article

The National Autonomous University of Mexico (Spanish: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, abbreviated as UNAM) is today the most important Mexican university and was founded in 1551, making it the second oldest in North America (after the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD). It is the largest university in Latin America and is ranked the best in Latin America, according to a study conducted by The Times released in 2005-2006. A study by Beijing University also considered UNAM to be the best university in the region and also the sole most important University in the Spanish-speaking world. It 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), which consist of several high schools, spread around Mexico City. Counting ENP, CCH, undergraduate and graduate students, UNAM has over 269,000 students, making it one of the world's largest universities. It has several campuses in Mexico City, as well as many others in several locations across Mexico (mainly aimed at research and graduate studies), and four foreign campuses at San Antonio (Texas, USA), Chicago (Illinois, USA) and Hull (Quebec, Canada). In addition, it is the only university in Mexico with three Nobel Laureates among its former students: Alfonso García Robles (Peace), Octavio Paz (Literature), and Mario Molina (Chemistry). (There is arguably a fourth Nobel Prize awarded twice to a UNAM member: Ana María Cetto was awarded the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize as a member of the Pugwash Conferences and the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize as a member of the IAEA).

History

The university was established on September 21, 1551 by Royal Charter as the Real y Pontificia Universidad de México, and was modelled after the main European universities of the time, specially the Universidad de Salamanca. It opened formally on January 25, 1553.

After the independence of Mexico from Spain the "Royal" part of the name was dropped, and the university became known as the Universidad Nacional y Pontificia. It was closed due to the turbulent political atmosphere in the country in 1833, 1857, 1861 and 1865.

The main campus in Ciudad Universitaria ("University City") was also an important scene during the student protests against the government in the late 1960s. In the 20th century there were several student strikes; the two most important happened in the 1960s and the 1999-2000 strike.

Graduate studies

Research

UNAM conducts half of Mexico's scientific research. It has research centers and institutes in many fields of natural and social sciences. The current research centers and institutes are the following:

Each of them has dedicated facilities, of varying degrees of sophistication. Particle accelerators, supercomputers, electronic microscopes, two oceanographic research ships and wind tunnels are only some of the many resources available to researchers. Researchers actively participate in different international programmes, and thousands of papers are published yearly by UNAM researchers.The school of medicine also features the largest robotic training center in the world *. Funding for research comes mostly form UNAM itself, as well as the Mexican CONACYT (National Council for Science and Technology). The amount of privately-funded research is increasing mostly due to budget restrictions on UNAM

University City

Ciudad Universitaria ("University City") is UNAM's main campus, located in Coyoacán borough in the southern part of Mexico City. Designed by architects Mario Pani , Enrique del Moral, Domingo García Ramos, 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.

External buildings of interest

Palacio de Minería

Under the care of UNAM's Engineering Faculty, this beautiful 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 exhibits related to mining, the prime engineering occupation during the Spanish colonization. It is considered one of the jewels of Mexican architecture of its period.

Casa del Lago

House of the Lake, in Chapultepec Park – a place devoted to cultural activities like dancing, plays and ballet. It also serves as meeting place for University related organizations and committees.

Museo de San Ildefonso

A baroque building in downtown Mexico City, held the first schools that later became UNAM.

Museo Universitario del Chopo

With an art deco architecture, large crystal panels and a couple of iron towers designed by Gustave Eiffel, it held the National Museum of Natural History for almost 50 years, now devoted to temporary exhibits of visual arts.

Observatorio Astronómico Nacional

The National Astronomical Observatory is located in the San Pedro Mártir Sierra in Baja California, about 130 km south of the border with the United States. 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.

Political Climate

UNAM students and professors are regarded around Mexico as very politically aware, and sometimes very politically active. The general tendency is left-wing, with several socialist, anarchist and communist movements emerging from university students and staff, as well as prominent right-wing politicians, like Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

However, UNAM is perhaps the place with more active political discussion in Mexico, including serious debate, mostly on the part of the faculty members. Among professors one can find influential people in Mexican politics, as well as respected analysts. Discussion of political subjects is often encouraged by professors. International politics are also discussed, and several groups of interest have been formed, again mostly by professors, which have several degrees of influence in national opinion.

Despite the general leftist orientation, some right wing organizations have also benefited from university members. Some versions indicate that some of the current high-ranking government officials (Secretaries and advisors) emerged from a particular right-wing movement of Christian-nationalist orientation, born in UNAM in the 1960s.

In general, being a former student or professor at UNAM almost guarantees a degree of political awareness not present in the average Mexican population. It is for this reason that political unrest is not uncommon among the UNAM community.

Football team

UNAM's football (soccer) team Club Universidad Nacional participates in the First Division of the Football League. The Pumas, as the team is known as, were back to back champions (Apertura '04 - Clausura '04). They play at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario.

University Ranking

  • Source: The Times Higher Education Supplement 2005 edition (London). It coincides with other worldwide recognized ranking lists.
  • 1st in Latin America, Spain and Portugal
  • 20th best in the field of the Arts and Humanities
  • 93rd best in the field of the Sciences
  • 95th best university in the world (all fields)
  • 28th best university outside of North America and Europe

Notable alumni

See also Category:UNAM alumni
Many of the most prominent figures in the economical, political, scientific and artistic life in Mexico have been either UNAM alumni or faculty:

Presidents

Scientists

Politicians

Writers and humanists

Actors

Tycoons

Notable faculty

See also Category:UNAM faculty

External links

UNAM | Universities and colleges in Mexico | 1551 establishments | Educational institutions established in the 1550s

Universitat Nacional Autònoma de Mèxic | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México | Université nationale autonome du Mexique | メキシコ国立自治大学 | Nationale Autonome Universiteit van Mexico

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "National Autonomous University of Mexico".

Home Page • arts • business • computers • games • health • hospitals • home • kids & teens • news • physicians • recreation• reference • regional • science • shopping • society • sports • world