University of Craiova

University of Craiova
Universitatea din Craiova

Seal of the University of Craiova
Latin: Universitas Craiovensis
Motto Vita sine litteris mors est
Motto in English
Life without literature is death
Established 1947 – Establishment[1][2]
1965 – University Status[3][4]
Type Public
Budget € 15.98 million (2013)[5]
Rector Dan Claudiu Dănișor[6]
Academic staff
2,000[7]
Students 25,031 (2002)[8]
Location Craiova, Romania
44°19′09″N 23°48′03″E / 44.31917°N 23.80083°E
Campus Urban
Colours

Yellow & White  

           
Nickname UCV
Affiliations EUA
Website www.ucv.ro

The University of Craiova (Romanian: Universitatea din Craiova) is a public university located in Craiova, Romania. Founded in 1947, with 4 institutes at the beginning, in the Palace of Justice of Craiova. It is the largest university in the historical Oltenia province of Romania. It was the last university established in the Kingdom of Romania.[2] It was the fifth university in Romania officially approved by the Ministerial Council of the Socialist Republic of Romania in 1965,[4][9] with 7 faculties: Mathematics, Philology, Electrotechnics, Agriculture, Horticulture, Chemistry and Economics.[8] The university is a member of the European University Association. It currently includes a total of 16 faculties and 2 colleges for undergraduate and postgraduate programms. Professor Dan Claudiu Dănișor is the University's 12th Rector since 2012.[6][10] The university is governed by a 7-member Vice-Rector.[11] The university is internationally known by its football club FC Universitatea Craiova.

History

Establishment

The idea of founding a higher school in Craiova was flagged in the 18th century by Nicolae Bălcescu, the leader of the Wallachian Revolution of 1848. The establishment of the University of Craiova put in a proposal by Ion Heliade Rădulescu in 1848. But, the failure of the Wallachian Revolution of 1848 did not allow an immediate implementation of this plan. Almost a century later, its establishment was approved based on Act 138/25 April 1947 in the Official Bulletin of the Kingdom of Romania.[2] The Faculty of Agriculture and the Agricultural Institute were established in 1947 and 1948, respectively.[12] The Technical Institute and the Pedagogical Institute were also established in 1951 and 1959, respectively. The Pedagogical Institute of Craiova included four teaching faculties, namely Philosophy, Mathematics, Physics & Chemistry, and Natural Sciences.[13]

University of Craiova's main building, 2010

Status as a university

According to the Act No.894/27 August 1965 approved by the Ministerial Council of the Socialist Republic of Romania, the University of Craiova was officially established with 7 faculties: Mathematics, Philology, Electrotechnics, Agriculture, Horticulture, Chemistry and Economics.[13] The agreement dissolved the Agricultural Institute, and its facilities were transferred to the Faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Horticulture. Moreover, the Pedagogical Institute of Craiova was divided into the Faculty of Letters, the Faculty of Theology, the Faculty of Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

In 1970, the Faculty of Medicine was established. In 1998, it seceded to become the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova. This has been ranked as one of the best universities for medicine in Romania, and has gained in popularity among students due to its six-year program and no entrance exam.[14]

In 1974, the Faculty of Natural Sciences was divided into the Faculty of Mathematics, the Faculty of Chemistry and the Faculty of Physics. The Faculty of Mathematics later became the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences in 1991.

By 1989 it consists of the following faculties:

In 1990, its development was characterized by restructuring administrative offices, introducing new faculties, computerizing administrative process and improving faculties, in order to become a member of the European University Association.

Since 1991, the University of Craiova has two campuses: Craiova and Drobeta-Turnu Severin. The Craiova campus includes technology, economics, informatics and secretarial work, while the Drobeta-Turnu Severin campus has administration and informatics.[15]

Timeline chronology

Year Establishment
1947 Act 138/25 April 1947 in the Official Bulletin of the Kingdom of Romania
1948 Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Institute
1951 Technical Institute
1953 Agricultural Institute Botanical Garden
1959 Pedagogical Institute
1961 Faculty of Social Sciences
1965 Act No.894/27 August 1965 by the Ministerial Council of the Socialist Republic of Romania
1966 University Library and Student Accommodation
1970 Faculty of Medicine
1972 The Museum of the History of Medicine
1977 Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
1979 Alpine Botanical Garden in Parâng Mountains
1981 University IT Centre
1991 Faculty of Law and Administrative Sciences
1992 Faculty of Theology
1994 University Printing House
1995 Faculty of Physical Education and Sports
1996 University TV station
1998 University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova

Main Building

The Palace of Justice of Craiova in 1900, later the main building of the University of Craiova

The main building of the University of Craiova called wing A, is located in the central region of Craiova. Its construction was finished in 1896, and was designed as Neoclassical architecture by architect Ion N. Socolescu. It was used for the Palace of Justice of Craiova. After its transference to the University, it had several internal modifications.

The main building is made up of two different U-shaped wings united by a central wing, delimitating the two interior courtyards. The main entrance, the entire exterior, and the interior architecture were designed as classical architecture. In 1972, a new wing was added to the main building, which became the university library. Over the time, the entrances has been relocated, to make easy access to faculties and rooms. Some supplementary spaces have been created through the construction of separating walls.

In 1977, when the main building was reconstructed, some faculties (Agriculture, Mechanical Engineering, and Medicine) were relocated to different buildings.

Since 1998, the classrooms, laboratories, offices were decorated and modernized. The consolidation of the eastern wing of the main building started in 1996 and was finished in 2002. A cafeteria has been built in the basement of the building. In 2002, the Blue Hall and the Central Hall were renovated and modernized.

University of Craiova, main building

Currently, 8 of 17 faculties are still located at the main building:

The main building now includes 35 classrooms, 16 seminar halls, 21 laboratories, and 1 workshop room.

Academic profile

School statistics

The number of the students enrolled at the University of Craiova rose dramatically since 1947. It makes 4.6% of the total number of Romanian students in 2000. But, it is 336 students per 10,000 inhabitants, which is larger than the average number of 238 students per 10,000 inhabitants in the country.[8]

The University of Craiova started its PhD programs in 1966. Currently, its PhD programs are supervised by 63 professors. The University has also award the honorary doctorate to more than 60 persons from different countries for their contributions to science and education.[8]

Rankings

University Rankings
URAP National (2014)[16] 14
SIR National (2014)[17] 11
Webometrics National (2014)[18] 9

According to the University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP), the University of Craiova was ranked as 14th in Romania and 1777th in the world in 2014.[16] Moreover, the SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR) ranked University of Craiova in the 11th best research university among all Romanian universities and 1661st worldwide in 2014.[17] According to the SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR), based on data collected between 2007 and 2011, University of Craiova ranked 1645 in the World, 103 regionally and number 10 in the country by number of publications.[19] Webometrics ranked the University of Craiova as the 9th university in Romania and 1787th in the world in 2014.[18] It was also ranked as the 12th university in Romania by the 4 International Colleges & Universities.[20]

Organisation and structure

Faculties

The University of Craiova comprises sixteen faculties:

  • Faculty of Letters
  • Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
  • Faculty of Chemistry
  • Faculty of Physics
  • Faculty of Social Sciences
  • Faculty of Theology
  • Faculty of Physical Education and Sports
  • Faculty of Agriculture
  • Faculty of Horticulture
  • Faculty of Law and Administrative Sciences
  • Faculty of Economy and Business Administration
  • Faculty of Electrical Engineering
  • Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
  • Faculty of Electromechanics Engineering
  • Faculty of Automation, Computers and Electronics
  • Faculty of Engineering and Management of Technological Systems

Colleges

Affiliated research centers

  • Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence
  • Institution of Electrical and Electronics Technician Engineers (IEETE) Research Centre
  • Multimedia Research/Development Centre
  • Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer
  • Centre for Dialogue between Sciences and Theology
  • Regional Centre for Lifelong Training in Energy
  • Department of Technology and Innovation in Advanced ReseArch of Composites (TIARA-C)
  • Department of Scientific Research and Programs Management
  • Department of Socio-Economic and Cultural Relations

Facilities

Publications

Annals of the University of Craiova:

  • Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry Series
  • Mathematics and Computer Science Series
  • Physics AUC
  • Economic Sciences Series
  • Electrical Engineering Series
  • Automation, Computers, Electronics and Mechatronics Series
  • Theology Series
  • Medical Sciences Series
  • Philology, English Series
  • Geographies Series
  • ELSE Software
  • The Young Economists Journal

Sport

University Craiova Football Club was created in 1948. The team name was subsequently changed to CSU Craiova (1950), Stiinta Craiova (1950) and finally Universitatea Craiova in 1966.

Picture gallery

Partner Universities

The University of Craiova participates in the European educational programs and performs cooperation and student exchanges with other institutions abroad. The University works towards extending collaborations and improving the pedagogical experience of both professors and students. It has signed cooperation agreements with the following international universities:[21]

Faculty, alumni and rectors

Faculty and alumni of the university include:

References

  1. Based on Act 138/25 April 1947 in the Official Bulletin of the Kingdom of Romania.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Foundation of the University of Craiova
  3. Based on Act No.894/27 August 1965 by the Council of Ministers of the Socialist Republic of Romania.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Cronologia Dezvoltarii Universitatii din Craiova
  5. Romanian Academic Education Funding Trends - Case of the University of Craiova
  6. 6.0 6.1 University of Craiova: Rector
  7. University of Craiova
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 University of Craiova Statistics
  9. Iasi (1860), Bucharest (1864), Cluj (1959), Timisoara (1962), Craiova (1965), Brasov (1971)
  10. University of Craiova: Rectors Gallery
  11. University of Craiova: Vice-Rectors
  12. The Monograph of the University of Craiova, 2008, Universitaria Publishing House, Beladi Publishing House, coordinated by:VLADIMIRESCU, ION; OTOVESCU, DUMITRU
  13. 13.0 13.1 1947-1965 History (Romanian)
  14. 1990-2013 History (Romanian)
  15. University Of Craiova
  16. 16.0 16.1 "URAP Ranking 2014, Romania". Retrieved 2015-01-17.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Scimago Institutions Rankings
  18. 18.0 18.1 Ranking Web of World Universities, 2014, http://www.webometrics.info/en/search/Rankings/craiova%20type%3Apais. Downloaded 17 January 2015.
  19. Scimago Institutions Rankings
  20. University Web Ranking 2014, http://www.4icu.org/reviews/3936.htm Downloaded 17 January 2015.
  21. http://cis01.central.ucv.ro/socrates/pages/parteneri.html

External links