Marche Polytechnic University
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Marche Polytechnic University |
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| Established | 1959 |
| Type | State-supported |
| Rector | Prof. Marco Pacetti |
| Staff | 450 |
| Students | 13,000 |
| Location | Ancona, Italy |
| Sports teams | CUS Ancona (http://www.cusancona.it/) |
| Website | www.unipm.it/ |
Marche Polytechnic University (Italian Università Politecnica delle Marche) is a public university in Ancona, Italy. It offers three year degrees in Agriculture, Engineering, Economics, Medicine, and Sciences, as well as longer specialist programs in Medicine and Biology.
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[edit] History
The presence of a university in Ancona is a rather recent historical development and the product of cultural, social, economic, and historical forces. In the Middle Ages, Ancona already boasted a School of Law and in 1562 the city received authorization from Pope Pius VI to found a "Studium Generale cuiuscumque Facultatis et Scientiae," offering instruction in Civil and Canon Law and Theology. The privilege of adding additional faculties was also bestowed by the pontiff, and the members of the faculty were invested with the power to grant the various academic degrees. Moreover, faculty and students alike enjoyed the privileges, prerogatives and immunities granted to a "Studium Generale", like the one in Bologna or Padua. The new "Studium" flourished in a fervor of study for a century and then began a progressive decline during the second half of the XVII century which was due to the exodus of students from the wealthier families of the city to the more famous "Studia" in Rome and Bologna. This decline culminated in the first closing of the "Studium" in 1739. In 1746, the town council passed a resolution, which was then approved by Pope Benedict XIV, to re-open the chair of Civil and Canon Law. However, the political upheaval from 1797-1799 resulted in the closing of the "Studium" for the second time. Ancona's aspirations to open the university seemed to lie dormant for over a century until the end of World War I. At first, the city's desire to re-found the university was uncertain and confused, but soon took a more definite form within the context of the city's own growing awareness of the complex set of problems revolving around higher education at the regional level. A variety of proposals were ventured throughout the 1920s, but none of them left the planning stage. One such proposal was the creation of a Regional University Confederation with the rectorship located in Ancona, which was also to host both a three year program for Clinical Medicine (to complete the three year degree in biology offered at the University of Camerino) and a vaguely defined school of commerce.
In the 1930s, the outline of an agreement on a plan for a regional university system was reached This plan was to include a university in Ancona and met with enlightened and resolute supporters in the president and members of the Institute of Science, Literature and Art for the Marches, an association founded in the region's capital in 1925.The patient groundwork, which had been interrupted during the World War II, to lay the foundations for a university was resumed in the post-war period among a host of proposals, requests, opposition, provincial-minded position-taking, interruptions and refusals on the part of the government ministries. Finally, in 1959 the city council approved the creation of a consortium (formed by the city, the provincial government and the chamber of commerce) for the advancement of higher education in the Marches and the establishment of a Faculty of Economics and Commerce, as a separate campus of the University of Urbino. Courses began at the beginning of November in 1959, three months before the Faculty of Economics and Commerce itself was legally recognized (Presidential Decree passed in February 1960). A mere ten years later in 1969 the Consortium's board of directors, under the leadership and direction of professor Trifogli, approved both the charter for the foundation of the Independent University of Ancona and the by-laws establsihing a two year course of study for the Faculty of Engineering and a three year course of study for the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. The Higher Council on Public Education endorsed the actions taken by the Consortium and officially recognized the Faculty of Engineering for the 1969-70 academic year and the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery for the following year. The Independent University of Ancona was soon recognized as a state university on January 18, 1971. The city of Ancona finally boasted its own university, and the initial two Faculties were soon joined by the Faculty of Economics and Commerce. During the 1988-89 academic year the Faculty of Agriculture was added (degree in agricultural sciences), as well as the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences (degree course in general biology, with concentrations in marine biology, oceanography and biotechnology).In 2003, the university had five Faculties, 29 different undergraduate degree studies (3 years -first level), 17 specialist degree course (second level), 3 specialist university degree at ruled access (1 in engineering-5year, 1 in medicine & surgery-6years and 1 in orthodontics and prosthetic-6years),, 11 special purpose schools, 29 fields of specialization, and 10 doctorate programs with their administrative centers in Ancona. The initial student enrollment of 290 for the 1969-70 academic year has progressively increased to 13,000 for 2002-2003.
In 2003 the University had changed name in Università Politecnica delle Marche.
[edit] Organization
These are the 5 faculties in which the university is divided into:
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
- Faculty of Sciences
The teaching faculty currently numbers 450 professors, teaching assistants, and researchers, along with 262 temporary staff and 550 technical and administrative personnel. Teaching and research activities were once housed at separate locations, which were often unsuitable and inadequate. They are presently grouped together and divided among three main complexes. The science-technology complex is located in Monte D'Ago, and its buildings boast the monumental and prestigious work designed by Belluschi, an Italian-American architect. This complex houses the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Agriculture, and the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Natural Science. Construction is currently being completed on this same site to meet the teaching and laboratory needs of the new Faculty of Biology. A second research and instruction complex is located in Torrette for the biological, scientific and clinical needs of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. The third complex reserved for the study of economics and the humanities is located in center of the city in a historic and renovation ex barracks Caserma Villarey and houses the Faculty of Economics. Villa Maria, located near Passetto, represents an additional center of study, set aside for orthodontics and dental prostheses. In terms of logistics, the administrative center of the University is ideally located in the center of the city at Piazza Roma. The Administration and Rectorship are housed in the former.
Palazzo della Provincia (Government Building), and the other administrative bodies are located in buildings in close proximity to the Palazzo. The University's facilities also include the sports complex situated on an extensive tract of land in Posatora, the former location of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery before it was destroyed by a disastrous landslide in 1982. In this same area, a new botanical garden has been planned which, together with the university research farms (currently operational) in the city of Agugliano, round out the scientific and instructional facilities for the Faculty of Agriculture. In addition, medium to long-term planning includes the renovation of the former Stamira barracks, the latest acquisition made by the University. This building has been proposed as guest residence for students and scholars from other Italian and foreign universities who ever more frequently attend courses and conduct research at the various institutes and departments, within the context of national and international projects.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Marche Polytechnic University Website (Italian) (English)
