University of Bordeaux

The community of universities and higher education institutions of Aquitaine (French: Communauté d'universités et établissements d'Aquitaine) is an association of higher education institutions in and around Bordeaux, France.^[1] Its current incarnation was established 21 March 2007. The group is the largest system of higher education schools in southwestern France. It is part of the Academy of Bordeaux.

There are five founding members to the Université and currently one associate member.^[2] Each of the six institution has different areas of study from each other as well. The five founding members of the group are composed of two universities and three technical schools. The two universities are: the University of Bordeaux, Michel de Montaigne University. The three founding technical schools are: Bordeaux Polytechnic Institute (IPB), Bordeaux National School for Agriculture Engineering (ENITAB), and the Bordeaux Political Studies Institute.

The group is also associated with UPPA: the University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour, which is a grouping of schools in the areas around Pau and the Adour River.

History

The original Université de Bordeaux was established by the papal bull of Pope Eugene IV on 7 June 1441 when Bordeaux was an English town. The initiative for the creation of the university is attributed to Archbishop Pey Berland. It was originally composed of four faculties: arts, medicine, law, and theology. The law faculty later split into faculties of civil law and canon law. A professorship in mathematics was founded in 1591 by Bishop François de Foix, son of Gaston de Foix, Earl of Kendal.

This university was disestablished in 1793, and then was re-founded on 10 July 1896.

In 1970 the university was split into three universities: Bordeaux 1, Bordeaux 2, and Bordeaux 3. In 1995, Bordeaux 4 split off from Bordeaux I.

In 2007 the universities were grouped together as Communauté d'universités et établissements d'Aquitaine

From 1 January 2014, the university of Bordeaux will be reunited, except for Bordeaux 3 which chose not to take part to the merger.^[3]

Current institutions

Université de Bordeaux

The University of Bordeaux results from the merger of former universities Bordeaux 1, Victor Segalen University (Bordeaux 2), and Montesquieu University (Bordeaux 4)

• Université Bordeaux (Bordeaux 1)

Bordeaux 1's focus is on sciences and technologies. Its motto is "Science and Technologies for the service of Man and the Environment.^[4] Among its topics are: biological sciences, chemistry, computer sciences, earth sciences, mathematics, physics, and sea sciences. It is located in the Bordeaux suburb of Talence.

• Victor Segalen University (Bordeaux 2)

Bordeaux 2's focus is on life sciences, health sciences and human sciences.^[5] It awards licenses, Masters and Doctors, among other items. License topics include: Anthropology, Applied Math and Social Sciences, Biology, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries, Education, Oncology, Psychology, Sociology, Sport and Physical Activities Sciences and Techniques, and Therapy. The school is named after Victor Segalen, and located in central Bordeaux.

• Montesquieu University (Bordeaux 4)

Bordeaux 4 focuses on Law, Social and Political Science, and Economics and Management.^[6] It is located in Pessac.

University Bordeaux Montaigne (Bordeaux 3)

Bordeaux 3 focuses on "letters, languages, arts, and social and humane sciences".^[2] Topics are grouped in three main areas: humanities (archeology, art, art history, history, letters (i.e. languages and literature), and philosophy), languages and civilizations (linguistics, Anglophone studies, Germanic studies, Mediterranean/Iberian studies, Eastern and Far East studies), and territories and communication sciences (communications, geography, information sciences, space sciences, tourism, and urban planning).^[7] The school is located in the Bordeaux suburb of Pessac.

Bordeaux Polytechnic Institute (IPB)

The Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux (IPB) is composed of four engineering schools: ENSC (cognitive), ENSCPB (chemical, physical and biological), ENSEIRB-MATMECA (computer, electronic, mathematical, mechanical, and telecommunication), and ENSTBB (biomolecular technologies).^[8] Like Bordeaux 1, it is located in Talence.

Bordeaux Sciences Agro

Bordeaux Sciences Agro (former ENITA de Bordeaux) is an education and research arm of the French Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.^[9] It is located in the Bordeaux suburb of Gradignan.

Sciences Po Bordeaux

The Bordeaux Institute of Political Studies, Institut d'études politiques de Bordeaux, focuses on political sciences.^[10] It is also located in Pessac.

See also

• List of medieval universities

References