COIMBRA UNIVERSITY

Coimbra University has been selected by Roberto Amati in relation to the real history of european integration, then enlisted in the UNIVERSITAS category, accompanied by own fact SHEET useful to the comprehension, completed of historical MAPS AND IMAGES or with a direct linking to the related Blog contents dedicated to the aeternitas and the future of Europe.

	FOUNDATION
Year	1290 A.D.
City	Coimbra
Founder	King Dinis I
Where	Regna Portugal
Originary subjects	arts , canonical Law (Canons) , civil Law (Laws) , medicine

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	NOWADAYS
State	Portugal
Name	University of Coimbra (Universidade d Coimbra)
Seates	Coimbra city Alta and Sofia , Figueira da Foz ,
Degree programs	every scientific and humanities disciplines
Library	Biblioteca Geral da Universidade d Coimbra , Arquivo da Universidade d Coimbra (since 1290)
Collegium	Collegium Conimbricenses
Alumni	UC Alumni Network
Famous teachers	António Egaz Moniz , Pedro Nunes
Famous scholars	Luís de Camões , Christopher Clavius , many prime ministers and presidents of Portugal
Awards	Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation in 1986 A.D.

Coimbra University is among the oldest of Europe, an institution founded for creation, critical analysis, transfer and dissemination of culture, science and technology. Through research, teaching and the provision of services to the community, it contributes to economic and social development, environmental protection, helps the promotion of social justice and an informed and responsible society, and the consolidation of knowledge-based sovereignty.

By signing the 'Scientiae Thesaurus Mirabilis' (dated 1290 A.D.), King Dinis I of Portugal established the General Studies, the oldest university in the country and one of the most ancient in the world, recognised by Pope Nicholas IV in the same year. Coimbra University began its activities in Lisbon but 20 years later was transferred to Coimbra, alternating between the two cities until 1537 A.D. it when was finally established in the city on the Mondego River. The assumption of Coimbra as the Portuguese statal university city and the beginning of creation of various colleges in the city determined that all Faculties of the University of Coimbra were assembled in the Páteo das Escolas. The originary subject had been theology, formerly reserved to Dominican and Franciscan convents, became part of the university education in Portugal in that epoch.

In 1772 A.D. Coimbra University received the 'Pombaline Statutes', which created the Faculties of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy (Sciences) and reformed medical studies: that reform of portuguese education required the need for new scientific facilities and led to the construction of buildings that would house the Chemical Laboratory, the Astronomical Observatory, the University Press and the first centre of the Botanical Garden. The year after began the foundation of the Museum of Natural History (the oldest Portuguese museum), which was divided into sections resulting in the following 4 institutions: Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy and Geology, and Anthropology.

In 1911 A.D. the 'Republican Statutes' dissolved the Faculty of Theology and created of the Faculty of Humanities, which received the professors of the former Faculty, while the conjunction of the old Faculties of Mathematics and of Natural Philosophy gave place to the Faculty of Sciences. In 1948 A.D. happened the renovation of Alta Universitária, the upper part of Coimbra University campus, and the inauguration of the building of the University Archives followed 3 years later by the inauguration of the building of the Faculty of Humanities and Astronomic Observatory. In 1956 A.D. it was the moment for inauguration of the building of the Coimbra University Library and the building of the Faculty of Medicine. In following years came the inaugurations of the University Stadium complex, of the building of the Department of Mathematics and the transformation of the Faculty of Sciences in Science and Technology together with the creation of the Faculty of Economics.

Initially confined to the Royal Palace, the Comibra University spread throughout the city, transforming its landscape and making it a university city. It later expanded with the creation of a second campus dedicated to Engineering and Technology and a third campus dedicated to Health Sciences. Studying at Coimbra University, which has educated some of Portugal's most outstanding cultural, scientific and political figures, means continuing the intellectual heritage of a nation. With more than seven centuries of history it has a unique tangible and intangible heritage, a cornerstone in the scientific culture of Europe and the world, eleved a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2013 A.D. concerning its 21 buildings (University Palace, Botanical Garden, Archive, Royal College of Arts, Melo's House, College of Jesus, Colleges Antiguos de Pedreira, university Press, Chemistry Lab, College of Santa Rita, Holy Trinite College, Faculty of Medicine, Boiler House, Dep of Physics and Chemistry, College of S.Jeronimo, Old Cathedral, Student Union, College of Sào Bento, Faculty of Letters, Dep of Mathematics and General Library; in Sofia: College S.Agostinho, College S.Tomas de Aquino, College Sào Bonaventura, College of Arts Inquisition, College of S.Pedro dos Terceiros, College of N.Snra da Graca, Sub-Ripas Palace, Santa Cruz monastery, College of Espirito Santo).

The University of Coimbra consolidated its position as centre for educating the elite of a global empire, from its foundation until the end of the XVI century A.D. During many decades it was the only university in Portugal (a new school in Évora operated between 1559 and 1759 A.D.) and again between 1759 and 1911 A.D. (when were created the University of Lisbon and the University of Porto). The long history and past predominance of the Universidade d Coimbra made it an important focus of influence in Portugal, not only educational, but also political and social. Professor Egas Moniz (the only Portuguese to have won the Nobel Prize for Medicine) promoted the Statutes of the University of Coimbra and stated for the first time that Doctor Honoris Causa could be awarded "to illustrious personalities worthy of this distinction".

Initial steps towards some convergence of European higher education systems were taken in 1998 A.D. with the signature of the 'Sorbonne declaration' by the ministers in charge of higher education in France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany, and the year after with the signature of the 'Bologna declaration' (the Magna Charta Universitatum of Bologna): a process aimed at creating a European Higher Education Area by implementing a comparable degree structure, common quality assurance standards and by promoting the mobility of students and faculty members, really a major revolution in Europe's higher education. In Portugal, Coimbra University decided to adopt the Bologna Process model from 2006 A.D. in order to make the transition maintaining the highest standards of quality and academic integrity.

Coimbra University promoted the Coimbra Group and entered the Utrecht Network of European inter-university cooperations, while since from its foundation has been a member of the International Association of Academies (AIA) and of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU). It also participates in the following body: All European Academies (ALLEA), European Academies' Science Advisory Council (EASAC), Inter Academy Council (IAC), Inter Academy Medical Panel (IAMP).

Nowadays Coimbra University offers 46 Degrees, 132 Master courses, 79 PhD programmes and more than 500 other professional courses for almost 30,000 students from all over the world (circa 5000 from abroad), teached by 1800 professors and about 400 researchers, most of whose are english programs. The Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) is a business incubator and an innovation and technology transfer center, working for the business and applied research communities, while the Coimbra iParque is a science park which has among its several founders and associates, including notable startup companies born from the Coimbra University such as ISA, Critical Software, Crioestaminal, Ciberbit and Feedzai.

Coimbra University owns a University Press, a Science Museum, an internal theatre entitled to Gil Vicente, a University Stadium, a Botanic Garden, great availabilty for foreigner students within the internal colleges, where can practice any kind of sports and be involved in the rich cultural life together with the Student's Union (AAC Associação Académica de Coimbra).

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