Paris X University Nanterre

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Université Paris X - Nanterre

Established: 1964, following the division of the University of Paris (1253)
Type: Public
President: Olivier Audeoud
Students: 35,000
Location: Nanterre, Hauts de Seine
Affiliations: University of Paris
Website: u-paris10.fr

The Paris X University Nanterre is a French university in the Academy of Versailles. It is one of the 13 successor universities of the University of Paris. It is located in the western suburb of Nanterre, near La Défense, the business district of Paris.

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[edit] History

Ths Social Sciences buildings
Ths Social Sciences buildings

Paris X University was built in the 1960s on the outskirts of Paris as an extension of the Sorbonne. Based on the American model, it was created as a campus (as opposed to the old French universities which were smaller and integrated to the city they were in).

Paris X University became famous shortly after its opening by being at the center of the May 68 student rebellion. The campus was nicknamed "Nanterre, la folle" (Mad Nanterre) or "Nanterre la rouge" (Red Nanterre, in reference to communism). To this day, the university remains traditionally a center of the left wing, as opposed to universities such as Paris II-Assas, traditionally inclined to the right.

[edit] Size and Scope

Nanterre is the second largest campus in France after Nantes, with its own Olympic pool and a stadium. It welcomes 30 to 35.000 students every year in all fields of studies: Social Sciences, Philosophy, Literature, History, Languages and Linguistics, Economics, Law and Political Sciences, as well as Teacher Training, Acting, Cinema, Physiology and Sports.

The university is renowned in the fields of Law and Economics. Even though French universities are required by law to admit anyone with a Baccalauréat, strain is put on the students from the start and the first year drop-out rate consistently hovers in the 60% region. At postgraduate level, the university offers very competitive programs (highly selective Masters in lLaw and Business) and partnerships with some grandes écoles such as the Ecole Polytechnique, or the ESSEC.

The Institute for Archaeology and Anthropology is another important institution on campus, merging the departments of the CNRS, Paris I-Panthéon Sorbonne and Paris X-Nanterre.

As in most Parisian universities, there is a large minority of foreign exchange students.

Paris X-Nanterre in May 68
Paris X-Nanterre in May 68

[edit] Innovative Programs

Over the years, Nanterre has developed innovative programs such as the double bilingual courses in French Law and Anglo-American, Spanish, Russian, German or Italian law, in Economics & Management (with half of the courses in French and half of the courses in another foreign language), in History (with half of the courses in French and half of the courses in another foreign language). These programs have inspired many universities and grandes écoles throughout the country and are now renowned on the national level.

[edit] Students and alumni

A few famous alumni:

  • Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France, President of the Union for a Popular Movement, and former Interior Minister (Master in law in 1978);
  • Dominique de Villepin, former Prime Minister of France, former Home secretary and Foreign Secretary. Writer;
  • Daniel Cohn-Bendit, "Dany le Rouge", leader of the May 68 student rebellion and Member of the European Parliament;
  • Christine Lagarde, French minister of trade, former president of Baker & McKenzie
  • Olivier Besancenot, candidate to the French presidential elections of 2002 and 2007;
  • Jean-Jacques Aillagon, former Minister for Culture, head of the Palazzo Grassi;
  • Jean-Luc Marion, philosopher;
  • Françoise de Panafieu, MP and Mayor of the XVIIth district of Paris;
  • Olivier Duhamel, politician, former Member of the European Parliament.
  • Bruno Gollnisch, Member of the European Parliament, general delegate of the [Front national].
  • Marie-France Stirbois, Former Member of the French Parliament [Front national].
  • Guy Carcassonne, expert in constitutional law;
  • Luc Brisson, philosopher;
  • Daniel Cohen, économist and journalist for "Le Monde";
  • Alain Farshian, free-lance journalist for newspapers such as "Le Monde"
  • Vincent Bolloré, CEO of Bolloré and ranked the 451st-equal richest person in the world;
  • Sylvie Germain, writer;
  • Yasmina Reza, writer and actress;
  • Jeanne Mas, pop singer;

[edit] A few Famous professors and former professors

  • Maurice Allais, Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics in 1988.
  • Guy Carcassonne, French expert in constitutional law.
  • Dominique Strauss-Kahn, French economist, lawyer, and politician. Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) (2007- ).
  • René Rémond, historian and political economist.
  • Denis Buican, French historian of biology, 1983-2003.
  • Jack Lang, French politician, 1986-1988 and 1993-1999.
  • Michel Aglietta, French economist, founder of the regulation school
  • Michel Crozier, French sociologist and member of the Académie des sciences morales et politiques.
  • Emmanuel Lévinas, philosopher , 1967.
  • Jean Baudrillard, philosopher.
  • Paul Ricœur, philosopher , 1966-1970.
  • Étienne Balibar, philosopher.
  • Matty Chiva, professeur de psychologie
  • Henri Lefebvre, geographer, professor, and influential figure in the events of 1968
  • André Legrand, professor of French and comparative public law, Human Rights, Civil Liberties.
  • Claude Lepelley, historian, 1984-2002.
  • Danièle Lochak, is a professor of law specialised in human rights and civil liberties. Former president of the GISTI, and member of the Ligue des droits de l'homme. She's the Director of the Centre de recherches et d'études sur les droits fondamentaux.
  • Pierre Mélandri, historian.
  • Alain Pellet, French experts on international law.
  • Jean-Pierre Rioux, historian.
  • Jean-Jacques Becker, historian.
  • Jean-François Sirinelli, historian.
  • Michel Troper, professor at the University of Paris X-Nanterre. He is also a member of the Institut Universitaire de France and the Director of the Centre de Théorie du Droit.

[edit] Paris X - Nanterre in fiction

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Selected Master's programs.