Central University of Venezuela

Central University of Venezuela
Universidad Central de Venezuela
Motto La Casa que Vence la Sombra
(Spanish, "The f,c ,sd.c .,........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, house that defeats the shadow")
Type Public
Established 1721 (Universidad Real y Pontificia de Caracas)
Rector Cecilia García Arocha
Academic staff
 5,176[1]
Administrative staff
 9,778[1]
Students 57,569[2]
Location Caracas and Maracay, Venezuela
Campus World Heritage Site, Urban, 1.642 km²
Website ucv.ve

The Central University of Venezuela (or Universidad Central de Venezuela, UCV, in Spanish) is a premier public university of Venezuela located in Caracas. It is widely held to be the highest ranking institution in the country, and it also ranks 18th in Latin America.[3] Founded in 1721, it is the oldest university in Venezuela and one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere .

The main university campus, Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, was designed by architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva and it is considered a masterpiece of urban planning and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000.

History

Origins

The origin of the university goes back to Friar Antonio González de Acuña (1620–1682), a Peruvian Bishop who studied theology at the Universidad de San Marcos and founded in 1673 the Seminary Saint Rose of Lima in Caracas named after the first Catholic Saint born in the Americas. In the following years, Friar Diego de Baños y Sotomayor broadened the scope of the seminary by creating the School and Seminary of Saint Rose of Lima in 1696. Yet, in spite of the creation of the seminar, students who wished to obtain a university degree had to travel great distances to attend universities located in Santo Domingo, Bogotá or Mexico City. Given such harsh circumstances, the Rector of the Seminary, Francisco Martínez de Porras and the people of Caracas requested the royal court in Madrid the creation of a university in Venezuela (then part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada). As a result, on 22 December 1721 Philip V of Spain signed in Lerma a Royal Decree that transformed the School-Seminary into the Universidad Real y Pontificia de Caracas. The Royal Decree was concurred by Pope Innocent XIII with a Papal bull in 1722. The university offered degrees in Philosophy, Theology, Canon law and Medicine. Until 1810, when the Seminary of Saint Bonaventura located in Mérida became the Universidad de Los Andes, the Universidad Real y Pontificia de Caracas was the only university existing in the country.

The old campus in 1911. The building also served as the location for the National Library when it was founded in 1833. It is currently known as the Palacio de las Academias which is Spanish for "Palace of Academies"

Republican years

Until the end of the 18th century, the official papal and royal censorship on books was largely ignored in Venezuela, a situation which allowed the smuggling of the works by Rousseau, Voltaire, Diderot, Montesquieu, Locke, Helvetius, Grotius in the ships belonging to the Guipuzcoana Company.

The Royal constitution was displaced by the Republican Statutes proclaimed by Simón Bolívar on 24 June 1827. The new statutes gave the institution a secular character and transferred the main authority to the Rector.

20th century

Central Library and Aula Magna
Ciudad Universitaria from the library
Central Library

On December 1908, Juan Vicente Gómez came into power with a coup d'état against the government of Cipriano Castro. Gómez stayed in power until his death in 1935, and during this time the Dictator, having ambivalent feelings about the purpose of educating free minds when he could hire foreigners to exercise any technical requirements for the nation, decided to close the university from 1912 to 1922. When it reopened, the Rector Felipe Guevara Rojas had reorganized the traditional division of only a few schools and separated them into departments.

1928 became a very important year for the university when a group of students, known as the Generation of 1928, organized events during the "Students Week" protesting the dictatorship which culminated in an attempt to overthrow Gómez on 7 April of that year. This group, which shared a common front against Gómez, was conformed by people like Rómulo Betancourt, Miguel Otero Silva, Juan Oropeza, Isaac Pardo and Rodolfo Quintero. Most of them were jailed after the events or went into exile without being able to finish their studies.

The university continued to be at the forefront of the democratization of the country when in 1936, then President Eleazar López Contreras, ordered a decree suspending the Constitutional rights and declaring a general censorship of the press because the oil workers decided to start a strike (an unprecedented deed at the time). The Rector of the University, Francisco Antonio Rísquez, led the protest that followed through the streets of Caracas against the policies of López Contreras.

By 1942, the student population had been growing steadily for decades without any significant expansion of the University. Instead several schools, like Medicine, were moved to other buildings around the city. The administration of President Isaías Medina Angarita felt the need to move the university to a larger and more modern location where it could function as coherent whole. The government bought the Hacienda Ibarra and the responsibility of the main design was given to the architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva after a visit to the University City of Bogotá convinced the authorities of the Ministry of Public Works that, in order to avoid constructing a group of heterogeneous buildings, the design should be under one architect.

The new campus was going to become a vast urban complex of about 200 hectares and included 40 buildings. Villanueva worked with 28 avant-garde artists of the time, from Venezuela and the rest of the world, to build what continues to be one of the most successful applications of Modern Architecture in Latin America. Villanueva's guiding principle was the creation of a space where art and architecture cohabited in harmony in a "Synthesis of Arts". Among some of the most important pieces present in the university are the "Floating Clouds" by Alexander Calder, murals by Victor Vasarely, Wifredo Lam, Fernand Léger and sculptures by Jean Arp and Henri Laurens. The Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas was declared World Heritage by UNESCO, and it is the only modern university campus designed by a single architect to receive such high honor.

"Floating Clouds" by Alexander Calder in the Aula Magna

In 1958, after the fall of dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez, a government commission established a new law for the universities. The new law came into place on 5 December, guaranteeing that faculty and students could work in an environment of freedom and tolerance. This very important legal foundation was however abused during the 1960s when guerrilla rebels, supported by Fidel Castro took refuge inside the university campus to escape prosecution from the government. This tense situation came to a stalemate in 1969 when students asking for a reform took over the university. On 3 October 1970, the administration of President Rafael Caldera ordered the university to be raided by the military and Rector Jesús María Bianco was forced to resign. The university reopened in 1971 with a new Rector and a new plan for renovation.

In terms of the academic development of the modern university, the second half of the 20th century was a time when the Central University's faculty body benefited greatly from the influx of European immigrants. Many intellectuals settled in Venezuela after the end of the Spanish Civil War and World War II and found jobs at the university. Those scientists and humanists helped develop lines of research and teaching at the university and educated many of the present generation of faculty members.

Organization and degrees

The university is organized into 11 schools (Facultades) which are subdivided into 40 departments (Escuelas).

All schools offer undergraduate degrees at the level of Licenciatura (5 years) and graduate degrees at the level of master's degree (2 years) and PhD (3–4 years) from the Graduate School.[4] The Graduate School, founded in 1941, offers 222 different specializations, 109 Master's degrees and 40 PhDs.[5]

School of Architecture. Mural by Alejandro Otero
School of Engineering. Mural by Alejandro Otero
Schools of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economy

Research ranking

University Hospital

The Ranking Iberoamericano de Instituciones de Investigacion based on the Institute for Scientific Information ranked the Central University of Venezuela as the most productive research institution in the country and as the 20th most productive in Latin America.[17] Other top 25 positions were reached in the following areas:

In 2010, according to University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP),[30] it is the best university in Venezuela and 805th university in the world.

The 2016 QS World University Rankings, placed the UCV as 18th overall in their Latin American Universities Ranking.[31]

Notable alumni

See also UCV alumni

Francisco de Miranda
Andrés Bello
José María Vargas

Humanists

Scientists

Politicians

Businessmen

Presidents of Venezuela

Notable faculty

See also UCV faculty

First promotion of engineers of the Central University of Venezuela (1893-1899)
Humberto Fernández Morán

18th Century

19th Century

20th Century

Humanities

Sciences

Rectors

18th Century

  • Francisco Martínez de Porras (1725–1732)
  • José Ignacio Mijares de Solórzano (1732–1734)
  • Gerónimo de Rada (1734–1739)
  • Carlos Francisco de Herrera (1739–1740)
  • Blas Arraéz de Mendoza (1740–1741)
  • Juan Pérez Hurtado (1741–1744)
  • Bonifacio de Frías Abadino ( 1744–1746)
  • Gabriel Ramón de Ibarra (1746–1749)
  • Carlos Francisco de Herrera (1749–1758)
  • Francisco de Ibarra (1758–1771)
  • Bartolome Antonio de Vargas (1771–1772)
  • Domingo de Berroterán (1772–1785)
  • José Domingo Blanco (1785–1787)
  • José Ignacio Romero (1787–1789)
  • Juan Agustín de la Torre (1789–1791)
  • Domingo Rogerio Briceño (1791–1793)
  • José Antonio Osío (1793–1794)
  • Tomás Hernández Sanabria (1794–1795)
  • Juan Vicente Echevarría (1795–1797)
  • José Antonio Felipe Borges (1797–1799)
  • José Vicente Machillanda (1799–1801)

19th Century

  • Domingo Gómez de Rus (1801–1803)
  • Nicolás Antonio Osío (1803–1805)
  • José Bernabé Díaz (1805–1807)
  • Gabriel José Lindo (1807–1809)
  • Tomás Hernández Sanabria (1809–1811)
  • Manuel Vicente Maya (1811–1815)
  • Juan de Rojas Queipo (1815–1817)
  • Pablo Antonio Romero (1817–1819)
  • José Manuel Oropeza (1819–1821)
  • Miguel Castro y Marrón (1821–1823)
  • Felipe Fermín Paul (1823–1825)
  • José Cecilio Avila (1825–1827)
  • José María Vargas (1827–1829)
  • José Nicolás Díaz (1829–1832)
  • Andrés Navarte (1832–1835)
  • Juan Hilario Bosett (1835–1838)
  • Tomás José Sanabria (1838–1841)
  • José Alberto Espinosa (1841–1843)
  • Domingo Quintero (1843–1846)
  • Carlos Arvelo (1846–1849)
  • Tomás José Sanabria (1849–1850)
  • José Manuel García (1850–1852)
  • Antonio José Rodríguez (1852–1855)
  • Guillermo Michelena (1855–1858)
  • Francisco Díaz Flores (1858–1860)
  • Nicanor Borges (1860–1862)
  • Elias Acosta (1862)
  • Calixto Madrid (1862–1863)
  • José Manuel García (1863–1868)
  • Nicanor Borges (1868–1869)
  • Carlos Arvelo, jr. (1869–1870)
  • Alejandro Ibarra (1870–1873)
  • Pedro Medina (1873–1876)
  • Antonio Guzmán Blanco (1876–1877)
  • Raimundo Andueza (1877–1879)
  • Angel Rivas Baldwin (1879–1882)
  • Jesús María Blanco Arnal (1882–1883)
  • Manuel María Ponte (1883–1884)
  • Aníbal Dominici (1884–1886)
  • Ezequiel Jelambi (1886)
  • Andrés A. Silva (1886–1887)
  • Jesús Muñoz Tébar (1887)
  • Aníbal Dominici (1887–1888)
  • Martin J. Sanabria (1888–1889)
  • Agustín Astúriz (1899 - 1890)
  • Elías Rodríguez (1890–1895)
  • Manuel Clemente Urbaneja (1895)
  • Rafel Villacencio (1895–1897)
  • Alberto Smith (1897–1898)
  • Rafel Villacencio (1898–1899)

20th Century

  • Santos Aníbal Dominici (1899–1901)
  • José Antonio Baldó (1901–1905)
  • Laureano Villanueva (1905–1906)
  • Jesús Muñoz Tébar (1906–1908)
  • Luis Razetti (1908)
  • Elías Toro (1908–1910)
  • Alejo Zuloaga Egusquiza (1910–1911)
  • Alberto Smith (1911)
  • Manuel Angel Dagnino (1911)
  • Alberto Smith (1911–1912)
  • Manuel Angel Dagnino (1912)
  • Felipe Guevara Rojas (1912)
  • David Lobo Senior (1922–1924)
  • Alejandro Urbaneja (1924–1925)
  • Diego Carbonell (1925–1928)
  • Juan Iturbe (1928)
  • Plácido D. Rodríguez Rivero (1928–1935)
  • Francisco Antonio Rísquez (1935–1936)
  • Alberto Smith (1936)
  • Salvador Córdova (1936–1937)
  • Antonio José Castillo (1937–1943)
  • Rafael Pizani (1943–1944)
  • Leopoldo García Maldonado (1944–1945)
  • Juan Oropeza (1945–1946)
  • Santiago Vera Izquierdo (1946–1948)
  • Julio De Armas (1948–1951)
  • Eloy Dávila Celis (1951)
  • Julio García Alvarez (1951–1953)
  • Pedro González Rincones (1953–1956)
  • Emilio Espósito Jiménez (1956–1958)
  • Francisco De Venanzi (1958–1963)
  • Jesús María Bianco (1963–1970)
  • Rafael Clemente Arraíz (1971)
  • Oswaldo De Sola (1971–1972)
  • Rafael José Neri (1972–1976)
  • Miguel Layrisse (1976–1980)
  • Carlos A. Moro Guersi (1980–1984)
  • Edmundo Chirinos (1984–1988)
  • Luis Fuenmayor Toro (1988–1992)
  • Simón Muñoz (1992–1996)
  • Trino Alcides Díaz (1996–2000)

21st Century

  • Giuseppe Gianetto (2000–2004)
  • Antonio París (2004–2008)
  • Cecilia García Arocha (2008 - )

See also

References

  1. 1 2 http://www.iesalc.unesco.org.ve/acreditacion/venezuela/Informe%20Acreditación-Anexo2-III-Vzla.pdf
  2. ↑ Martinez, Eugenio (1 October 2007). "UNIVERSIDADES COMENZARÁN CLASES DE FORMA ESCALONADA". El Universal. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
  3. ↑ "Study in Venezuela". Top Universities. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
  4. ↑ Bienvenido al SIDEP Archived 1 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ Bienvenido al SIDEP Archived 1 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ FAU UCV - Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo - Bienvenido
  7. ↑ Facultad de Agronomía de la Universidad Central de Venezuela ::: Inicio Archived 21 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ Facultad de Odontología - Universidad Central de Venezuela Archived 24 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ Facultad de Ingeniería-U.C.V
  10. ↑ Facultad de Humanidades Archived 15 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ * * * * UCV - Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Políticas - UCV * * * * Archived 21 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ Universidad Central de Venezuela - Facultad de Medicina
  13. ↑ Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales Archived 12 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  14. ↑ Facultad de Farmacia Archived 23 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  15. ↑ http://www.ciens.ucv.ve
  16. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 April 2006. Retrieved 2006-04-19.
  17. ↑ Ranking-Instituciones-Investigacion-Latinoamerica Archived 14 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  18. ↑ Ranking-Instituciones-Investigacion-Latinoamerica-Derecho Archived 14 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  19. ↑ Ranking-Instituciones-Investigacion-Latinoamerica-Ciencias-Sociales Archived 14 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  20. ↑ Ranking-Instituciones-Investigacion-Latinoamerica-Psicologia-Ciencias-Educacion Archived 26 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  21. ↑ Ranking-Instituciones-Investigacion-Latinoamerica-Fisiologia-Farmacologia Archived 14 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  22. ↑ Ranking-Instituciones-Investigacion-Latinoamerica-Filologia-Filosofia Archived 14 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  23. ↑ Ranking-Instituciones-Investigacion-Latinoamerica-Ciencia-Tecnologia-Alimentos Archived 14 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  24. ↑ Ranking-Instituciones-Investigacion-Latinoamerica-Matematicas Archived 14 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  25. ↑ Ranking-Instituciones-Investigacion-Latinoamerica-Medicina Archived 12 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  26. ↑ Ranking-Instituciones-Investigacion-Latinoamerica-Biologia-Vegetal-Animal-Ecologia Archived 14 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  27. ↑ Ranking-Instituciones-Investigacion-Latinoamerica-Historia-Arte Archived 14 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  28. ↑ Ranking-Instituciones-Investigacion-Latinoamerica-Ingenieria-Civil-Arquitectura Archived 14 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  29. ↑ Ranking-Instituciones-Investigacion-Latinoamerica-Biologia-Molecular-Celular-Genetica Archived 14 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  30. ↑ "URAP – University Ranking by Academic Performance".
  31. ↑ http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/latin-american-university-rankings/2012
  32. ↑ Guillén Montero, Mario (2014-05-23). "Rendirán honores al exgobernador Alexis Rafael Navarro Rojas". El Sol de Margarita. Retrieved 2016-06-21.

Printed References

Cartographical References

  • UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DE VENEZUELA. 1981: “"Plano de Ubicación de las obras de arte de la Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas"”. Universidad Central de Venezuela. Caracas – Venezuela.
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