University of Coimbra

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University of Coimbra Universidade de Coimbra

Latin: Universitas Conimbrigensis
Established	1290
Type	Public University
Rector	Fernando Seabra Santos
Students	ca. 23 000
Location	Coimbra, Portugal
Campus	Urban
Affiliations	Coimbra Group, EUA
Website	www.uc.pt

The University of Coimbra (Portuguese: Universidade de Coimbra, pron. IPA: [univɨɾsi'dad(ɨ) dɨ ku'ĩbɾɐ]) 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 its largest 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.

1 History
2 Organization
3 Students
4 Sports, clubs and traditions
5 Folklore
6 List of faculties
7 List of research units
8 Instituto Pedro Nunes
9 Notable alumni and students
10 Trivia
11 Other students in Coimbra
12 See also
13 External links

[edit] History

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.

The tower of the University of Coimbra (left)

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, with buldings belonging to the Medicine (right) and Sciences and Technology (left) Faculties in the background

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.

[edit] 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 teaching hospital, HUC (Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra), is a university hospital known as a centre of research with a broad range of clinical services and medical specialties. 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 (Estádio Universitário de Coimbra), 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:

Pólo I (the monumental ancient university core centre, with the main library and administration services - active since the early university times before the 16th century, with major expansions in the 18th century and during the 1950s and 1960s)
Pólo II (engineering, sciences & technology - built during the 1990s and 2000s)
Pólo III (health sciences, pharmacy & the university hospital - built in the 1980s with major expansions in the 2000s)
Faculdade de Economia (social sciences - founded in the 1970s)

[edit] Students

Main article: Associação Académica de Coimbra

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 extracurricular 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.

[edit] Sports, clubs and traditions

Main articles: Associação Académica de Coimbra, Praxe, and Queima das Fitas

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

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

Faculty of Law: Red
Faculty of Medicine: Yellow
Faculty of Letters: Dark Blue
Faculty of Sciences & Technology: Light Blue and White
Faculty of Pharmacy: Purple
Faculty of Economics: Red and White
Faculty of Psychology & Education Sciences: Orange
Faculty of Sports Sciences & Physical Education: Brown

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

Coimbra's Queima das Fitas Parade. Image depicting nearly-graduated students 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.

Praxis almost disappeared in the years after the 25 de Abril revolution. Timidly it was reinstated in the 80's. However the significance of the traditional academic attire changed substantially. In the the days of old it was common usage, that the student would wear for the whole length of his studies. Many students sleapt in it, wine undermining their efforts to reach home. The cape would get to the end of studies, heavily cut by friends and particularly with a deep cut for each girlfriend. Today the academic attire is a ceremonial dress to use in formal students ceremonial. It is also somewhat expensive, and not the practical dress of the ages.

A student that enrolled more than the years of his course was a veteran. Through the ages, when University enrollment was a matter of class, some students would accumulate quite a number of enrollments. The individual that had the most, was Dux Veteranorum, a notable figure in the students scene at the University. In the middle 80's for instance, the Dux Veteranorum had more than 20 enrollments in Law School but had graduated in only 2 or 3 courses. This tradition is disappearing as the University is putting constraints in the number of years a student can enroll. (Most of students costs are payed with public money and it is no longer found acceptable that some individuals strain finances to fool around.)

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.

[edit] Folklore

Student's folklore is plentiful. One student usually asked his father for money, stating "Rent 20, Food 30". One day he asked "Rent 20, Food 30, Hammering 20, Fixing of the hammer and medication 40." Another student had oral examinations at Law School. Unresponsive to the simplest of questions, the professor already impacient, turned to the bailiff and asked "Bring in a stack of hay" to which the student very quickly added "And I'll have a glass of water please."

The years of dictatorship were gruesome. Apart from the students that got 7 years in prison for toasting to freedom which led directly to the foundation of Amnesty International in 1960, in 1968 students would spend the whole night greasing streets and sidewalks with soap so the mounted police would have a hard time chasing them down to break a demonstration. It is said that a student dared a policeman to get his shoes and feet wet chasing after a cigarette lighter, thrown to the duck's pond, while he had the license for it in his pocket. In those days you needed a license to own a cigarette lighter. Go figure. (Salazar imposed the lighters license to protect match makers.)

Other items are plain local knowledge. "Black it is, Chicken made it." It happens that the gates of the Botanical Garden are black, and were made by a guy called Chicken (Galinha). Bet you can't climb the Monumental Stairs, two steps at a time. Big deal, there are 125 steps in 5 installements of 25 steps each.

Freshmen on first day of classes may have rough stuff to go through. In the escalator of the Mathematics Department it is common to see them buying season tickets to take the ride all year round, and at least once a poster announcing "Flight Insurance For This Elevator, At Sale in The Lobby," was inquired about by the newcomers.

[edit] List of faculties

The university is organized into 8 faculties and each faculty into departments:

Faculty of Law (Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Law; Public Administration
Faculty of Medicine (Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Medicine; Dental Medicine
Faculty of Letters (Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Cinema; Music; Theatre; Classical Languages and Literatures and Portuguese; Modern Languages and Literatures; History; History of Art; Archaeology; Geography; Philosophy; Journalism
Faculty of Sciences & Technology (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Anthropology; Architecture; Biology; Biochemistry; Communications and Multimedia; Environmental Engineering; Biomedical Engineering; Civil Engineering; Electrotechnical and Computer Engineering; Physical Engineering; Geographical Engineering; Mining and Geological Engineering; Informatics Engineering; Materials Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Physics; Geology; Mathematics; Chemistry; Industrial Chemistry
Faculty of Pharmacy (Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Pharmaceutical Sciences
Faculty of Economics (Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Economics; Business Organisation and Management; International Relations; Sociology
Faculty of Psychology & Education Sciences (Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Psychology; Education Sciences
Faculty of Sports Sciences & Physical Education (Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e Educação Física da Universidade de Coimbra)
- Offers all levels of academic degrees in: Sports Science and Physical Education

[edit] List of research units

Research and Studies centers of the University of Coimbra include:

[edit] Instituto Pedro Nunes

The Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN), founded by the University of Coimbra, is a business incubator and an innovation and technology transfer center of the university, working for the business and applied research communities.

[edit] Notable alumni and students

See List of University of Coimbra people

[edit] Trivia

Nowadays it has students from 70 different nationalities; almost 10% of its students are foreigners, being Portugal's most international university.

In 2004, it was among the first universities in Portugal limiting the time for degree completion. The degree programs have a specified minimum and maximum time for completion. The time limit is 6 years from the date of first enrolment for the 4 years degrees, and 8 years from the date of first enrolment for 5 years degrees (i.e. Medicine). After that, students have to pay the entire costs of their courses.

The tuition fee for undergraduate degrees was 356€/year in 2002/2003. It was increased to 880€/year in 2004/2005 and to 901,23€/year in 2005/2006, the maximum fee allowed to state universities by law.

Like other universities in Portugal, and unlike the polytechnical institutes, the university does not have special classes for workers or night classes.

Overcrowded classrooms are frequent in some disciplines at the Faculties of Science and Technology, Law, and Economics. Students must stand during the classes or even stay outside the classroom. These faculties have the highest abandon rate and the biggest average time for degree completion.

School year calendar starts in October and finishes in July.

The most powerful supercomputer in Portugal belongs to the University of Coimbra and is managed by its center for computational physics (CFC - Centro de Física Computacional). The supercomputer was called Milipeia, has 528 processors and 1000 GB of memory. Its main tasks are modeling and calculus in particle physics, astrophysics, mathematics, engineering, geophysics and condensed matter physics. Besides University of Coimbra's researchers, other Portuguese scientific community members are allowed to work with Milipeia.[1]

[edit] Other students in Coimbra

The Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra (Polytechnical Institute of Coimbra), a public institution of polytechnic higher education in Coimbra, has been in operation since 1988, although some of its current schools were providing degrees independently since the 1970s, and even before some were technical or vocational schools (for instance, the agriculture school whose origins can be dated back to the 19th century, or the current engineering institute, formerly an industrial school). It comprises several autonomous schools in engineering, education, accountancy, and agriculture, whose entrance and teaching requirements were less demanding than the University of Coimbra's, until the adoption of several new selective admission criteria and changes in the Portuguese higher education after 1999, and the Bologna process after 2006. Its schools currently have many courses with good reputation which are as selective as many University of Coimbra's courses, and in general they are allowed to award comparable degrees in some fields. The Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra, a public nursing school providing degrees since the 1990s, but whose origins as a nursing and health training school can be dated back to the early 20th century, is other state-run learning institution in the city. There are also private higher learning schools and institutes such as the Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, the Instituto Superior Bissaya Barreto, the Escola Universitária das Artes de Coimbra, and the Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama, which are not generally considered as prestigious as the old university, but some are noted for awarding degrees in fields not offered by it. In general, almost all students from these different public and private institutions adopt the traditional student rituals and celebrate the festivities born in the ancient University of Coimbra (UC) like the Praxe and the Queima das Fitas which are yearly organized by UC's students, having indeed their own adaptations for those traditions.