Bolivarian University of Venezuela

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Bolivarian University of Venezuela
Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela
Image:UBV logo.png
Established 2003
Type Public
Rector Andrés Eloy Ruiz Adrían
Students 180,000 (as of 2006)
Location Caracas, Venezuela
Website ubv.ve

The Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela (UBV, English: Bolivarian University of Venezuela) is a state university in Venezuela founded in 2003 by decree of President Hugo Chávez.

The UBV is a part of the Chávez government's "Mission Sucre" social programs, which aim to provide free higher education to the poor. Consequently, enrolment at the UBV is free and open to all, regardless of academic qualifications, prior education or even nationality. The government expects the student body to grow to 1 million by 2009, with more than 190 satellite classrooms throughout Venezuela. [1]

The education programme at the UBV is generally in line with Hugo Chávez's democratic socialist vision of a Latin American "Bolivarian Revolution". According to U.S. media reports, the political opposition has criticised the UBV as a "thinly disguised propaganda factory that takes advantage of the country's most vulnerable citizens".[1]

Contents

[edit] Courses

The UBV's main campus in Los Chaguaramos, Caracas.
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The UBV's main campus in Los Chaguaramos, Caracas.

The following courses are offered at UBV:

[edit] Locales

The University will have branches in the most important regions in Venezuela, at the present time there are branches in:

[edit] Student acceptance

Candidate students must be high-school graduates. On the contrary of the rest of Venezuelan universities, they are assigned by the Mission Sucre.

[edit] Student benefits

  • Library, lunch room, cafeteria, book shop, shop, computer lab, internet connection, transportation, student insurance, academical and pedagogical programs, information and orientation service, health and dental care.
  • Scholarships: Work scholarship, sports scholarship, full wage scholarship and assistantships.
  • Cultural extensions: Orpheon, theater group, press room, mandolin orchestra, bandola, ceramics, choral group, cinema, editorial foundation, music, cuatro, serigraphy, folkloric dance, folkloric music group, handcrafts, printing, gaita group, painting, guitar and graphic arts.
  • Civic groups: hiking center, conservationist center, voluntary firepeople corps, rescue groups, environmentalist groups and recreational groups.
  • Institutional agreements: Academic and communitary agreements. Agreements with the Ministries of Health & Social Development and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. National and international sports agreements.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Monte Reel. "Chavez Educates Masses at a University in His Image", Washington Post, May 25, 2006, p. A21.
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