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The 'University of Bologna' (, UNIBO) is the oldest continually operating degree-granting university in the world, and the second largest university in
Italy. It was the first university founded in the western world (AD
1088) and since
2000, its motto has been ''
Alma mater studiorum'' (
Latin for "fostering mother of studies"). The university of
Bologna received a
charter from
Frederick I Barbarossa in
1158, but in the
19th century, a committee of historians led by
Giosuè Carducci traced the birth of the University back to 1088, making it arguably the
longest-lived occidental university. The University of Bologna is
historically notable for its
teaching of
canon and
civil law.
Nowadays, the University counts about 100,000 students in its 23
faculties. It has branch centers in
Reggio nell'Emilia,
Imola,
Ravenna,
Forlì,
Cesena and
Rimini and a branch center abroad in
Buenos Aires.
History
The University of Bologna's history is one of great thinkers in science and the humanities, making it an indispensable point of reference in the panorama of European culture.
The institution that we today call the University began to take shape in Bologna at the end of the
11th century, when masters of
grammar,
rhetoric and
logic began to devote themselves to law, inspiring themselves of the
Byzantine Justinian Code.
The first recorded scholars were
Pepone and
Irnerius, the latter of whom was defined by the former as "lucerna iuris". In
1158, at the urging of four doctors (thought to be pupils at the University),
Frederick I promulgated the ''Constitutio Habita'', in which the University was legally declared a place where research could develop independently from any other power.
In the
14th century, so-called "artists" - scholars of
medicine,
philosophy,
arithmetic,
astronomy, logic, rhetoric, and grammar - began to collaborate with the school of jurists. In
1364, the teaching of
theology was instituted.
Dante Alighieri,
Francesco Petrarca,
Guido Guinizelli,
Cino da Pistoia,
Cecco d'Ascoli,
Re Enzo,
Salimbene da Parma and
Coluccio Salutati all studied in Bologna.
In the
15th century Greek and
Hebrew studies were instituted, and in the
16th century those of "natural magic", which we would refer to as, "experimental sciences." The philosopher
Pietro Pomponazzi upheld the study of the laws of nature against the traditionalist position of theology and philosophy. A representative figure of this period was
Ulisse Aldrovandi, whose contributions ranged from
pharmacopoeia to the study of animals,
fossils, and marvels of nature which he collected and classified.
In the 16th century
Gaspare Tagliacozzi completed the first studies of
plastic surgery.
In the
17th century, which is thought of as the "golden era" of the University, medicine coincided with the teachings of
Marcello Malpighi and students began to employ the
microscope for anatomical research. By this time, the University's fame had spread throughout Europe and it was a destination for many illustrious guests. Famous scholars and students included
Pico della Mirandola and
Leon Battista Alberti, who devoted themselves to canon law; and
Nicolaus Copernicus who began his astronomical observations while studying pontifical law.
Paracelsus (aka Paracelso),
Raymond of Peñafort,
Albrecht Dürer, St.
Carlo Borromeo,
Torquato Tasso, and
Carlo Goldoni all spent time at the University.
With the advent of the
Industrial Revolution in the
18th century, the University promoted scientific and technological development. In this period came the studies of
Luigi Galvani who was one of the founders of modern electrotechnical studies (along with
Alessandro Volta,
Benjamin Franklin and
Henry Cavendish). Following the establishment of the
United Italian State came a period of great prosperity for the University in which the figures of
Giovanni Capellini,
Giosuè Carducci,
Giovanni Pascoli,
Augusto Righi,
Federigo Enriques,
Giacomo Ciamician, and
Augusto Murri stand out.
In
1888 the eighth centennial of the University was celebrated with a grand ceremony. Representatives from universities all over the world convened in Bologna to honour the "mother of universities," and celebrate their common roots and ideals of progress and tolerance.
The University maintained its central position on the scene of global culture until the period between
World War I and
World War II. As its own influence declined and other universities came to prominence, Bologna was called upon to forge relationships with institutions in the most advanced countries to modernise and reinvigorate its activities. Among the many challenges which it has met with success, Bologna committed itself to the European dimension which has now led to adoption of the new university system.
Organization
The primary objective of the faculties of the University of Bologna is to define, organise and connect the academic activities of the degree courses. Corresponding to the defined scientific-disciplinary fields, the faculties are divided into one or more first-level degree courses which are followed by specialised degree courses.
After a process of harmonization with the European Community system of high education; nowadays the University offers 128 different "''Laurea''" or "''Laurea breve''" first-level degrees (three years of courses), followed by a similar number of "''Laurea specialistica''" specialised degrees (two years). However, some courses have maintained preceding rules of "''Laurea specialistica europea''", with only one cycle of study of five years, except for medicine which requires six years of courses. After the "''Laurea''" is also possible to attend 1st level Master. After "''Laurea specialistica''" and "''Laurea specialistica europea''" are attained, one may proceed to 2nd level Master, specialisation schools, or doctorates of research.
★ Advanced School of
Modern Languages for
Intepreters and
Translators - SSLMIT
★ Faculty of
Agriculture
★ Faculty of
Architecture Aldo Rossi
★ Faculty of
Economics
★ Faculty of
Economics -
Forlì
★ Faculty of
Economics -
Rimini
★ Faculty of
Education Sciences
★ Faculty of
Engineering
★ II Faculty of
Engineering -
Cesena/
Forlì
★ Faculty of
Exercise and
Sport Sciences
★ Faculty of
Foreign Languages and
Literature
★ Faculty of
Industrial Chemistry
★ Faculty of
Law
★ Faculty of
Letters and
Philosophy
★ Faculty of
Mathematical,
Physical and
Natural Sciences
★ Faculty of
Medicine
★ Faculty of
Pharmacy
★ Faculty of
Political Sciences
★ Faculty of
Political Sciences Roberto Ruffilli
★ Faculty of
Preservation of the
Cultural Heritage
★ Faculty of
Psychology
★ Faculty of
Statistical Sciences
★ Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine
Notable Members of the University of Bologna
★ 11th century
★
★
Irnerius
★ 12th century
★
★
Gratian
★
★
Patriarch Heraclius of Jerusalem
★
★
Stephen of Tournai
★
★
Bulgarus
★
★
Martinus Gosia
★
★
William of Tyre
★ 13th century
★
★
William of Saliceto
★
★
Guido Guinizelli
★ 14th century
★
★
Dante Alighieri
★
★
Manuel Chrysoloras
★
★
Francesco Petrarca (aka
Petrarch)
★
★
Coluccio Salutati
★ 15th century
★
★
Leon Battista Alberti
★
★
Nicolaus Copernicus
★
★
Georgius de Drohobycz
★
★
Albrecht Dürer
★
★
Giovanni Pico della Mirandola
★ 16th century
★
★
Girolamo Cardano
★
★
Ignazio Danti
★
★
Girolamo Maggi
★
★
Giovanni Antonio Magini
★
★
Paracelsus
★
17th century
★
★
Giovanni Cassini
★
★
Ulisse Aldrovandi
★
★
Marcello Malpighi
★ 18th century
★
★
Laura Bassi
★
★
Maria Gaetana Agnesi
★
★
Luigi Galvani
★
★
Carlo Goldoni
★ 19th century
★
★
Giosuè Carducci
★
★
Giacomo Ciamician
★
★
Camillo Golgi
★
★
Giovanni Pascoli
★
★
Pellegrino Rossi
★
20th century
★
★
Umberto Eco
★
★
Vincenzo Balzani
★
★
Romano Prodi
★
★
Augusto Righi
★
21st century
See also
★
Coimbra Group (a network of leading European universities)
★
Bologna declaration
★
Bologna process
★
List of Italian universities
★
Medieval university
★
Bologna
External links
★
University of Bologna for foreign students on iAgora - Reviews by former international students in Bologna on
iAgora
★
University of Bologna Website
★
Denunciation of corruption in Italian universities, with a report concerning the University of Bologna in particular, by former THES and The Guardian correspondent Domenico Pacitti