National Autonomous University of Mexico
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"UNAM" redirects here. For UNaM, see Universidad Nacional de Misiones.
National Autonomous University of Mexico (Spanish: "Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México"), also known as U.N.A.M, is a large public University in Mexico. It was founded on September 21, 1551 as the "Real y Pontificia Universidad de México" (Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico) and is the third oldest University by foundation in the Americas, along with the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic (founded October 28, 1538) and the National University of San Marcos in Lima, Peru (founded on May 12, 1551). It is the largest University in Latin America. A recent survey by Peking University considered it to be the most significant of all Universities in the region, and also the most important University in the Spanish-speaking world. In addition, it is the only University in Mexico with three Nobel Prize winners among its former students: Alfonso García Robles (Peace), Octavio Paz (Literature), and Mario Molina (Chemistry). U.N.A.M.'s autonomy, gained in the 1920s, has given it the freedom to define its own curriculum and managed its own budget without interference from the government. This has had a profound effect on academic life at the University, known for its academic freedom and independence.
FoundationThe University was founded in September 21, 1551 by Royal Decree signed by the king of Spain Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (Charles I of Spain), at Valladolid, Spain. CampusesUniversity City"Ciudad Universitaria" (University City) is U.N.A.M.'s main campus, located within Coyoacán borough in the southern part of Mexico City. Designed by architects Mario Pani, Enrique del Moral, Domingo García Ramos, Armando Franco Rovira and others, it encloses the Estadio Olímpico Universitario, about 40 faculties and institutes, the Cultural Center, an ecological reserve, the Central Library, and a few museums. It was built during the 1950s on an ancient solidified lava bed to replace the scattered buildings in downtown Mexico City where classes were given. It was completed in 1954 and is almost a separate region within Mexico City, with its own regulations, councils, and police (to some extent) in a more fundamental way than most Universities around the world. Law enforcement officials from outside the University are not allowed to enter without the consent of the University authorities. In June, 2007, its main campus, Ciudad Universitaria, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. [3] Satellite CampusesImage:Unam biblio central.jpg
U.N.A.M. Central Library
Image:UNAM library.jpg
The library of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Apart from Ciudad Universitaria, U.N.A.M. has several campuses in the Metropolitan Area of Mexico City (Acatlán, Aragón, Cuautitlán, Iztacala and Zaragoza), as well as many others in several locations across Mexico (in Santiago de Queretaro, Morelia, Merida, Ensenada and Cuernavaca, mainly aimed at research and graduate studies. It has also formed four foreign campuses in the United States and Canada. External buildings of interestPalacio de MineríaUnder the care of U.N.A.M.'s Engineering Faculty, the Colonial Palace of Mining is located in the historical center of Mexico City. Formerly the School of Engineering, it has three floors, and houses the International Book Expo ("Feria Internacional del Libro" or "FIL") and the International Day of Computing Security Congress ("DISC"), among regular events. It also has a permanent exhibition of historical books, mostly topographical and naturalist works of 19th century Mexican scientists, in the former library of the School of Engineers. It has also several exhibitions related to mining, the prime engineering occupation during the Spanish colonization. It is considered to be one of the most significant of Mexican architecture of its period. Casa del LagoHouse of the Lake, in Chapultepec Park is a place devoted to cultural activities including dancing, theatre plays and ballet. It also serves as meeting place for University-related organizations and committees. Museo de San IldefonsoA baroque building in downtown Mexico City, held the first schools that later became U.N.A.M.. Museo Universitario del ChopoPossessing an artistic architecture, large crystal panels and two iron towers designed by Gustave Eiffel; it served the National Museum of Natural History for almost 50 years. It is now devoted to the temporary exhibitions of visual arts. Observatorio Astronómico NacionalThe National Astronomical Observatory is located in the Sierra San Pedro Mártir mountain range in Baja California, about 130 kilometers south of United States-Mexican border. It has been in operation since 1970 and it currently boasts three large reflecting telescopes, with plans for installing a large instrument sensitive to milimetric wavelengths already under way. OrganizationIt consists of faculties rather than departments. Both undergraduate and graduate studies are available. UNAM is also responsible for the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria (ENP) (National Preparatory School), and the Colegio de Ciencias y Humanidades (CCH) (Science and Humanities College) which consist of several High schools, spread around Mexico City. Counting ENEP, CCH, FES (Facultad de Estudios Profesionales)undergraduate and graduate students, U.N.A.M. has over 269,000 students, making it one of the world's largest universities. Students and FacultyResearchU.N.A.M. has excelled in many areas of research and houses many of Mexico's premiere research institutions. In recent years it has attracted students and hired professional scientists from all over the world (most notably from Russia, India and the United States)[citation needed], which has created a unique diverse scientific community. Scientific research at U.N.A.M. is divided between Faculties, Institutes, Centers and Schools, and covers a range of disciplines in Latin America. Some of the more noted Institutes include: Instituto de Astronomía, Instituto de Biotecnología, Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Instituto de Ecología, Instituto de Física, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Instituto de Geofísica, Instituto de Ingeniería, Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Instituto de Química, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, and Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y Sistemas (IIMAS). Research Centers tend to focus on multidisciplinary problems particularly relevant to Mexico and the developing world, most notably: Centro de Ciencias Aplicadas y Desarrollo Tecnológico (CCADET) which focuses on connecting the sciences to real-world problems (e.g. optics, nanosciences) and Centro de Investigación en Energía which does world-class research in alternative energies. All research centers are open to students from Mexico, and around the world. U.N.A.M.'s scientific output continues to grow, despite numerous attempts by the Mexican government to curtail its budget, and the University currently produces 60% of all scientific publications in Mexico. In the basic sciences, U.N.A.M. currently has two Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholars and endowment from the NIH extramural research program. Sports, clubs, and traditionsProfessional football teamImage:Unam estadio twilight.jpg
Olympic Stadium
U.N.A.M.'s football team Club Universidad Nacional participates in the Primera División de México of the Mexican Football League Division. The club became two time consecutive champions of the Apertura, and the Clausura in 2004. Their home ground is the Estadio Olímpico Universitario stadium. Political ActivismU.N.A.M. students and professors are regarded around Mexico as very politically aware and sometimes very politically active. The general tendency of the University is significant, with several socialist, anarchist, and communist movements emerging from university students and staff. However, the university is very diverse and welcomes other political inclinations. It is the alma mater of several prominent right-wing and neo-liberal politicians such as Carlos Salinas de Gortari or Manuel Gomez Morin. U.N.A.M. is regarded to be the place with the most active political discussion in Mexico, mostly by faculty members, some which are also influential in Mexican politics. Political debate on national and international issues is very much encouraged, raising the political awareness of the students, providing solid leadership, and nurturing a diversity of ideas, leading in some extent to the creation of several groups supporting all types of ideological platforms. Noted alumniMany of the most prominent figures in the economical, political, scientific and artistic life in Mexico have been a member of the U.N.A.M. alumni or faculty: Presidents of a nation
Politicians
Writers and humanists
Scientists
Tycoons
Sports stars
Noted faculty
University RankingSource: The Times Higher Education Supplement 2007 edition (London). It coincides with other worldwide recognized ranking lists. 74th Worldwide [4]; 1st Iberoamerica [5] See also
References[4]Unam, la 74 mejor en el mundo <http://www.dgcs.unam.mx/gacetaweb/2006/061009/gaceta.pdf> [5]Unam, la mejor en Iberoamerica <http://www.el-universal.com.mx/nacion/143868.html> External links
ar:الجامعة الوطنية المستقلة في المكسيك ca:Universitat Nacional Autònoma de Mèxic de:Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México es:Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México eo:Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México fr:Université nationale autonome du Mexique it:UNAM la:Universitas Nationalis Autonoma Mexici nah:Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México nl:Nationale Autonome Universiteit van Mexico ja:メキシコ国立自治大学 no:UNAM pt:Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
