User:Wixi12/University of Concepción

The University of Concepción (in Spanish: Universidad de Concepción), also known for its acronym UdeC, is one of the most prestigious universities in Chile. It is the third oldest university in the country, and it is part of the Rectors' Counsil. It was the first one founded in the South of Chile, and the first to become a private-law corporation. Besides that, it belongs to the Southern Cross University Network (in Spanish: Red Universitaria Cruz del Sur).

Its main campus is located at the Concepción University City, and aditionally counts with facilities in Chillán and Los Ángeles.

The 2011 CSIC University Ranking places the University of Concepción as the second best nationwide, and 19th best in Latin America; and third best in Chile according to the classifications developed by the America Economia magazine and the 2010 SIR Iberoamerican Ranking.

Background
In the late XIX century and early XX century, many scholars from Concepción started to plead for the construction of a university for the South region of Chile, in which it could be possible to study professional careers outside the capital, Santiago. However, a project of this magnitude required a high level of organization, which didn't exist so far. In February 1917, the newspaper El Sur reported: "The idea of creating a university could not be possible yet because of "the lack of organization of all the people who wanted to do so"."

- Diario El Sur, 1917.

Comittee Pro-University
On March 23, 1917, the first official meeting was carried out in order to make true two dreams of the citizens: a Clinical Hospital and a University.

After debating, it was possible to define a comittee in charge of the constructions of these two objectives, that were closely related, because the Clinical Hospital should become the base of the new University's Medical School. Some notable characters of this comittee were Enrique Molina Garmendia, Pedro Nolasco, Edmundo Larenas and Virginio Gómez.

Foundation
Then, the comission started working in the presentation of the laws to the Congress that would create the University officially. These were sent and approved, and on May 14, 1919, Enrique Molina Garmendia founded the University and became its first rector.

Nowadays, the University subsists thanks to different firms belonging to the "Corporation University of Concepción". The Lottery is one of the main companies. Thus, the University of Concepción has managed to become one of the most modern and important universities in Chile.

Organization
The University of Concepción is divided into three campuses, located in Chillán, Los Ángeles and Concepción. This last one is the main and the most important campus.

Concepción Campus
The University is located in the University District. The whole campus comprends what is called Ciudad Universitaria (University City), in which museums, sculptures and parks are found. Today, the campus has an extension of 1.425.000 m2, of which 239.856 are built. It is the center for knowledge, sciences, culture, technology and investigation of the city of Concepción.

In 2010, the University of Concepción was classified as one of the most important architectural pieces of the first half of the XX century in Chile. The award "Obra Bicentenario" distinguishes the projects that, in the last 100 years, have changed the physiognomy of the cities and that have improved the quality of life of its citizens.

Chillán Campus
It was created in 1995 thanks to the support of many institutions, like the United Nations, OAS, American and European universities, etc. It develops mainly the agricultural sciences. This campus has approximately 2.000 students, more than 100 academic staff and 250 administrative staff.

Los Ángeles Campus
The Los Ángeles Campus of the University of Concepción was founded in 1962 as a request of the community of the province to the rector David Stitchkin Branover. Currently, it has 1.300 students and 35 teachers full time, plus the other academic staff with part-time.

Faculties
The University counts with 18 faculties.


 * Faculty of Agronomy.
 * Faculty of Architecture, Urban Planning and Geography.
 * Faculty of Biological Sciences.
 * Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
 * Faculty of Physical Sciences and Mathematics.
 * Faculty of Forestry.
 * Faculty of Law and Social Sciences.
 * Faculty of Natural and Oceanographic Sciences.
 * Faculty of Chemical Sciences.
 * Faculty of Social Sciences.
 * Faculty of Veterinary Science.
 * Faculty of Education.
 * Faculty of Pharmacy.
 * Faculty of Humanities and Arts.
 * Faculty of Engineering.
 * Faculty of Agricultural Engineering.
 * Faculty of Medicine.
 * Faculty of Dentistry.

Administration
The university's current rector is Sergio Lavanchy. The university belongs to the Rectors' Counsil of Chilean Traditional Universities. The rectors that have directed the university have been: