. [English and Spanish version On

Line]. Caracas Venezuela. <http://www.conapri.org/English/index.asp>

[Continuous Reference]

33
 Com citar documents electrònics [en línea]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona,

Biblioteca, àrea de Ciències Experimentals i Matemàtiques, 7 abr. 1997.

<http://www.ub.es/bub/3citar.htm> [Consulta: 9 abr. 2007].

34