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University of Coimbra

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The University of Coimbra (Portuguese: Universidade de Coimbra, pron. IPA: /univɨɾsi'ðad(ɨ) dɨ ku'ĩβɾɐ/) 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.

Contents

History

The tower of the University of Coimbra
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The tower of the University of Coimbra

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.

King Diniz statue at the University of Coimbra
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King Diniz statue at the University of Coimbra

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.

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, 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:

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.

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).
Rua Larga Street at the University of Coimbra
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Rua Larga Street at the University of Coimbra

The official colors of each one of the Faculties of the University of Coimbra are:

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 students' union of the university is the AAC
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The students' union of the university is the AAC

Coimbra's Queima das Fitas Parade. Image depicting newly graduates of medicine
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Coimbra's Queima das Fitas Parade. Image depicting newly graduates of medicine

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.

List of faculties

Stats and other info

Alumni

Noted professors and lecturers

Noted professors and lecturers at the University include:

Nobel laureates

Others

Noted attendees

Noted persons who graduated from or otherwise attended the University include:

List of research units

Research and Studies centers of the University of Coimbra include:

Other students in Coimbra

Since 1988, there has been a second public institution of higher education in Coimbra, the Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra, a polytechnic institute, whose entrance and teaching requirements are usually less demanding than the University of Coimbra's. There are also some private 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.

See also

External links

Coimbra Group (of European research universities)|
Aarhus | Barcelona | Bergen | Bologna | Bristol | Budapest | Cambridge | Coimbra | Dublin | Edinburgh | Galway | Geneva | Göttingen | Granada | Graz | Groningen | Heidelberg | Jena | Kraków | Leiden | Leuven | Louvain-la-Neuve | Lyon | Montpellier | Oxford | Padua | Pavia | Poitiers | Prague | Salamanca | Siena | Tartu | Thessaloniki | Turku I | Turku II | Uppsala | Würzburg

 

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