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Revision as of 15:42, 16 November 2007

Université Libre de Bruxelles
File:Crestulb.JPG
MottoScientia vincere tenebras
TypePublic university
Established1834
RectorPhilippe Vincke
Students20,000
Location
Brussels
,
Belgium
CampusUrban, park
Websitehttp://www.ulb.ac.be/

The Université Libre de Bruxelles (or ULB) is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has about 20,000 students.

Name

Université Libre de Bruxelles means in English: "Free University of Brussels" or written alternatively "Non-Denominational University of Brussels", but this translation is rarely used (university names are rarely used as translated) all the more since its Dutch-speaking counterpart, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, has the same meaning. Some facilities, shared by the ULB and VUB, use the name "Brussels Free Universities", abbreviated BFU. For example the ULB/VUB Computing Center, BFUCC ([1]).

History

The history of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) is closely linked with that of Belgium itself. When the nine provinces that broke away from the Kingdom of the Netherlands formed the Belgian State in 1830, there were three state universities in the country: Ghent, Liege and Leuven. Even though Brussels had been promoted to the rank of capital, it still had no university.

For this reason, in 1831 a group of leading Brussels Masonic figures in the fields of the arts, science and education set themselves the objective of creating a university for the city. They had the choice between a state university and, failing that, a private institution, since the Belgian Constitution, the most liberal in Europe, allowed for this possibility.

Finding the financial burden of the three existing universities too onerous, the Belgian government showed little enthusiasm for yet another state university. However, when in 1834 the episcopate decided to found the Catholic University at Mechelen, things began to happen very quickly. The liberal professions and Freemasons, lead by Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen and Auguste Baron, who were promoting the Brussels university project, stepped up their efforts, with the result that the Free University of Belgium, as it was originally known, inaugurated its first academic year on 20 November 1834.

From 1836 it was to be called the Université Libre de Bruxelles, but although the geographical term may have changed, the adjective "free" remained. This was a key point. [2]

Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, who helped make the university, is the symbol of the creation of the university. November 20th, called 'St V', is a holiday for students.

Since 1935 some courses have been taught in both French and Dutch, but it was only in 1963 that all faculties held courses in both languages. Shortly after the language dispute at the Catholic University of Leuven, in October 1969 the French and Dutch entities of the ULB separated into two distinct universities. With the act of 28 May 1970, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Université Libre de Bruxelles officially became two separate legal, administrative and scientific entities.

Campuses

The ULB comprises three main campuses: the Campus de la Plaine in Ixelles, the Campus du Solbosch, on the territories of Brussels and Ixelles municipalities, in the Brussels-Capital Region and the Campus Erasme (faculty of medicine) in Anderlecht beside the Erasme Hospital but the university has also buildings and activities in Charleroi, Parentville, Treignes and Nivelles.

The clocktower at the Campus du Solbosch in the City of Brussels

Faculties, schools and institutes

  1. Faculty of Philosophy, and Letters
  2. Faculty of Law, and Criminological Science
  3. Faculty of Social, Political, Economic Science & Solvay Business School
  4. Faculty of Psychological Science, and of Education
  5. Faculty of Sciences (recently absorbed the Institute of Environment Gestion (IGEAT))
  6. Interfacultary School of Bio-Engineering
  7. Faculty of Medicine
  8. School of Public Health
  9. High institute of Physical Education, and Kinesitherapy
  10. Institute of Pharmacy
  11. Faculty of Applied Sciences/Polytechnic School
  12. Institute of Work Sciences
  13. Institute of European Studies
  14. Institute of Statistics and Operational Research

Notable Alumni

Notable faculty

See also

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