National University of San Marcos

The National University of San Marcos (Spanish: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, UNMSM) is a public research university in Lima, the capital of Peru. Also known as the University of Peru and the "Dean University of the Americas", it is the first officially established (privilege by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor) and the oldest continuously operating university in the Americas.[6] Since its foundation, it was commonly referred as the "Royal and Pontifical University of the City of the Kings of Lima" until the Viceroyalty period and as of now, it is referred to as Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos or La Decana de América.

National University of San Marcos
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos

Latin: The Academy of St. Marcos in the City of Kings in Peru
Latin: Academia S. Marci Vrbis Regvm in Perv
MottoUniversidad del Perú,
Decana de América
Motto in English
University of Peru,
Dean of the Americas
TypePublic
EstablishedMay 12, 1551 (1551-05-12)
FounderCharles V
EndowmentPEN S/. 400,732,439 (FY 2013)[1][2]
RectorDr. Orestes Cachay Boza
Academic staff
2,931 (2017)
Students37,032 (2017)
Undergraduates28,645 (2010)[3][4]
Postgraduates8,520 (2015)[5]
Location
Lima
,
Peru

12°03′30″S 77°05′00″W
CampusUrban
70 hectares (170 acres) (main campus)
Colors     Gold
     Magenta
     White
     Steel blue
MascotLion
Websitewww.unmsm.edu.pe

It is widely regarded as an influential institution of higher-education in the country. It consistently ranks among the top two universities in the country.[7][8][9][10][11][12] Its main campus, the University City, is located in Lima. It was chartered on May 12, 1551, by a royal decree signed by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, which makes it the oldest officially established university in the Americas.[13][14] San Marcos has 66 academic-professional schools,[15] organized into 20 faculties, and 6 academic areas. All of the faculties offer undergraduate and graduate degrees. The student body consists of over 30,000 undergraduate and 4,000 graduate students from all the country, as well as some international students. The university has a number of public institutions under its government such as the San Marcos Cultural Center and the Museum of Natural History of Lima.

It is also the only university in Peru with a Nobel Prize laureate among its alumni: Mario Vargas Llosa (Literature). San Marcos is also recognized for the quality of its curricular contents, a competitive admissions process, as well as for being a center of scientific research.[16] Several Peruvian and Latin American influential thinkers, researchers, scientists, politicians and writers have studied there, which underscores San Marcos' leading role as an educational institution in the history of Peru and the world.

History

Oldest university in the Americas
Tower at the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras, showing (right) the emblem of Harvard University‍—‌the oldest in the United States‍—‌and (left) that of University of San Marcos‍—‌the oldest in the Americas.

San Marcos is considered the oldest university in the Americas. It was officially established by a royal decree (signed by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor) on May 12, 1551, and since then it has operated without interruption. Hence, it is locally known as the Dean of the Americas ("dean" in the sense of "oldest member"). San Marcos also claims that according to the Archivo General de Indias, a Spanish repository of documents on the former colonies in the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, there were no official Spanish records of any other university or higher-education institution before 1551.[6]

Although the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo was founded in 1538, it was not officially recognized by Royal Decree until 1558, and, as many other universities in the Americas closed during independence wars and other political conflicts, it was closed due to the occupations of the Dominican Republic by Haiti and then the United States. The National University of Santo Domingo's founding Papal bull In Apostolatus culmine, was not officially recognized by the King of Spain at the time; hence making into an apocryphal document. The Peruvian institution also states that the document in question was discredited by Pope Paul III.[17][18]

Organisation

Government

The university was originally headed by members of the clergy. During the Enlightenment, Bourbon reforms transformed it into a secular institution. Nowadays, the university is governed by:

  • The University Council
  • The University Assembly (composed of professors and students, with the latter holding a third of the seats)
  • The Rector (president)
  • Two Vice-Rectors:
    • Academic Vice-Rector
    • Vice-Rector of investigation

Academic areas and faculties

The original faculties at San Marcos were Theology, Arts (the old Scholastic term for what is now known as academic Philosophy) and Law; Jurisprudence, and Medicine were added later in the colonial period. The Faculty of Natural Sciences and the Faculty of Economics and Commerce were created in the mid-19th century. The Faculty of Science was subdivided by specialities in the 20th century. The Faculty of Theology was closed in 1935.

In the mid-1990s San Marcos' departments were grouped into four academic blocks. Nowadays, San Marcos' faculties are grouped into 6 academic areas.

Research
Mural dedicated to research and knowledge (Main Library).

Throughout its history, the National University of San Marcos has significantly contributed to the scientific development of Peru. Currently, the National University of San Marcos is one of the few Peruvian universities that conducts research - only 10 out of over 80 universities.[19] This is mostly due to the fact the national government has not properly financed research development in the last decades.[20]

Regarding development of research activities of San Marcos, halfway through the 20th century, the Peruvian government issued provisions to place emphasis and create areas of scientific and student-led research. As a result, throughout these years many museums and institutes have been created within San Marcos to promote research in different areas of human knowledge. During the last years of the decade of 1990 and the beginning of 2000, the university renewed its research system through the assignation of specific projects to diverse academic departments.[21]

Research centers and institutes

There are currently over 30 centers, units and institutes of research in San Marcos.[22][23][24] Each one of these centers or institutes are grouped according to the academic area where they develop their research, therefore they are categorized in the following general areas: health sciences, basic sciences, engineering, economy-business, and humanities.

According to their area of study, the research centers have specialized museums and laboratories where they develop and display their work. Each institute also has their own publications where they present reports and results of the work of their researchers.[22]

Notable alumni and academics

See also Category:National University of San Marcos alumni and Category:National University of San Marcos faculty

Class of Jurisprudence and Law of 1896 posing in front of department's water fountain
  • Oil painting commemorating the foundation of the University of Lima (later named San Marcos), officially the first university in Peru and the Americas, and his manager Friar Tomas of San Martin
  • The historic chapter house at the Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo, where the University of San Marcos began its operations
  • Drawing showing the old facade of the premises where the University of San Marcos functioned throughout the Peruvian viceroyalty. Later this place would be transferred to the nascent Congress of Peru.
  • Local University of San Marcos in 1920, the famous "Casona de San Marcos is currently the Centro Cultural de San Marcos
  • Welcome Mural Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, as he mentioned the official date of its foundation: May 12 of 1551
  • La Casona de San Marcos, used as the cultural center
  • Jorge Basadre building, used for administrative functions
  • Main library
  • San Marcos University Press
  • San Marcos University Gym
  • San Marcos University Stadium
  • Metallica concert at University of San Marcos
  • Monument of Fray Tomas de San Martín
  • Main auditorium
  • San Marcos University Clinic
  • Institute of Tropical Medicine
  • Museum of Natural History
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See also

References
  • Cayo Códova, Percy (2004). Enciclopedia Temática del Perú. TOMO III: República (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Orbis Ventures, El Comercio. ISBN 9972-752-03-8.
  • Del Busto Duthurburu, José Antonio (2004). Enciclopedia Temática del Perú. TOMO II: Conquista y Virreinato (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Orbis Ventures, El Comercio. ISBN 9972-752-02-X.
  • De León Pinelo, Antonio (1631). Por la real Universidad y escuelas generales de S. Marcos de la ciudad de Lima, en las provincias del Perú (in Spanish). Madrid, España.
  • Eguiguren Escudero, Luis Antonio (1959) [1949, 1951]. Diccionario histórico-cronológico de la Real y Pontifica Universidad de San Marcos y sus colegios (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Fondo Editorial de la UNMSM.
  • Eguiguren Escudero, Luis Antonio (1951). Historia de la Universidad. La universidad en el Siglo XVI (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Fondo Editorial de la UNMSM.
  • García Cáceres, Uriel (2004). Enciclopedia Temática del Perú. TOMO XII: Salud (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Orbis Ventures, El Comercio. ISBN 9972-752-12-7.
  • García Zárate, Óscar Augusto [compilador] (2003). Hacia una nueva universidad en el Perú (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Fondo Editorial de la UNMSM.
  • González Vigil, Ricardo (2004). Enciclopedia Temática del Perú. TOMO XIV: Literatura (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Orbis Ventures, El Comercio. ISBN 9972-752-14-3.
  • Higgins, James (2005). Lima: A cultural history. Nueva York, EEUU: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-517890-4.
  • Maticorena Estrada, Miguel (2000). San Marcos de Lima, Universidad Decana de América, una argumentación histórica-jurídica y el derecho indiano (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Fondo Editorial de la UNMSM.
  • Porras Barrenechea, Raúl (2010). San Marcos y la cultura peruana: Mito, tradición e historia del Perú (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Fondo Editorial de la UNMSM.
  • Sánchez Sánchez, Luis Alberto (1961). La universidad no es una isla... Un estudio, un plan, y tres discursos (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Ediciones Perú.
  • Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (2007). Catálogo Universitario y Prospecto de Admisión 2008-II (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Centro de Producción e Imprenta de la UNMSM.
  • Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (2010). Catálogo Universitario y Prospecto de Admisión 2011-I (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Centro de Producción e Imprenta de la UNMSM.
  • Valcárcel Esparza, Carlos Daniel (1981). Historia de la Universidad de San Marcos (1551–1980) (in Spanish). Caracas: Academia Nacional de la Historia.
  • Valcárcel Esparza, Carlos Daniel (2001). San Marcos, Universidad Decana de América (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Fondo Editorial de la UNMSM. ISBN 9972-46-140-8.
  • López Soria, José Ignacio; et al. (2004). Enciclopedia Temática del Perú. TOMO XI: Ciencia y Tecnología (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Orbis Ventures, El Comercio. ISBN 9972-752-11-9.
  • Peña Rodríguez, Víctor Antonio; et al. (2002). La Producción científica en San Marcos (1995-2001) (in Spanish). Lima, Perú: Fondo Editorial de la UNMSM.
  • Summerfield, Carol J.; et al. (1998). International Dictionary of University Histories. Chicago, Illinois, EEUU: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. ISBN 1-884964-23-0.

Notes
  1. Universidad Coherente. "Presupuesto 2000-2013 en millones de nuevos soles" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 21, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  2. Portal de Transparencia Universitaria (UNMSM). "Información presupuestal" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on April 19, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  3. INEI-ANR. "II Censo Nacional Universitario 2010" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 13, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  4. Revista "San Marcos al día" (UNMSM). "San Marcos al día (n° 212): San Marcos en la sociedad del conocimiento" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved August 30, 2010.
  5. Revista "San Marcos al día" (UNMSM). "San Marcos al día (n° 308): Excelencia académica y moderna infraestructura" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  6. "Fundación de la Universidad de Santo Domingo" (in Spanish). Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  7. "Ranking universitario en el Perú" (PDF). Asamblea Nacional de Rectores (ANR) and UNESCO. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  8. "QS Latin American University Rankings 2013". Retrieved July 24, 2013.
  9. "University Ranking by Academic Performance (2013): Top Perú". URAP Center. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
  10. "Ranking Web of Universities: Peru". Webometrics. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  11. "SIR World Report 2013" (PDF). SCImago. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 16, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
  12. "UNMSM recibe acreditación internacional Archived 2011-04-16 at the Wayback Machine". Peru21. Accessed April 26, 2011. (in Spanish)
  13. "Foundation of the University of Lima". San Marcos National University. Accessed August 22, 2009. (in Spanish)
  14. http://www.unmsm.edu.pe/home/inicio/historia
  15. "Escuelas Profesionales - Oficina Central de Admisión". www.admision.unmsm.edu.pe. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  16. Ranking and research supported by: UNESCO and Asamblea Nacional de Rectores, 2007
  17. http://sisbib.unmsm.edu.pe/bibvirtual/libros/historia/San_marcos/Fund_Uni_Sto_Domin.htm
  18. http://sisbib.unmsm.edu.pe/bibvirtual/libros/historia/San_marcos/Fund_Uni_Lima.htm
  19. "Sistema Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica (SINACYT)". 2010-07-27. Archived from the original on 2010-07-27. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  20. Enciclopedia temática del Perú (in Spanish). El Comerio. 2004. ISBN 9789972752117.
  21. "La producción científica en San Marcos (1995-2001)". sisbib.unmsm.edu.pe. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  22. "Institutos de Investigación de Universidades del Perú : Biblioteca Virtual en Ciencia y Tecnología". 2011-12-13. Archived from the original on 2011-12-13. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  23. "Unidades Desconcentradas – Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Posgrado | UNMSM" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  24. "Unidades e Institutos de Investigación". 2012-12-21. Archived from the original on 2012-12-21. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
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