Utrecht University

Utrecht University (UU; Dutch: Universiteit Utrecht, formerly Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht) is a public research university in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Established 26 March 1636 (1636-03-26), it is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands. In 2018, it had an enrolment of 31,801 students, and employed 7,191 faculty and staff.[2] In 2018, 525 PhD degrees were awarded and 6,948 scientific articles were published. The 2018 budget of the university was €857 million.[2]

Utrecht University
Universiteit Utrecht
Latin: Universitas Rheno-Traiectina
Universitas Ultraiectina
MottoSol Iustitiae Illustra Nos (Latin)
Motto in English
May the Sun of Righteousness Enlighten Us[1]
TypePublic, research
Established26 March 1636 (1636-03-26)
Endowment€ 857 million (2018)
RectorHenk Kummeling
Academic staff
3,655[2]
Administrative staff
3,536[2]
Students31,801[2]
Location
Utrecht
,
Utrecht Province
,
Netherlands

52°05′24″N 5°07′13″E
CampusUrban
Colours                   
Yellow, Red, Black & White[3]
AffiliationsLERU, EUA, IAU, MINA, Utrecht Network
WebsiteOfficial Website

Utrecht University counts a number of distinguished scholars among its alumni and faculty, including 12 Nobel Prize laureates and 13 Spinoza Prize laureates. Utrecht University has been placed in the top 100 universities in the world by four major ranking tables. The university is ranked the best university in the Netherlands by the Shanghai Ranking of World Universities 2019, ranking 13th in Europe and 49th in the world.[4]

The university's motto is "Sol Iustitiae Illustra Nos," which means "May the Sun of Righteousness Enlighten Us". This motto was gleaned from a literal Latin Bible translation of Malachi 4:2. (Rutgers University, having a historical connection with Utrecht University, uses a modified version of this motto.) Utrecht University is led by the University Board, consisting of prof. dr. Henk Kummeling (Rector Magnificus), prof. dr. Anton Pijpers (Chair) and prof. mr. Annetje Ottow (Vice Chair).

Close ties are harbored with other institutions internationally through its membership in the League of European Research Universities (LERU), the Utrecht Network and the European University Association (EUA).

History

Utrecht University was founded on 26 March 1636.[5] The influential professor of theology Gisbertus Voetius delivered the inaugural speech, and Bernardus Schotanus (professor of law and mathematics) became the university's first rector magnificus. Anna Maria van Schurman, who became the university's first female student, was invited to write a Latin poem for the inauguration.[6] Initially, only a few dozen students attended classes at the university. Seven professors worked in four faculties: philosophy, which offered all students an introductory education, and three higher-level faculties (theology, medicine and law).

Utrecht University flourished in the seventeenth century, despite competition with the older universities of Leiden (1575), Franeker (1585) and Groningen (1614) and the schools of Harderwijk (1599; a university from 1648) and Amsterdam (1632). Leiden, in particular, proved a strong competitor and made further improvement necessary. A botanical garden was built on the grounds of the present Sonnenborgh Observatory, and three years later the Smeetoren added an astronomical observatory. The university attracted many students from abroad (especially from Germany, England and Scotland). They witnessed the intellectual and theological battle the proponents of the new philosophy (René Descartes lived for a few years in Utrecht) fought with the proponents of the strict Reformed theologian Voetius.

In 1806, the French occupying authorities of the Netherlands downgraded Utrecht University to an école secondaire (high school), but after the establishment of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1813 it regained its former status.[5] Leiden, Louvain, Groningen, Utrecht and Ghent were the five universities (Dutch: hoge scholen) of the new state. Two of the universities (Louvain and Ghent) became part of the new Belgian state after it separated from the northern Netherlands in 1830. This left Utrecht one of only three Dutch universities. During the French occupation, King Louis Napoleon ordered the construction of a palace in the centre of Utrecht, which eventually became the University Library City Centre.[5]

Utrecht played a prominent role in the golden age of Dutch science. Around 1850 the "Utrechtian School" of science formed, with Pieter Harting, Gerardus J. Mulder, Christophorus H. D. Buys Ballot and Franciscus Donders among the leading scientists. They introduced the educational laboratory (onderwijslaboratorium) as a practical learning place for their students. The University is represented in the Stichting Academisch Erfgoed, a foundation with the goal of preserving university collections.

Organisation
The Utrecht University Hall (Academiegebouw), built in 1894.

The university consists of seven faculties:[7]

There are three interfaculty units:

Campus

The two large faculties of Humanities and Law & Governance are situated in the inner city of Utrecht. The other five faculties and most of the administrative services are located in Utrecht Science Park De Uithof, a campus area on the outskirts of the city. University College Utrecht, along with the Utrecht School of Economics, are situated in the former Kromhout Kazerne, which used to be a Dutch military base. University College Roosevelt is located off-campus in the city of Middelburg in the south-west of the Netherlands.

  • The Science Park (Utrecht University modern campus)
  • University College Utrecht
  • University College Utrecht
  • Juridische Bibliotheek (The Former Law Library, now located at Drift 27)
  • Student life in Utrecht

International rankings
University rankings
Global – Overall
ARWU World[9]49 (2019)
CWTS World[10]72 (2019)
THE World[11]75 (2020)
USNWR Global[12]55 (2020)
QS World[13]120 (2020)

On the 2019 Academic Ranking of World Universities list, the University of Utrecht was ranked 49th in the world and the highest in the Netherlands. Its ranking has declined slightly since 2003, when it was ranked 40th. [14]

In the 2015/2016 QS World University Rankings,[15] Utrecht was ranked 94th, having improved its ranking since 2004 when it was ranked 120th.

In The Times Higher Education 2020 World University Rankings, the university is ranked 75th. [16]

Affiliations

Utrecht University is a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), the Utrecht Network, the European University Association (EUA), the International Association of Universities (IAU) and the McDonnell International Scholars Academy (MISA).

Notable alumni and faculty

Utrecht University counts a number of distinguished scholars among its alumni and faculty, including 12 Nobel Prize laureates and 13 Spinoza Prize laureates.

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See also

References
  1. "History". Utrecht University. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  2. "Annual Report". 31 May 2020.
  3. "Kleur - Huisstijl - Universiteit Utrecht". Utrecht University. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  4. "Academic Ranking of World Universities – 2019". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  5. "The History of Utrecht University". Utrecht University. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  6. Frade, Sofia (2016). "Ménage's Learned Ladies: Anne Dacier (1647-1720) and Anna Maria van Schurman (1607-1678)". In Wyles, Rosie; Hall, Edith (eds.). Women Classical Scholars: Unsealing the Fountain from the Renaissance to Jacqueline de Romilly. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198725206.
  7. "Faculties - Organisation". Utrecht University. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  8. "Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance". Utrecht University. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  9. "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2019". ShanghaiRanking. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  10. "CWTS Leiden Ranking 2019". Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  11. "World University Rankings 2020 - Utrecht University". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  12. "Best Global Universities 2020". U.S. News Education (USNWR). ). Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  13. "QS World University Rankings 2020". Top Universities. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  14. "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2019". ShanghaiRanking. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  15. "QS World University Rankings Utrecht University". Topuniversities. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  16. "World University Rankings 2020 - Utrecht University". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved 18 September 2019.

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