University of Concepción
Universidad de Concepción | |
 | |
| Motto | Por el desarrollo libre del espíritu. |
|---|---|
Motto in English | For the free development of the spirit. |
| Type | Private (with State contributions) |
| Established | May 14, 1919 |
| Budget | US$66 million |
| Rector | Sergio Lavanchy Merino |
Academic staff | 1,164 |
| Students | 23,130 |
| Postgraduates | 1,597 |
| Location | , |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Blue and yellow |
| Website | www.udec.cl |
The University of Concepción (in Spanish: Universidad de Concepción), also known for its acronym UdeC, is one of the most prestigious universities in Chile. It is the third oldest university in the country and is part of the Council of Rectors. It was the first university founded in the south of Chile, and the first to become a private-law corporation. In addition, it belongs to the Southern Cross University Network (in Spanish: Red Universitaria Cruz del Sur).
Its main campus is located at the Concepción's University City, with additional campuses in Chillán and Los Ángeles.
The QS University Ranking 2012 ranks the University of Concepción as the ninth best in Latin America. The 2011 CSIC University Ranking named it as the second best in Chile and 19th best in Latin America, while business magazine America Economía's 2010 SIR Iberoamerican Ranking rates it as the nation’s number three university.
History
Background
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many scholars from Concepción started to plead for the construction of a university for the south of Chile where it would be possible to study professional degrees outside the capital, Santiago. However, a project of this magnitude required a high level of organization, which as yet did not exist. In February 1917, the newspaper El Sur reported:
The idea of creating a university cannot yet be possible because of "the lack of organization of those who want to create it".
— Diario El Sur, 1917.
Committee Pro-University
On March 23, 1917, the first official meeting took place to realise two dreams of the citizens of Concepción: a clinical hospital and a university.
After debate, a committee was named to take charge of the construction of these two projects. The projects were closely related because the hospital would become the base of the new university's medical school. Some notable members of the committee included Enrique Molina Garmendia, Pedro Nolasco, Edmundo Larenas and Virginio Gómez.
Foundation
The commission then presented the documentation to Congress that would officially create the university. These were sent and approved, and on May 14, 1919, Enrique Molina Garmendia founded the university and became its first rector.
Nowadays, the university is funded by various organisations belonging to the "University of Concepción Corporation". The Lottery is one of the main organisations. With this funding, the University of Concepción has become one of the most modern and important universities in Chile.
Organization
The University of Concepción is divided into three campuses, located in Chillán, Los Ángeles and Concepción. The latter is the main and most important campus.
Concepción Campus
The university is located in the University District. The whole campus comprises what is known as the Ciudad Universitaria (University City), which also contains museums, sculptures and parks. Today, the campus has an area of 1,425,000 m2, of which 239,856 are built upon. It is the knowledge, science, culture, technology and research centre of the city of Concepción. The Presencia de América Latina mural by Jorge González Camarena is within the Casa del Arte on the university campus.
In 2010, the University of Concepción campus was named one of Chile’s most important architectural works from the first half of the 20th century. The "Obra Bicentenario" award distinguishes works that, in the last 100 years, have changed the face of Chile’s cities and most improved the quality of life of its inhabitants.
Chillán Campus
The Chillán campus was founded in 1955 with the support of many institutions such as the United Nations, the OAS, American and European universities, and others. It mainly focuses on agricultural sciences and has approximately 2,000 students, more than 100 academic staff and 250 administrative staff |http://www.chillan.udec.cl |.
Los Ángeles Campus
The Los Ángeles campus was founded in 1962 at the request of the people of the province to the university rector, David Stitchkin Branover. Currently, it has 1,300 students and 35 full-time teachers, plus other part-time academic staff.
Schools and Departments
The University of Concepción is made up of 18 schools and departments:
- Department of Agronomy.
- Department of Architecture, Urban Planning and Geography.
- Department of Biological Sciences.
- School of Economics and Business Administration.
- Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics.
- Department of Forestry.
- School of Law and Social Sciences.
- Department of Natural and Oceanographic Sciences.
- Department of Chemical Sciences.
- Department of Social Sciences.
- School of Veterinary Science.
- School of Education.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
- School of Humanities and Arts.
- Department of Engineering.
- Department of Agricultural Engineering.
- School of Medicine.
- School of Dentistry.
Administration
The university's current rector is Sergio Lavanchy. The university belongs to the Council of Rectors of Traditional Chilean Universities. The rectors that have directed the university have been:
| Rector | Period |
|---|---|
| Enrique Molina Garmendia | 1919–1956 |
| David Stitchkin Branover | 1956–1962 |
| Ignacio González Ginouvés | 1962–1968 |
| David Stitchkin Branover | 1968 |
| Edgardo Enríquez Frödden | 1969–1972 |
| Carlos Von Plessing Baentsch | 1973 |
| Guillermo González Bastias | 1973–1975 |
| Heinrich Rochna Viola | 1975–1980 |
| Guillermo Clericus Etchegoyen | 1980–1987 |
| Carlos Von Plessing Baentsch | 1987–1990 |
| César Augusto Parra Muñoz | 1990–1997 |
| Sergio Lavanchy Merino | 1998 - |
See also
External links
- University of Concepción webpage
- "Presencia de América Latina" webpage
- Short documentary about the mural "Presencia de América Latina"
References
- ^ Short documentary about the Mural "Presencia de América Latina" livingatlaschile.com, released on January 18, 2014, retrieved on February 18, 2014
