Utrecht University

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Utrecht University
Universiteit Utrecht
Utrecht University logo.svg
Latin: Universitas Rheno-Traiectina
Universitas Ultraiectina
MottoSol Iustitiae Illustra Nos (Latin)
Motto in English
May the Sun of Righteousness Enlighten Us[1]
TypePublic, research
Established26 March 1636 (385 years ago) (1636-03-26)
Endowment€ 479 million (2019)
Budget€ 909 million (2019)
RectorHenk Kummeling
Academic staff
3,655[2]
Administrative staff
3,536[2]
Students31,801[2]
Location
Utrecht
,
Utrecht Province
,
Netherlands

52°05′24″N 5°07′13″E / 52.09000°N 5.12028°E / 52.09000; 5.12028
CampusUrban
Colours       
Yellow, Red, Black & White[3]
AffiliationsCG, LERU, EUA, IAU, MINA, Utrecht Network
WebsiteOfficial Website

Utrecht University (UU; Dutch: Universiteit Utrecht, formerly Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht) is a public research university in Utrecht, Netherlands. Established 26 March 1636 (385 years ago) (1636-03-26), it is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands. In 2018, it had an enrolment of 31,801 students, and employed 7,191 faculty and staff.[2] In 2018, 525 PhD degrees were awarded and 6,948 scientific articles were published. The 2018 budget of the university was €857 million.[2]

Utrecht University counts a number of distinguished scholars among its alumni and faculty, including 12 Nobel Prize laureates and 13 Spinoza Prize laureates. Utrecht University has been placed consistently in the top 100 universities in the world by prominent international ranking tables. The university is ranked the best university in the Netherlands by the Shanghai Ranking of World Universities 2019, ranking 13th in Europe and 49th in the world.[4]

The university's motto is "Sol Iustitiae Illustra Nos," which means "May the Sun of Righteousness Enlighten Us". This motto was gleaned from a literal Latin Bible translation of Malachi 4:2. Rutgers University, having historical connections with Utrecht University, uses a modified version of this motto.

Utrecht University is led by the University Board, consisting of prof. dr. Henk Kummeling (Rector Magnificus), prof. dr. Anton Pijpers (Chair) and prof. mr. Annetje Ottow (Vice Chair).

Close ties are harboured with other institutions internationally through its membership in the Coimbra Group (CG), the League of European Research Universities (LERU), the Utrecht Network and the European University Association (EUA).

History[]

Gable decoration at the University Hall building (Academiegebouw).
Bernardus Schotanus, the university's first rector magnificus, and professor of law and mathematics.

Utrecht University was founded on 26 March 1636.[5] It has its roots in the Illustrious School of Utrecht, which founded two years earlier in 1634 before being elevated to the status of university in 1636. The influential professor of theology Gisbertus Voetius delivered the inaugural speech, and Bernardus Schotanus (professor of law and mathematics) became the university's first rector magnificus. Anna Maria van Schurman, who became the university's first female student, was invited to write a Latin poem for the inauguration.[6] Initially, only a few dozen students attended classes at the university. Seven professors worked in four faculties: philosophy, which offered all students an introductory education, and three higher-level faculties (theology, medicine and law).

Utrecht University flourished in the seventeenth century, and contributed significantly to the Dutch Golden Age, despite competition with the older universities, such as Leiden (1575) and Groningen (1614). Leiden, in particular, proved a strong competitor and made further improvement necessary; a rivalry that persists to this day. A botanical garden was built on the grounds of the present Sonnenborgh Observatory, and three years later the Smeetoren added an astronomical observatory. The university attracted many students from abroad (especially from Germany, England and Scotland). They witnessed the intellectual and theological battle fought between proponents of the new philosophy (René Descartes lived for a few years in Utrecht) and proponents of the strict Reformed theologian Voetius. They also witnessed the teachings of renowned Dutch jurist, Johannes Voet, a university alumnus and professor of law, whose works remain highly authoritative in modern Roman-Dutch law.

An honorary doctorate in law was conferred on Eleanor Roosevelt in 1948.

In 1806, the French occupying authorities of the Netherlands downgraded Utrecht University to an école secondaire (high school), but after the establishment of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1813 it regained its former status.[5] Leiden, Leuven, Groningen, Utrecht and Ghent were the five universities (Dutch: hoge scholen) of the new state. Two of the universities (Leuven and Ghent) became part of the new Belgian state after their respective provinces separated from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1830. As a result, Utrecht University remained one of only three Dutch universities. During the French occupation, King Louis Napoleon ordered the construction of a palace in the centre of Utrecht, which eventually became the University Library City Centre.[5]

Utrecht University played a prominent role in the golden age of Dutch science. Around 1850 the "Utrechtian School" of science formed, with Pieter Harting, Gerardus J. Mulder, Christophorus H. D. Buys Ballot and Franciscus Donders among the leading scientists. They introduced the educational laboratory (onderwijslaboratorium) as a practical learning place for their students. The National Veterinary School (Dutch:Rijks Veeartsenijschool) became Utrecht University's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 1918.

As the university grew, the academic buildings in the historic city centre were unable to meet the university's increasing need for space. Therefore, starting from the 1960s, a significant part of the university moved to the De Uithof campus, which occupies the easternmost part of the city and is located south of De Bilt. However, the university continued to retain its academic buildings and presence in the historic city centre.

The University is represented in the Stichting Academisch Erfgoed, a foundation with the goal of preserving the university's heritage and collections.

Organisation[]

Utrecht University Hall (Academiegebouw), built in 1894.

The university consists of seven faculties:[7]

There are three interfaculty units:

Campus[]

The two large faculties of Humanities and Law & Governance are situated in the inner city of Utrecht. The other five faculties and most of the administrative services are located in Utrecht Science Park De Uithof, a campus area on the outskirts of the city. University College Utrecht, along with the Utrecht School of Economics, are situated in the former Kromhout Kazerne, which used to be a Dutch military base. University College Roosevelt is located off-campus in the city of Middelburg in the south-west of the Netherlands.

  • The Science Park (Utrecht University modern campus)

  • University College Utrecht

  • University College Utrecht

  • Juridische Bibliotheek (The Former Law Library, now located at Drift 27)

  • Student life in Utrecht

  • The Faculty of Science Building at the Utrecht Science Park De Uithof campus.

International rankings[]

University rankings
Global – Overall
ARWU World[9]52 (2020)
CWUR World[10]71 (2021-22)
CWTS World[11]49 (2021)
QS World[12]110 (2022)
Reuters World[13]93 (2019)
THE World[14]=75 (2021)
USNWR Global[15]=54 (2021)

On the 2020 Academic Ranking of World Universities list, the University of Utrecht was ranked 52nd in the world and the highest in the Netherlands. Its ranking has declined slightly since 2003, when it was ranked 40th.[16]

In the 2021 QS World University Rankings,[17] Utrecht was ranked 94th, having improved its ranking since 2004, when it was ranked 120th.

In the 2021 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the university is ranked 75th.[18]

Affiliations[]

Utrecht University is a member of the Coimbra Group (CG), League of European Research Universities (LERU), the Utrecht Network, the European University Association (EUA), the International Association of Universities (IAU) and the McDonnell International Scholars Academy (MISA).

Notable alumni and faculty[]

Main article: List of people associated with the University of Utrecht

Utrecht University counts a number of distinguished scholars among its alumni and faculty, including 12 Nobel Prize laureates and 13 Spinoza Prize laureates.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "History". Utrecht University. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Annual Report". 31 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Colour - Corporate Identity - Utrecht University". Utrecht University. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities – 2019". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c "The History of Utrecht University". Utrecht University. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  6. ^ Frade, Sofia (2016). "Ménage's Learned Ladies: Anne Dacier (1647-1720) and Anna Maria van Schurman (1607-1678)". In Wyles, Rosie; Hall, Edith (eds.). Women Classical Scholars: Unsealing the Fountain from the Renaissance to Jacqueline de Romilly. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198725206.
  7. ^ "Faculties - Organisation". Utrecht University. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance". Utrecht University. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2020". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  10. ^ "CWUR - World University Rankings 2021-2022". Center for World University Rankingsg. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  11. ^ "CWTS Leiden Ranking 2021 - PP top 10%". CWTS Leiden Ranking. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  12. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2021". Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Reuters World's Top 100 Innovative Universities 2019". Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  14. ^ "World University Rankings 2021". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Best Global Universities Rankings (2021)". U.S. News Education. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2020". ShanghaiRanking. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  17. ^ "QS World University Rankings Utrecht University". Topuniversities. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  18. ^ "World University Rankings 2021 - Utrecht University". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved 18 September 2019.

External links[]

Coordinates: 52°05′24″N 5°07′13″E / 52.09000°N 5.12028°E / 52.09000; 5.12028

Retrieved from ""