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Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro

Encyclopedia : P : PO : PON : Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro

Contents

Overview

Cardeal Leme building
Cardeal Leme building
The Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) is a private non-profit Pontifical University. It was created in 1941 by the Society of Jesus in order to develop knowledge based on humanistic values. Now, with approximately 10,000 undergraduate students, 2,500 graduate students and 5,000 extension students, PUC-Rio is internationally recognized as one of the top five universities in Brazil and one of the two best in Rio de Janeiro. PUC-Rio is widely known as a high level education center in Brazil, with emphasis in Law, Engineering, Psychology, Economics and Business. The University is also known by its free cultural aspect, which always tried to bring the broadest types of students in order to foster and develop diversity amongst the students. PUC-Rio has been responsible for the formation and education of thousands of professionals, many of which have become influent and important characters of the actual Brazilian society.

In the past few years PUC-Rio has been developing an International Exchange Program with Universities all over the world. Universities such as Harvard, Notre Dame, UCLA and many other European centers have participated on the program, which is responsible for the exchange of hundreds of students every year. In recent years, some programs have been denied or reduced due to a perception of danger to foreigners living in the area. This perceived problem is being addressed through programmed efforts at better communication about housing, transportation and communication, and more openness with students, along with a reduction of the Catholic and militaristic "need-to-know" basis of helping students. Exchange students may be given a personal welcome interview in the hour of their arrival to get them situated with a rental cell phone and their pre-arranged housing well before the orientation sessions begin.

Location

PUC-Rio is located ([GoogleMap]) in Gávea, a charming neighborhood at the heart of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, near the forest and the beach. It sits right at the edge of the Floresta Tijuca (a national forest), with a river extending from the forest through the entrance of PUC-Rio. Tree-covered mountains make up the north view of the campus.

A large number of city bus lines make it easy to get to the campus. It is close to Leblon, Ipanema, Jardim Botânico and Lagoa, which are wealthy neighborhoods in Rio. The subway (Metrô) has its very last stop at the entrance to PUC-Rio, although for the time-being the last several stops are served by a Metrô-branded bus that connects to the subway in mid-Copacabana with a connection ticket for both rides.

Campus

The campus was built with donations from many institutions and foundations in the early 1940s. A special donation was given by the USA during the President John Kennedy government, which was thanked by a statue with John Kennedy's face and with a building in PUC's campus named after the president.

It is located in a place which used to be a coffee farm long ago. Therefore, the campus was built between trees and a beautiful river in the middle of it, which crosses all over the University, brining a calm and pleasant atmosphere.

There are four libraries on campus: the Central Library, located at the third floor of Frings building, and one specialized library per center.

Rio Datacentro (RDC) is the computer center. The first internet provider in the country, RDC has a state-of-the-art multiprocessor computer and a graphics-computing center, among other equipment and programs. It also provides free access to the Internet to all PUC-Rio students, who can use the terminals located in various microcomputer laboratories on campus or their own portable wireless devices.

Solar Grandjean de Montigny, PUC-Rio's Cultural Center, has displays of visual arts exhibitions all year round.

Pilotis at Kennedy building
Pilotis at Kennedy building

At the Pilotis (Kennedy building's ground floor), many cultural events take place, like political debates, shows and fairs. The "Festa Junina" is a traditional folkloric festivity with a country life ambience. Typical food, costumes and dances bring alive an old way of living in Brazil. It takes place every June.

On PUC-Rio's campus there are also three restaurants (from US$2.50 to US$8 for a complete meal), 5 coffee-shops, 1 pizza-parlor; a bookstore and an office supply store; three copy centers; branches of three banks (Itaú, ABN AMRO Real and Banco Santander Central Hispano); a post office; a newsstand and ATM machines. Close to the campus there are a great number of shops, banks, specialized bookstores, restaurants and even a mall. The Botanical Gardens and Leblon beach are within walking distance.

Famous Alumni

Many proeminent members of the Brazilian society have graduated in PUC, in areas such as politics, economics and culture.

Presidents of the university

  1. Fr. Leonel Edgar da Silveira Franca, S.J. (1941-1948)
  2. Fr. Paulo Bannwarth, S.J. (1948-1951)
  3. Fr. Pedro Belisário Velloso Rebello, S.J. (1951-1956)
  4. Fr. Artur Alonso Frias, S.J. (1956-1962)
  5. Fr. Laércio Dias de Moura, S.J. (1962-1970)
  6. Fr. Ormindo Sodré Viveiros de Castro, S.J. (1970-1972)
  7. Fr. Pedro Belisário Velloso Rebello, S.J. (1972-1976)
  8. Fr. João Augusto Anchieta Amazonas MacDowell, S.J. (1976-1982)
  9. Fr. Laércio Dias de Moura, S.J. (1982-1995)
  10. Fr. Jesús Hortal Sánchez, S.J. (1995-present)

External links

 

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
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