University of Geneva

University of Geneva
Université de Genève
Latin: Schola Genevensis
Established 1559
Type Public university
Rector Prof. Jean-Dominique Vassalli
Students 13,364
Location Geneva, Switzerland
Affiliations Coimbra Group
LERU
EUA
Website www.unige.ch

The University of Geneva (French: Université de Genève) is a university in Geneva, Switzerland.

Founded by John Calvin in 1559 as a theological seminary that also taught law, it remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873 it dropped its religious affiliations and became officially secular. Today, the university is the second-largest university in Switzerland. It has programs in many fields but is especially noted for its programs in international relations (with Geneva being a center for many international organizations), law, scientific research (with a record of notable discoveries in planetary science and genetics) and theology.

Classes are taught mainly in French. The university pursues three missions: teaching, research, and service to the community. It was ranked number one generalist university in continental Europe, thirty-second world wide among the "Top 100 Global Universities" by Newsweek in 2006 and 81-83rd worldwide by the Global University Ranking in 2009.[1] The university is a member of the League of European Research Universities.

In 2009, the University of Geneva has celebrated the 450th anniversary of its birth, through a wide range of public events.

Contents

Degree system

Before 2005, the University applied the French education model of granting academic degrees, with some minor differences: demi-licence (two years), licence (four years), diplôme d'études approfondies and diplôme d'études superieures spécialisées (DEA/DESS) (1–2 years), and doctorate (3–5 years). The University now follows the requirements of the Bologna process: bachelor's (three years), master's (1–2 years), Master of Advanced Studies (1–2 years), doctorate (3–5 years).

Organization

University of Geneva

The university is composed of eight faculties:

The university has also developed a continuing education programme. The university has a partnership with the nearby Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and the Bossey Ecumenical Institute, and students at the university may take courses at these institutes.

Inter-faculty centers:

Trivia

On the 2009 THE–QS World University Rankings list, the University of Geneva was ranked inside the top 200 for the fifth consecutive year. An overview of the last years:

Year Rank (Change)
2005 88
2006 39 (increase 49)
2007 105 (decrease 66)
2008 68 (increase 37)
2009 72 (decrease 4)

Notable scholars

  • Werner Arber (1929- )
  • Jonathan Barnes (1942- )
  • Roland Barthes (1915–1980)
  • Samuel Baud-Bovy (1906–1986)
  • Yves Bonnefoy (1923- )
  • Raymond Boudon (1934- )
  • Jacques Bouveresse (1940- )
  • Bernard Bouvier (1861–1941)
  • Bertrand Bouvier (1929- )
  • François Bovon (1938 -)
  • Michel Butor (1926- )
  • Edouard Claparède (1873–1940)
  • Georges Cottier (1922- )
  • Victoria Curzon-Price (1942- )
  • Waldemar Deonna (1880–1959)
  • Alfred Dufour (1933- )
  • Pascal Engel (1954- )
  • Georges Favon (1843–1902)
  • Théodore Flournoy (1854–1920)
  • Bernard Gagnebin (1915–1998)
  • Orio Giarini (1936- )
  • Marcel Golay (1927- )
  • Jeanne Hersch (1910–2000)
  • Bärbel Inhelder (1913–1997)
  • Albert Jacquard (1925- )
  • Jean Kellerhals (1941- )
  • Hans Kelsen (1881–1973)
  • Ulrich K. Laemmli
  • Jan-Erik Lane (1946- )
  • Michel Léonard (1949- )
  • Alain de Libera (1948- )
  • Giorgio Malinverni (1941- )
  • Michel Mayor (1942- )
  • Franklin Mendels (1943–1988)
  • Hans Morgenthau (1904–1980)
  • Kevin Mulligan (1951- )
  • Robert Mundell (1932- )
  • Joseph Nye (1937- )
  • Douglass North (1920- )
  • Carlo Ossola (1946- )
  • Jean Piaget (1896–1980)
  • Jean Pictet (1914–2002)
  • Olivier Reverdin (1913–2000)
  • André Rey (1906–1965)
  • Gonzague de Reynold (1880–1970)
  • Georges de Rham (1903–1990)
  • Anik de Ribaupierre (1946- )
  • Denis de Rougemont (1906–1985)
  • Jean Rousset (1910–2002)
  • Ferdinand de Saussure (1857–1913)
  • Klaus Scherer (1943- )
  • Klaus Schwab (1938- )
  • Jean Starobinski (1920- )
  • George Steiner (1929- )
  • Pierre Weiss (1952- )
  • Chaim Weizmann (1874–1952)
  • Éric Werner (1940- )
  • Jean Ziegler (1934- )

Notable alumni

  • Sir Norman Angell
  • Kofi Annan (HEI)
  • José Manuel Durão Barroso (IUEE)
  • Astrid de Belgique (IUEE)
  • Manolo Blahnik
  • Nicolas Bouvier
  • Micheline Calmy-Rey (HEI)
  • Antoine Alfred Désiré Carteret
  • André Chavanne
  • Henry Chrouet
  • Ruth Dreifuss
  • Georges Favon
  • Claude Goretta
  • Christian Grobet
  • Afet İnan
  • Joséphine-Charlotte de Belgique
  • Sandra Kalniete
  • Lazare Kopelmanas
  • Zygmunt Krasiński
  • Nora von und zu Liechtenstein (HEI)
  • Henri Ier de Luxembourg (HEI)
  • Gilles Marchand
  • Maria Teresa Mestre
  • Alain Morisod
  • Serge Moscovici
  • Claude Nicollier
  • Jean Pictet
  • Claude Piron
  • Hans-Gert Pöttering
  • Darius Rochebin
  • Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
  • Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia
  • Marco Solari
  • Manuel Tornare
  • Claude Torracinta
  • Gérard Zinsstag

References

Interanl Articles

External links