The University of Bologna was probably the first University in the western world. The institution that we today call the University began to take shape in Bologna at the end of the eleventh century, when masters of Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic began to devote themselves to the law. In the nineteenth century a committee of historians, led by the famous Italian poet Giosuè Carducci, attributed the birth of the University to the year 1088.
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. In the 15th Century Greek and Hebrew studies were instituted, and in the 16th Century those of "natural magic", that is, experimental science. In the 16th century the first studies of plastic surgery were performed in Bologna. But the golden era of Bolognese Medicine flourished in the 17th Century, when the microscope was employed for anatomical research. The University's fame had spread throughout Europe and it was a destination for many illustrious guests. In 1888 the eighth centennial of the University was celebrated, with a grand ceremony where all the universities of the world convened in Bologna to honour the mother of universities, representing their common roots and ideals of progress and tolerance. The ceremony became an international festival of studies.
The Magna Charta: On 18 September 1988 in Bologna's main square (Piazza Maggiore), the Rectors of 430 universities signed the Magna Charta Universitatum Europaeum. The Magna Charta, which has since been signed by another 400 Rectors, affirmed the autonomy of the University, the essential link between teaching and research activities which transcend the limits imposed by "any geographical or political border". The signing took place as part of the ninth centennial of the University of Bologna, which was formally recognised as the Alma Mater of all universities.
The new campuses: Since 1989 until now, the Alma Mater has carried out the largest decentralisation programme in the history of Italian universities, establishing new University Campus branches in four towns in Romagna - Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini. In 1998 the University also inaugurated a branch in Buenos Aires. Reform of the European Univeristy System reform On 19 June 1999 in the Aula Magna of the University of Bologna, 29 European Ministers of Higher Education signed the so-called Declaration of Bologna, which defines the "most relevant objectives for the creation of a European Area of higher education" and the promotion of this system in the world. To meet these objectives European Union members must restructure their university systems by 2010, following the guidelines known as the Bologna Process.
Courses and enrolments: More than 100.000 students are enrolled at the University of Bologna, making our University one of the largest in Italy. Between Bologna, Forlì, Cesena, Rimini, Ravenna, Cesenatico, Faenza, Coviolo, Ozzano, and Imola there are over half a million square metres of floorspace for teaching and extra-curricular activities. The 23 Faculties offer 143 first cycle degree courses, 98 specialised degree courses, and 9 European specialisation courses. The number of University Master's degrees grows each year: there are 90 currently active involving 700 instructors in high-level academic activities and contact with the professional world. Attention to career opportunities for future graduates has led the University to stipulate over 3500 agreements with businesses and public organisations thanks to which some 13000 students carry out a period of training in the working world each year.
International Mobility: According to a recent report by the National Committee for the Evaluation of the University System, the University of Bologna is today the most internationalised of all Italian universities. The number of foreign students regularly enrolled is 3.600, while another 1.500 arrive every year on international mobility programmes such as Erasmus and Overseas. The number of students of the University of Bologna who go abroad on exchange programmes or on study grants is more than 2.300.
Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Italy
Web: http://www.unibo.it
Official Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi II contact person: Valentina Manzanato
Contact email and phone number: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / +39 051 2098041
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Comment: If you would like to read this information for the first edition of Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi, please click on the following link: Al Idrisi I: Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Italy
Université Jean Monnet, Saint Étienne, France
The Université Jean Monnet (UJM), founded in 1969, is a comprehensive university enrolling some 17,000 students, with 17,6% international students from 115 countries. The university is composed of 5 faculties (arts, letters and languages, humanities and social sciences, law, sciences and technology, and medicine) and 4 institutes: Management and Economy, Télécom Saint-Etienne, and 2 university institutes of technology (IUTs) in Saint Etienne and Roanne.
It is a member of the “Université de Lyon”, a state-run Higher Education & Research (HE & R) consortium of 20 Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) bringing together more than 120,000 students.
UJM offers about 300 national diploma programs from undergraduate to doctorate level in Arts, Letters, Languages, Humanities and Social Sciences, Law, Economics and Management, Athletics, Health, Sciences and Technologies. It is involved in different national and international projects financed through different programmes such as :
- the EACEA Lifelong Learning Programme;
- the EACEA Intensive Programme;
- the EACEA Erasmus Mundus Programme, coordinating two Mundus masters : CIMET (www.master-erasmusmundus-color.eu) and MACLANDS (www.maclands.fr) and partner in Action 2 & 3 projects;
- the Mediterranean Office for Youth (label awarded for 2 Masters);
- the French “Initiative d’Excellence” programmes (Equipex – equipments of excellence :UJM is part of 2 projects in Optics and in Health and Sports – ; Labex – laboratories of excellence: UJM is part of 6 projects in Mathematics, Multiscale Science, volcanic risk, acoustics, history of knowledge, territories and society, and coordinates the one on science of surfaces);
- Joint Master programmes in English in Informatics, Media technology, Data Mining, Optics, Economics, Business Law
Shaping the university’s science policy are 500 faculty members and research scholars organized into thematic research units. 30 teams are active in the principal academic disciplines, 7 cross-disciplinary areas, and 2 very broad thematic areas (Chemistry and Health). Several laboratories are mixed units supported by two of France’s national research bodies, CNRS and INSERM. The university has made a commitment to certain priority sectors related to three broad themes: Optics and Vision; Sports and Health technology; and Space, Change, Innovation, and Society.
UJM has 6 accredited doctoral programs: Health Science and Technology (in collaboration with ENMSE and ENISE); Literature, Language, Linguistics, and Arts (with Lyon 2, Lyon 3, and ENS LSH); History, Geography, Regional planning, Archaeology, Sociology, Anthropology, and Political science (with Lyon 2, Lyon 3, and ENS LSH); Education, Information, Communication, and Psychology (with Lyon 2, Lyon 3, and ENS LSH); Law (with Lyon 2 and Lyon 3); and Economics and Management (with Lyon 1, Lyon 2, Lyon 3, and ENS LSH).
Predoctoral research training is provided by some 40 accredited teams and centers and by 55 Research Masters representing the nine scientific departments.
Web: http://www.univ-st-etienne.fr
Official Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi II contact person: Mr. Thomas GUILLOBEZ
Contact emails and phone numbers:
Further information:
Comment: If you would like to read this information for the first edition of Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi, please click on the following link: Al Idrisi I: Université Jean Monnet, Saint Étienne, France
The University of Poitiers (UP) was created in 1431 by Pope Eugene IV then confirmed by the patent letters of King Charles VII. It ranks among the oldest universities of France and Europe.
Implanted in the regional capital, with 3 sites in Poitiers: in the city center, on the main campus and the Futuroscope campus, the University of Poitiers shines in the entire Poitou-Charentes region, with branches in the cities of Niort and Angoulême.
As a multidisciplinary university, the UP covers most of the academic fields both in terms of teaching and research. It hosts 7 teaching departments, 49 research units, an engineering school and 6 institutes. About 24,000 students attend the university. Among them, 1100 PhD students attend one of the 8 Doctoral schools shared with partner universities of Limoges, La Rochelle and Tours.
International activities have been a strong component of the university of Poitiers’s for many years and in many aspects:
It has participated in many European programmes: Erasmus (student & teaching mobilities, intensive programmes, Erasmus Mundus Masters & Action 2 networks), Tempus, Leonardo, etc.
It participates to the development of joint diplomas in particular with Latin American partners or in Vietnam, and runs delocalized branches in China, Egypt and Madagascar.
As far as research, UP also has a strong experience in many aspects: participation to FP7 projects, COST, regional programmes (like Science withour borders with Brazil for example), or the French PHC programme.
Finally, the University of Poitiers is invested in the activities of many international networks (Coimbra Group, AUF, IRUN, EUA).
The University of Poitiers hosts the regional Euraxess Service Center to help all incoming researchers, whether early-stage or experienced.
Université de Poitiers, France
Web: http://www.univ-poitiers.fr
Official Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi II contact person: Mr. Otis Pioche-Dutheil, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Contact emails and phone numbers: Please address specific questions according to the topic only to one of the following addresses:
Further information:
Comment: If you would like to read this information for the first edition of Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi, please click on the following link: Al Idrisi I: Université de Poitiers, France
The University of Graz is a public HEI with a strong international profile offering more than 100 BA, MA and PhD degrees. Located in the city of Graz – Europe’s cultural capital 2003 – it is home and an exciting and inspiring environment for 30.300 students (11,6 % international), 2.600 academic and 1.200 administrative staff. An institution with a strong international profile it concentrates on the core activities of research and education at 6 faculties (Arts & Humanities, Law, Social and Economic Sciences, Theology, Natural Sciences and Environmental and Regional Sciences and Education). Close ties with almost 500 universities world-wide form the basis for the mobility of students, faculty and staff and numerous joint projects in teaching and research as well as organizational and curriculum development. The university has developed profound experience in working together with international partners in a variety of projects and programs, such as Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, Lifelong Learning Programmes [LLP], etc. for many of which the University of Graz also acts as the coordinator. Guest professors and guest researchers contribute significantly to the internationalization of our institution.
Committed to implementing the aims of the BOLOGNA-Process, the University of Graz contributes significantly to the creation of a European platform of higher education and thus strengthens its position as an internationally oriented institution of higher learning. As the only Austrian institution of higher learning, the University of Graz proves its role as an innovative and reform-oriented force within the COIMBRA Group and the UTRECHT Network.
Intensive co-operation with institutions of higher learning in South-Eastern Europe has been defined as one of the priorities within the university development strategy and has provided the University of Graz with an expertise unique in the German speaking area. Due to its profound knowledge of the potential and the needs of partners in the region and its international competence the university has long been an advocate of European integration and will continue to do so in the future.
Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Austria
Official Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi II contact person: Mag. Chista Grassauer
Contact emails and phone numbers:
Further information:
Comment: If you would like to read this information for the first edition of Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi, please click on the following link: Al Idrisi I: Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Austria
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