Politehnica University of Timișoara

Coordinates: 45°45′12″N 21°13′29″E / 45.75333°N 21.22472°E / 45.75333; 21.22472
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Politehnica University of Timișoara
Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara
The rectorate in Victory Square
Former names
Polytechnic School (1920–1948)
Polytechnic Institute (1948–1970)
Traian Vuia Polytechnic Institute (1970–1991)
Technical University (1991–1995)
Motto
Nu zidurile fac o școală, ci spiritul care domnește într-însa
Motto in English
"It is not the walls that make a school, but the spirit that reigns in it"
TypePublic
Established15 November 1920; 103 years ago (1920-11-15)
Budget284,325,514 lei (2020/2021)[1]
RectorFlorin Drăgan
Academic staff
1,016 (2020/2021)[1]
Students13,081 (2020/2021)[1]
Undergraduates9,577 (2020/2021)[1]
Postgraduates2,964 (2020/2021)[1]
540 (2020/2021)[1]
Location
Timișoara
,
Timiș
,
Romania

45°45′12″N 21°13′29″E / 45.75333°N 21.22472°E / 45.75333; 21.22472
CampusUrban
Colors   White and blue
Websiteupt.ro
University rankings
Global – Overall
QS World[2]1401+ (2024)
THE World[3]1501+ (2024)

Politehnica University of Timișoara (Romanian: Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara;[4] abbreviated UPT) is a public university in Timișoara. Founded in 1920, it is one of the largest technical universities in Central and Eastern Europe. The 10 faculties of the university provide study programs for about 13,000 students. In 2011, Politehnica University of Timișoara was classified as an advanced research and education university by the Ministry of Education.[5] The university is a founding member of the Romanian Alliance of Technical Universities (ARUT).[6]

History[edit]

1920–1948: Polytechnic School[edit]

The idea of establishing a polytechnic school in Timișoara appeared since the beginning of the 20th century, the Austro-Hungarian Empire wanting both the industrial development of Banat and offering a reason for satisfaction to the majority Romanian population.[7]: 201  Following the proposal of the City Council meeting of 26 November 1906, in 1907 mayor Carol Telbisz submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Public Instruction in Budapest on the need for a polytechnic school.[7]: 201  But the Minister of Instruction's proposal to the Budapest Parliament in 1911 was rejected.[8] However, the ministry delegates a commission consisting of the rector of the Budapest Polytechnic and nine professors to deal with the issue together with the Timișoara City Hall.[8][7]: 415–416  Proceedings resumed in 1916, but were blocked by World War I. However, on 23 November 1917, the City Hall decided to cede an 8-hectare plot of land on the left bank of the Bega for the Polytechnic buildings and to arrange the building of a school or a barracks for the temporary operation of the school.[8] After the war, at the insistence of Emanuil Ungureanu [ro], on 27 February 1919, the mayor Stan Vidrighin [ro] submitted to the Governing Council, the Resort of Cults and Instruction, a memorandum requesting the establishment of the school.[7]: 201  The Governing Council decides to establish the Polytechnic on 27 February 1920,[8] and according to the Official Gazette no. 3191 of 22 October 1920, the Romanian Council of Ministers approves the establishment starting with 15 November 1920, allocating one million lei. The decree, with no. 44822, is countersigned by King Ferdinand I on 11 November.[7]: 201 

The building on Carol Telbisz Street, where the first classes were held
The building on Michel the Great Boulevard in 1923, currently the headquarters of the Faculty of Mechanics

At first, as the school did not have its own headquarters, it functioned with a secretariat within the City Hall. This is where the first registrations for the candidates and their verification took place. In the first year, the Polytechnic School started its activity with a number of 117 students from all Romanian provinces:[9] 89 enrolled in the first year and 28 in the preparatory year. Courses begin on 29 November 1920.[8] The teaching staff consisted of rector Traian Lalescu (who taught mathematical analysis), Constantin Teodorescu (strength of materials and theoretical mechanics), Victor Vlad [ro] (descriptive geometry), Constantin Cândea (chemistry) and Augustin Coman (mathematics).[8] Traian Lalescu's name is related to the establishment of the prestigious publication Revista matematică din Timișoara (15 March 1921), the Yearbook of the Polytechnic School, the Student Circle and the Student Sports Association ("Politehnica").[9] The courses were held in the premises of a primary school on Carol Telbisz Street,[7]: 201  a place still in the patrimony of the Polytechnic. In 1923, the construction of pavilions began on Michael the Brave Boulevard, which groups the laboratories, museums and other rooms of the Polytechnic.[10] King Ferdinand also took part in the inauguration of the pavilions on 11 November 1923,[8] stating:[7]: 202 

The rich Banat was deliberately chosen, for this school so necessary for our growing industrial development, to be not only a serious factor in the preparation of future generations of true pioneers, but also a nest of Romanian thought and feeling and a clot between the Old Kingdom and the provinces that through our bravery have been brought to our old country for centuries. It is not the walls that make a school, but the spirit that reigns in it.

1948–1991: Polytechnic Institute[edit]

In 1948, the Polytechnic School changed its name to the Polytechnic Institute and comprised four faculties (Mechanics, Electrotechnics, Constructions and Chemistry) with 12 specialization sections.[11]

MECIPT-1 in the laboratory of the Faculty of Electrotechnics, 1961

The Computer Center was established in 1961. This was the core of the future IT industry in the area. Also here was built MECIPT-1, the first electronic computer built in a university in Romania and the second in the country after CIFA-1 from the Institute of Atomic Physics in Măgurele. The computer was used both in the teaching process and for the calculations needed for projects such as the Vidraru Dam and the RomExpo. The creators of MECIPT-1, Wilhelm Löwenfeld and Iosif Kaufmann,[12] were decorated by the country's president in 2003 with the highest civil order – the Star of Romania in the rank of Knight – for their contribution to the development of computer technology in Romania. At the initiative of Horia Gligor and Dan Bedros, the MECIPT-1 computer was exhibited in a section of the Museum of Banat, in 2001, and along the way it was restored. Currently, MECIPT-1 has returned to the Politehnica University, being the central piece of the UPT Museum, along with other exhibits that highlight the pioneering role of Timișoara's Polytechnic in the development of computer technology in Romania.[13]

The half-centenary of the institute was celebrated in 1970, on which occasion it was granted the right to bear the name of Traian Vuia Polytechnic Institute. The institute comprised five faculties with 24 specialization departments for engineers and sub-engineers, 537 teachers and 5,653 students.[11] In 1974, according to the State Council Decree no. 147, the sub-engineering institutes from Hunedoara and Reșița became subordinated to the Traian Vuia Polytechnic Institute.[14]

1991–present: Politehnica University[edit]

In 1991, based on the Order of the Minister of Education and Science no. 4894, the Traian Vuia Polytechnic Institute was renamed the Technical University of Timișoara.[15] Four years later, by Government Decision no. 568, it became the Polytechnic University of Timișoara.[16]

Faculties[edit]

Faculty Location Dean Established Students
(2020/2021)[1]
Architecture and Urbanism
arh.upt.ro		 2A Traian Lalescu Street,
Timișoara		 Ioan Andreescu 2005 753
Automation and Computers
ac.upt.ro		 2 Vasile Pârvan Boulevard,
Timișoara		 Marius Marcu 1990 3,266
Communication Sciences
sc.upt.ro		 2A Traian Lalescu Street,
Timișoara		 Daniel Dejica-Carțiș 2011 568
Constructions
ct.upt.ro		 2 Traian Lalescu Street,
Timișoara		 Raul Zaharia 1941 1,413
Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology
etc.upt.ro		 2 Vasile Pârvan Boulevard,
Timișoara		 Dan Lascu 1990 1,722
Electrotechnics and Electroenergetics
et.upt.ro		 2 Vasile Pârvan Boulevard,
Timișoara		 Ciprian Șorândaru 1948 792
Engineering
fih.upt.ro		 5 Revolution Street,
Hunedoara		 Ovidiu Tirian 1970 766
Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering
chim.upt.ro		 6 Vasile Pârvan Boulevard,
Timișoara		 Mihai Medeleanu 1948 470
Mechanics
mec.upt.ro		 1 Michael the Brave Boulevard,
Timișoara		 Virgil Stoica 1948 2,413
Production and Transport Management
mpt.upt.ro		 14 Remus Street,
Timișoara		 Marian Mocan 1996 918

Infrastructure[edit]

Dormitories[edit]

Politehnica University manages a number of 16 student dormitories, of which 14 are located in the Student Complex (Romanian: Complexul Studențesc) and two are located in the perimeter of the Faculty of Mechanics.[17] As of 2017, the accommodation capacity of the dormitories is about 6,000 places.[18]

Hotels[edit]

The university has two hotels in the city center, the Polytechnic House 1 (17 rooms) and the Polytechnic House 2 (31 rooms), both equipped at a three-star level and with their own restaurant.

Canteens[edit]

On the student campus, the university has two canteens: the student canteen and the 1MV fast food.[19] Cafés also exist in many of the university buildings.

Central Library[edit]

Central Library
Main article: Central Library of Politehnica University of Timișoara

The library was also founded in 1920, together with the Polytechnic School. The activity of the library was started in the building of the primary school on Carol Telbisz Street, where it was active until 1947, when its collections were moved to the headquarters on Piatra Craiului Street.[20] Since November 2014, the library has a new headquarters at 2B Vasile Pârvan Boulevard.[21] With about one million volumes in its inventory, the library has a daily traffic of over 1,000 users (exceeding even 2,000 users per day during exam sessions).[22]

Sports facilities[edit]

Sports base 1

Politehnica University has many sports facilities, including two sports bases with two indoor halls equipped for ball games, two standard football pitches for competitions, a football dome with synthetic grass, six tennis courts with floodlight, two handball courts, a complex of swimming pools, fitness rooms and facilities for many other sports games. Sports base 1 comprises an athletics track, indoor mini-football pitches, a football pitch and a gym,[23] while sports base 2 has swimming pools, a sports hall, tennis courts, basketball courts and football pitches, among others.[24]

Construction on a new 2,560-seat polyvalent hall began in 2010. The new arena will be used for basketball, volleyball, handball, tennis and other sports, but will also become a venue for various events and concerts.[25]

Mobility and international cooperation[edit]

The most part of the outgoing and incoming mobility is developed within the frame of the Erasmus Programme, currently Erasmus+. Besides Erasmus+, other mobility programmes are running or are expected to be implemented in UPT, based on bilateral agreements with foreign universities or on various mobility programmes and financial mechanisms, like EEA, CEEPUS, AUF and DAAD mobility schemes.[26]

The university has more than 300 Erasmus+ agreements and over 100 framework cooperation agreements with universities in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America.[27] Every year more than 200 students carry out a study or internship mobility abroad, while more than 100 students from partner universities come to study or practice under the coordination of UPT teachers.

Internationally, the university is affiliated with:[28]

Rectors[edit]

Name Term[29][30]
Polytechnic School
Traian Lalescu 1920–1921
Stan Vidrighin [ro] 1921
Victor Vâlcovici 1921–1930
Victor Blasian 1930–1933
Constantin Teodorescu 1934–1939
Corneliu Severineanu 1939–1940
Ilie Popescu 1940
Victor Lațiu 1940–1941
Plautius Andronescu [ro] 1941–1944
Marin Bănărescu [ro] 1944–1946
Constantin Cândea 1946–1947
Polytechnic Institute
Ilie Murgulescu 1947–1949
Nicolae Maior 1949–1950
Ioan Beligăr 1950–1956
Coriolan Drăgulescu [ro] 1956
Alexandru Rogojan [ro] 1956–1957
Marin Rădoi 1957–1962
Gheorghe Silaș [ro] 1962
Constantin Avram 1963–1971
Ioan Anton [ro] 1971–1981; 1989
Coleta de Sabata 1981–1989
Politehnica University
Radu Vladea 1990–1992
Alexandru Nichici [ro] 1992–1996
Ioan Carțiș [ro] 1996–2004
Nicolae Robu 2004–2012
Viorel Șerban [ro] 2012–2020
Florin Drăgan 2020–present

Notable faculty[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Politehnica University of Timișoara.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Raport de activitate 2020" (PDF). Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara.
  2. ^ "QS World University Rankings: Romania". Top Universities. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  3. ^ "World University Rankings 2024: Romania". Times Higher Education (THE). 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Hotărâre nr. 493 din 17 iulie 2013". Portal Legislativ.
  5. ^ "Ordin nr. 5262 din 5 septembrie 2011". Portal Legislativ.
  6. ^ Stan, Roberto (24 June 2016). "Prima alianță a universităților tehnice din România, înființată la UPB". AGERPRES.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Ilieșiu, Nicolae (2003). Timișoara: monografie istorică (2nd ed.). Timișoara: Planetarium. ISBN 978-973-97327-8-9.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Rădoi, Marin (1960). "40 de ani de la înființarea Școlii Politehnice din Timișoara". Buletinul științific și tehnic al Institutului Politehnic Timișoara. 19 (1–2). Timișoara: Litografia IPT: 15–20. ISSN 0373-4374.
  9. ^ a b Colan, Horia (2003). "Dezvoltarea științelor tehnice după Marea Unire (1918-1940)" (PDF). Noema. 2 (1): 101–116.
  10. ^ Both, Ștefan (11 March 2015). "Primele facultăți din Timișoara au fost cele de Filosofie și Drept, începând din anul 1841. Școala Politehnică a apărut în 1920". Adevărul.
  11. ^ a b "Cronologie". Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara.
  12. ^ Gligor, Horia; Ionel, Sabin (2011). MECIPT: începuturile Științei și Ingineriei Calculatoarelor la Politehnica din Timișoara. Timișoara: Politehnica. p. 187. ISBN 978-606-554-271-6.
  13. ^ Bălan, Titus (18 June 2021). "Repere în istoria informaticii românești, la Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara". Banatul Azi.
  14. ^ "Decret nr. 146/1974" (PDF). Buletinul Oficial al Republicii Socialiste România. X (81): 1–3. 14 June 1974.
  15. ^ "Ordin nr. 4894 din 22.03.1991" (PDF). Ministerul Învățământului și Științei.
  16. ^ "Hotărâre nr. 568 din 28 iulie 1995". Portal Legislativ.
  17. ^ "Cazări". Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara.
  18. ^ "Bătaie pe cămine. Peste 13.000 de locuri de cazare pentru studenți, la Timișoara. Care sunt prețurile". Opinia Timișoarei. 22 September 2017.
  19. ^ "Cantine universitare". Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara.
  20. ^ "Biblioteca Centrală a Universității Politehnice Timișoara". Biblioteca Națională a României.
  21. ^ "Noua bibliotecă a Universității Politehnica și-a deschis porțile pentru studenți". TION. 27 October 2014.
  22. ^ Bocănici, Oana (14 March 2021). "O sută de ani de când prima carte a fost așezată pe rafturile bibliotecii UPT". TION.
  23. ^ "Baza sportivă nr. 1". Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara.
  24. ^ "Baza sportivă nr. 2". Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara.
  25. ^ Both, Ștefan (11 December 2020). "Mica Polivalentă din Timișoara, care va avea 2.560 de locuri, ar putea fi inaugurată vara viitoare". Adevărul.
  26. ^ "Strategic Plan for the Internationalisation of Education 2021-2028" (PDF). Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara. p. 28.
  27. ^ "Acorduri". Departamentul Relații Internaționale. Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara.
  28. ^ "Afilieri la rețele naționale și internatționale". Departamentul Relații Internaționale. Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara.
  29. ^ de Sabata, Coleta; Munteanu, Ioan (1993). Remember: profesori ai Școlii Politehnice Timișorene. Timișoara: Helicon. p. 4. ISBN 973-9133-44-4.
  30. ^ "Rectorii Politehnicii Timișoara". Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara.
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