University of Amsterdam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| University of Amsterdam | |
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| Universiteit van Amsterdam | |
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Latin: Athenaeum Illustre |
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| Established: | 1632/1877 |
| Type: | Public |
| Religious affiliation: | EUA, LERU, UNICA |
| President: | Dr K. van der Toorn |
| Rector Magnificus: | Prof. Dymph van den Boom |
| Faculty: | 2,065 (2006)[1] |
| Students: | 25,667 (2006)[2] |
| Location: | Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
| Website: | www.uva.nl |
The University of Amsterdam (Universiteit van Amsterdam in Dutch) is a comprehensive research university located in the heart of the city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. With a budget of €487 million, over 25,000 students and around 5,000 staff in 2006, the UvA is one of the major universities in Europe. There are seven faculties, Humanities, Social and Behavioral sciences, Economy, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. It has a strong internationalization programme and offers over 85 English Master programmes taught in English, as well as a number of Dutch and English language courses. The University of Amsterdam (UvA) should not be confused with Amsterdam's second university, the VU University.
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[edit] History
[edit] Athenaeum
The commonly-held predecessor of the University of Amsterdam, the Athenaeum Illustre (Latin - the illustrious Athenaeum) was founded in the 14th-century Agnietenkapel in Amsterdam in 1632, to educate students in History and Philosophy. Professors lectured publicly and tutored privately. In January 1632 two internationally acclaimed scientists, Caspar Barlaeus and Gerardus Vossius, held their inaugural speechs here. In the course of the seventeenth century, Law, Medicine and Theology were introduced in the curriculum. Alumni (whilst it was still the Athenaeum) include Cornelis Petrus Tiele.
[edit] Municipal university
The Athenaeum remained a small institution until the nineteenth century, with no more than 250 students and eight teachers. This situation changed only slowly. In 1815 the Athenaeum Illustre was legally acknowledged as an institute of higher education. In 1877, it became the Gemeentelijke Universiteit van Amsterdam (GU or 'Municipal University') and was permitted to confer higher degrees. The professors were appointed by the city council and the mayor presided over the university administration. Because the Amsterdam city council was noted for its progressive politics this scheme guaranteed a large degree of intellectual freedom for the university.
[edit] "Universiteit van Amsterdam"
Very little then changed until 1961, when the national government took control of financial responsibility. The university ceased to be the Gemeentelijke Universiteit and finally became the Universiteit van Amsterdam.
In 1969 the university became nationwide news when the university's administrative center at the Maagdenhuis was occupied by students who wanted more democratic influence. During the seventies and eighties the university was often the target of nationwide student actions.
The International School for Humanities and Social Sciences is a center for international education that offers all courses in English.
[edit] Departments
[edit] Anton Pannekoek Astronomical Institute
The institute is named after the Dutch astronomer Antonie Pannekoek. The principle areas of research at the group are:
- X-ray/High-energy astrophysics
- The formation and evolution of single and binary stars
- The gamma-ray bursts
- infrared astronomy
- Massive stars and stellar wind
- Radio pulsars
- Cosmology and the early universe
- Faint variable sources
In addition, the institute is home to the LOFAR Transients Key Science Project.
[edit] Notable alumni
[edit] Politics
- Wubbo de Boer, president of OHIM
- Frits Bolkestein, former minister of Defence and former European Commissioner for Internal Market & Services
- Els Borst, former minister of Health, Welfare and Sport
- Jet Bussemaker, state secretary of Health, Welfare and Sport
- Jacqueline Cramer, minister of Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment
- Frank Heemskerk, minister of Foreign Trade within the Economic Affairs
- Ernst Hirsch Ballin, minister of Justice
- Guusje ter Horst, minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations
- Pat LaMarche, United States Vice Presidential Candidate in 2004, currently columnist for the Bangor Daily News and author
- Ad Melkert, former minister of Social Affairs and Employment and currently deputy director of UNDP
- Ronald Plasterk, minister of Education, Culture and Science
- Jouke de Vries, runner-up candidate for PVDA leadership in 2002, currently professor at the University of Leiden
[edit] Science
- Anton Pannekoek, Dutch communist and astrophysicist
- Luitzen Egbertus Jan Brouwer, mathematician
- Frits Zernike, Nobel Prize in Physics 1953
- Christiaan Eijkman, Nobel Prize in Medicine 1929
- M.A. Mendes de Leon, gynaecologist
[edit] Arts
- Menno ter Braak, writer
- Willem Frederik Hermans, writer
- J. Slauerhoff, writer
- Simon Vestdijk, writer
- Boudewijn Sirks, Roman law specialist
[edit] Sports
- Max Euwe, World Chess Champion 1935–1937
[edit] References
- ^ "Facts and figures". University of Amsterdam. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
- ^ "Total enrolment (sic)". Corporate Controlling / Institutional Research UvA (2007-02-12). Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Universiteit van Amsterdam |
- Universiteit van Amsterdam (Dutch)
- Universiteit van Amsterdam (English)
- Universiteit van Amsterdam, slide show
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