University of Coimbra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Latin: Universitas Conimbrigensis |
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| Established | 1290 |
|---|---|
| Type | Public University |
| Rector | Fernando Seabra Santos |
| Students | ca. 23 000 |
| Location | Coimbra, Portugal |
| Campus | Urban |
| Affiliations | Coimbra Group, EUA |
| Website | www.uc.pt |
The University of Coimbra (Portuguese: Universidade de Coimbra, pron. IPA: [univɨɾsi'dad(ɨ) dɨ ku'ĩbɾɐ]) is a Portuguese public university in Coimbra, Portugal. It is one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in Europe and the World, the oldest university of Portugal, and one of Portugal's most important higher education and research institutions. It is organized into eight different faculties according to a wide range of fields, granting all the highest academic degrees in the natural sciences, engineering, medicine, law, mathematics, architecture, education, sports, psychology, social sciences and humanities. It is a founding member of the Coimbra Group, a group of leading European research universities, whose inaugural meeting it hosted.
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[edit] History
The university was founded, or ratified, in 1290 by King Dinis, having begun its existence in Lisbon with the name Studium Generale (Estudo Geral). Scientiae thesaurus mirabilis, the royal charter announcing the institution of the University was dated 1st March of that year, although efforts had been made at least since 1288 to create this first University in Portugal; it is thus one the oldest of such establishments in the Iberian Peninsula. The Papal confirmation was also given in 1290 (on 9th August of that year), during the Papacy of the Pope Nicholas IV. In accordance with the Papal Bull, all the "licit" Faculties, with the exception of that of Theology, could be established. Thus the Faculties of Arts, Law, Canon Law and Medicine were the first to be created.
It was, however, not to remain in Lisbon for long. In 1308, likely due to problems of emancipation from the Church (relations between the latter and the political power being somewhat strained at the time) and conflicts between the inhabitants of the city and the students, the University moved to Coimbra. This town already had old traditions in education, being home to the highly successful school of the Monastery of Santa Cruz. The university was then established on the site known as "Estudos Velhos", which corresponds roughly to the area where the Main Library now stands.
In 1338, during the reign of Afonso IV, it was once again transferred to Lisbon, from whence it returned in 1354, this time to the centre of the town which was then in full expansion. In 1377, during the reign of King Fernando, it was transferred yet again to Lisbon, where it would remain for over a century and a half. The authorization for a Faculty of Theology probably dates from this period - around 1380.
In 1537, during the reign of João III, the university moved definitively to Coimbra, where it was installed in the Alcaçova Palace. The entire university institution, including the teaching staff and all the books from its library, were moved from Lisbon to Coimbra. At the same time, a restructuring of the curricula was undertaken and new teachers, both Portuguese and foreign, were admitted.
In the 18th century, the Marquis of Pombal, Minister of the kingdom, made radical reforms in the University, especially regarding the teaching of sciences, in accordance to his Enlightenment and anticlerical creed.
During many decades it was the only university in Portugal, since its foundation in 1290 until 1559 (a university in Évora operated between 1559 and 1759), and again between 1759 and 1911 (University of Lisbon and University of Porto were created in 1911). The long history and past predominance of the University of Coimbra made it an important focus of influence in Portugal, not only educational, but also political and social.
[edit] Organization
The University's governance is assured by the Rector, Senate and University Assembly, the latter responsible for the election of the Rector and members of Senate. The Rector has the main responsibility for the strategic direction and overall administration of the University together with the Senate and assisted by the Administrative Council. The University of Coimbra is divided in eight different faculties (Letters, Law, Medicine, Sciences & Technology, Pharmacy, Economics, Psychology & Education Sciences and Sports Sciences & Physical Education), comprising about 23 000 students. Its hospital school, HUC (Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra), is a leading European hospital, known as a centre of research and high-quality medical services. The university also harbours a huge central library (University of Coimbra General Library), botanical gardens (Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra), a stadium and sports complex (Estádio Universitário de Coimbra), an astronomical observatory, a publishing house, a private church and many support facilities such as dining halls and studying rooms.
The university has four campuses:
- Pólo I (the monumental ancient university core centre, with the main library and administration services - active since the early university times before the 16th century, with major expansions in the 18th century and during the 1950s and 1960s)
- Pólo II (engineering, sciences & technology - built during the 1990s and 2000s)
- Pólo III (health sciences, pharmacy & the university hospital - built in the 1980s with major expansions in the 2000s)
- Faculdade de Economia (social sciences - founded in the 1970s)
[edit] Students
Students are represented by the students' union Associação Académica de Coimbra (AAC). Formed on the 3rd November 1887, it is the oldest students' union in Portugal, with a long history of struggle against unpopular state policies, forming notable politicians and intellectuals along the way. It also harbours a very dynamic associative life, with its numerous sports (see below) and cultural sections being an important structure of extra-curricular formation. The latter include activities such as theatre, cinema, radio and television broadcast, music, choral singing, journalism or philately. Every student, and occasionally some non-students, are entitled to belong to these sections.
[edit] Sports, clubs and traditions
Closely related with this old university are many academic traditions and institutions with a strong impact on the city's life. The old "Republics" (autonomous students' residences) remain, as well as some traditional festivities, most notably the "Queima das Fitas" (a celebration of graduation's end, symbolized by the burning of the ribbons with the colors of each of the eight faculties), the frequent use of traditional attire, the "Fado de Coimbra" (Coimbra's fado, now sung in organized shows rather than the traditional street serenades), and the academic ceremonies (namely the conferring of doctorate degrees).
The official colors of each one of the Faculties of the University of Coimbra are:
- Faculty of Law: Red
- Faculty of Medicine: Yellow
- Faculty of Letters: Dark Blue
- Faculty of Sciences & Technology: Light Blue and White
- Faculty of Pharmacy: Purple
- Faculty of Economics: Red and White
- Faculty of Psychology & Education Sciences: Orange
- Faculty of Sports Sciences & Physical Education: Brown
These colors are used in the institutional seal and other symbols of each faculty, in the university ceremonies conferring doctorate degrees, and are also used by the students in their ribbons related with the academic traditions (see Queima das Fitas (The Burning of the Ribbons)). The color of the university seal and of the Rector's office, representing the entire institution as a whole, is dark green. The flag of the University of Coimbra (white flag with the dark green seal in the middle) is always erected, over the top of the old university tower, on the 1st of March, which is the day of the university, being an occasion for a week of debates, conferences, workshops, and special events related with multiple aspects of the institution.
The Praxe is a body of ritual and custom founded upon ancient traditions and it is an important part of Coimbra's academic life which no university student is indifferent to. Part of the attraction of Coimbra's academic life, aside from its recognized excellence is that it is more Praxe, having unique rituals that set it apart from other institutions and give its students a special sense of participation in academic rituals originating hundreds of years ago. Though these rituals are seen as outdated by some, it remains an important reference in the academic experience of the University of Coimbra's students. The rules of the Praxe are contained in a book (The Code of Academic Praxe, by a committee of older students of the AAC - Associação Académica de Coimbra), which defines appropriate student behavior for activities like drafting, evaluation, groups or bands and the Burning of the Ribbons rituals. Even inside the AAC, as a modern and democratic students organisation, there are anti-Praxe groups and people who claims for deeper reforms in tradition rituals. The Freshman (1st yr.) period (naturally, the lowest category in the Praxe hierarchy) is for most students a time of good and lasting memories of never to be repeated events. All of academic life in Coimbra is filled with tradition and ritual and tends to be quite memorable. One of the most visible and distinctive traditions is the use of the academic costume of the University of Coimbra, a black suit and cape used on special occasions by the students and which was adopted by other Portuguese universities and is actually used by students of almost all higher education institutions in the city and across the country.
The sports sections of the AAC play a significant role in Coimbra's sport life, often being the city's main representative in that area. They include rugby, handball, basketball, baseball, martial arts, athletics, gymnastic or swimming, among others. Just as with the cultural sections, every student, including professional or semi-professional athletes, may belong to them.
The city's main football club, usually known as "Académica" or "Briosa", is in formal terms an autonomous organism of the AAC and is called AAC-OAF, but in practical terms it is an independent club, only loosely connected to its mother institution. It is a relatively important team, especially as regards to its huge number of followers nationwide, and plays in the top Potuguese football leagues, having been the first winner in history of the Portuguese Football Cup, in 1939.
[edit] List of faculties
The university is organized into 8 faculties and each faculty into departments:
- Faculty of Law (Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Law; Public Administration
- Faculty of Medicine (Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Medicine; Dental Medicine
- Faculty of Letters (Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Cinema; Music; Theatre; Classical Languages and Literatures and Portuguese; Modern Languages and Literatures; History; History of Art; Archaeology; Geography; Philosophy; Journalism
- Faculty of Sciences & Technology (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Anthropology; Architecture; Biology; Biochemistry; Communications and Multimedia; Environmental Engineering; Biomedical Engineering; Civil Engineering; Electrotechnical and Computer Engineering; Physical Engineering; Geographical Engineering; Mining and Geological Engineering; Informatics Engineering; Materials Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Physics; Geology; Mathematics; Chemistry; Industrial Chemistry
- Faculty of Pharmacy (Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Faculty of Economics (Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Economics; Business Organisation and Management; International Relations; Sociology
- Faculty of Psychology & Education Sciences (Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Psychology; Education Sciences
- Faculty of Sports Sciences & Physical Education (Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e Educação Física da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Sports Science and Physical Education
[edit] Alumni
[edit] Noted professors and lecturers
Noted professors and lecturers at the University include:
[edit] Nobel laureates
- Egas Moniz, (1874 - 1955) Portuguese physician and neurologist. He received many honours and international recognition, culminating with the 1949 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology.
[edit] Others
- António Castanheira Neves, (1929), legal philosopher and professor emeritus at the law faculty.
- António de Oliveira Salazar, (1889 - 1970), politician (Prime-Minister and Dictator of Portugal from 1932 to 1968).
- Carlos Mota Pinto, (1936 - 1985), politician (Prime-Minister).
- George Buchanan, (1506 - 1582), a Scottish historian and humanist scholar.
- Félix Avelar Brotero, (1744-1828), botanist and professor.
- Pedro Nunes, (1502 - 1578), mathematician who is considered to be one of the world’s top mathematicians of his time.
- Sidónio Pais, (1872 - 1918), politician (President in 1918), military, and professor of mathematics.
[edit] Noted attendees
Noted persons who graduated from or otherwise attended the University include:
- Adolfo Correia da Rocha, (1907 - 1995), writer, poet and physician. He adopted the name Miguel Torga as a pseudonym.
- Adriano Correia de Oliveira, (1942 - 1982), musician, famous singer and composer of politically engaged folk music in the 60's-70's (dropped out).
- Alberto João Jardim, (1943), politician, president of the regional government of Madeira.
- Almeida Garrett, (1799 - 1854), romanticist and writer.
- Antero de Quental, (1842 - 1891), poet, philosopher, political activist.
- António José de Almeida (1866 - 1929), politician (President), founder of Lisbon and Porto universities.
- António de Almeida Santos (1926), politician and Minister in several occasions.
- António Nobre (1867 - 1900), poet (dropped out).
- Aristides Sousa Mendes, (1885 - 1954), diplomat, known for protecting European Jews as a consul in France during World War II against government orders.
- Artur Jorge, (1946), football coach.
- Bartolomeu de Gusmão, (1685 - 1724), naturalist, recalled for his early work on lighter-than-air ship design.
- Bernardino Machado, (1851 - 1944), politician (President).
- Carlos de Oliveira (1921 - 1981), poet and novelist.
- Christopher Clavius, (1538 - 1612), German mathematician and astronomer who was the main architect of the modern Gregorian calendar.
- Eça de Queirós, (1845 - 1900), novelist, one of the leading intellectuals of the 'Generation of 1870'.
- Guerra Junqueiro, (1850 - 1923), lawyer, politician, member of the Portuguese House of Representatives, journalist, author and poet.
- João Mário Grilo, (1958), film director (dropped out).
- Jorge Chaminé, baritone born in 1956, Human Rights Medal from the UN and Good Will Ambassador of Music in ME (Music in the Middle East).
- José Alberto de Oliveira Anchieta, (1832 - 1897), 19th century explorer and naturalist (dropped out).
- José de Anchieta, (1534 - 1597), jesuit missionary, apostle of Brazil, writer and poet.
- Luís Marques Mendes, (1957), politician (leader of the Social Democratic Party).
- Manoel da Nóbrega, (1517 - 1570), jesuit priest and first Provincial of the Society of Jesus in colonial Brazil. He was very influential in the early History of Brazil, having participated in the founding of several cities.
- Manuel Alegre, (1936), poet and politician (member of the Socialist Party).
- Maria de Belém Roseira, (1949), politician (member of the Socialist Party, former minister).
- Marquês de Pombal, (1699 - 1782), Prime Minister to King Joseph I of Portugal throughout his reign.
- Nicolau Tolentino de Almeida, (1740 - 1811), foremost Portuguese satirical poet of the 18th century
- Salgado Zenha, (1923 - 1993), left-wing politician and lawyer.
- Teófilo Braga, (1843 - 1924), politician (President), writer and playwright.
- Vergílio Ferreira, (1916 - 1996), writer and teacher.
- Zeca Afonso, (1929 - 1987), singer, songwriter and poet. A notable left-winger whose music is considered a symbol of the Carnation Revolution.
[edit] List of research units
Research and Studies centers of the University of Coimbra include:
- AIBILI (Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image)
- Institute of Biomedical Research in Light and Image
- Centro de Histofisiologia, Patologia Experimental e Biologia do Desenvolvimento
- Center of Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Center for Pharmaceutical Studies
- Mechanical Engineering Center
- Center for Informatics and Systems
- Institute of Science and Engineering Materials and Surfaces
- Institute for Systems and Computers Engineering at Coimbra
- Institute of Systems and Robotics
- X-Ray Diffraction Center for Materials Research (CEMDRX)
- Centre for Computational Physics
- Center of Theoretical Physics
- Electronics and Instrumentation Center
- Instrumentation Center
- Laboratory for Instrumentation and Particle Physics - Coimbra
- Centre for Mathematics
- Molecular Chemistry-Physics
- Institute of Marine Research - Coimbra Interdisciplinary Center
- Institute of Environment and Life
- Geosciences Centre
- Centre for Social Studies
- Anthropology Investigation Centre
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology
- Institute of Urban and Regional Studies
- Linguagem, Interpretação e Filosofia
- Centre for the History of Society and Culture
- Estudos Clássicos e Humanísticos
- Instituto de Estudos Jornalísticos
[edit] Instituto Pedro Nunes
The Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN), founded by the University of Coimbra, is a business incubator and a innovation and technology transfer center of the university, working for the business and applied research communities.
[edit] Trivia
- Nowadays it has students from 70 different nationalities; almost 10% of its students are foreigners, being Portugal's most international university.
- In 2004, it was among the first universities in Portugal limiting the time for degree completion. The degree programs have a specified minimum and maximum time for completion. The time limit is 6 years from the date of first enrolment for the 4 years degrees, and 8 years from the date of first enrolment for 5 years degrees (i.e. Medicine). After that, students have to pay the entire costs of their courses.
- The tuition fee for undergraduate degrees was 356€/year in 2002/2003. It was increased to 880€/year in 2004/2005 and to 901,23€/year in 2005/2006, the maximum fee allowed to state universities by law.
- Like other universities in Portugal, and unlike the polytechnical institutes, the university does not have special classes for workers or night classes.
- Overcrowded classrooms are frequent in some disciplines at the Faculties of Science and Technology, Law, and Economics. Students must stand during the classes or even stay outside the classroom. These faculties have the highest abandon rate and the biggest average time for degree completion.
- School year calendar starts in October and finishes in July.
- The most powerful supercomputer in Portugal belongs to the University of Coimbra and is managed by its center for computational physics (CFC - Centro de Física Computacional). The supercomputer was called Milipeia, has 528 processors and 1000 GB of memory. Its main tasks are modeling and calculus in particle physics, astrophysics, mathematics, engineering, geophysics and condensed matter physics. Besides University of Coimbra's researchers, other Portuguese scientific community members are allowed to work with Milipeia.[1]
[edit] Other students in Coimbra
Since the 1980s, there has been another institution of public higher education in Coimbra, the Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra, a polytechnic institute comprising several autonomous schools in engineering, education, accountancy and agriculture, whose entrance and teaching requirements were for a while less demanding than the University of Coimbra's. Its schools currently have many courses with good reputation which are as selective as many University of Coimbra's courses. There are also private higher learning schools and institutes such as the Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, the Instituto Superior Bissaya Barreto, and the Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama, which are not generally considered as prestigious as the university.
[edit] See also
- Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra (Coimbra's University Hospitals)
- University of Coimbra General Library
- Joanina Library
- Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra
- Associação Académica de Coimbra
- Rádio Universidade de Coimbra (RUC)
- List of universities in Portugal
- Education in Portugal
- Praxe
[edit] External links
- Universidade de Coimbra
- Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
- Associação Académica de Coimbra
- Rádio Universidade de Coimbra (radio station)
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