Rafael Landívar University
| Type | Private, Catholic |
|---|---|
| Established | 1962 |
| Rector | Eduardo Valdés Barría, S.J. |
| Location | Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Campus | Vista Hermosa III in Guatemala City with satelliltes in Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango, Cobán, Zacapa, ... |
| Affiliations | Society of Jesus |
| Website | url.edu |
Rafael Landívar University (Universidad Rafael Landívar) is a private, Jesuit university in Guatemala, founded in 1962. The main campus is in Zone 16 of Guatemala City and is known as Vista Hermosa III. There are satellite campuses in Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango, Cobán, Zacapa, and other parts of the country.[1] Many recent Guatemalan presidents have studied at the University, including Ramiro de León Carpio, Álvaro Arzú, and Óscar Berger.
History
Rafael Landívar University was inaugurated on 22 January 1962 with 138 students, in the classrooms of Liceo Guatemala, lent to the Jesuits by the Marist Brothers. In July of that year the university moved to a corrugated roof-facility in Zone 10 of Guatemala City, before moving to its present location in Zone 16.[2]
Campus Quetzaltenango is located in the southwest of the country, 200 km from the capital city, in a large valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, 2.334 meters above sea level. The city of Quetzaltenango conserves Maya-Quiché traditions, combined with a colonial past and the dynamics of modern society. Quiche and Mam people comprise 60% of the population. Densely populated, it has maintained a steady development and is considered the second most important city in Guatemala. Some inhabitants of the region have strong aspirations for academic and professional development which the university promotes, along with research and service addressing economic, social, and cultural issues.[3]
In 1992 the La Verapaz URL campus was opened on the premises of Coban College. In 1997 construction began on the present campus on the grounds of the Craft Education Center, with financial assistance from Spain – Basques, the University of Deusto, and the ALBOAN foundation. The new campus opened on 2 January 2000. In 2005, with funding from KfW German development bank, new classroom buildings and administrative and academic offices were built, along with creation of the Liceo Javier College of La Verapaz. Further support came from the Flemish Universities Network VLIR, Belgium.[4]
The Campus San Roque González de Santa Cruz SJ, Huehuetenango, opened in January 2000 on the premises of La Salle College Diversified, with the Bachelor of Law and Social Sciences, Master in Business Administration, and Bachelor of Social Work, with a technical focus for local development management. It was selected for scholarships by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (2003-2007) and KFW Bankengruppe Foundation in a grant-credit project mainly aimed at students of Mayan descent, fostering regional development and teacher training.[5]
Zacapa Regional Headquarters opened in 1977 with technical training in irrigation, union management, and social work. The following year business administration and social work with an emphasis on research and development management were added, along with agricultural sciences with an emphasis on horticulture. It currently enrolls about 1,500 students from Salama, Jalapa, Jutiapa, and Petén. In 2008 it acquired the status of Regional Campus under the name Regional Campus San Luis Gonzaga, SJ, of Zacapa.[6]
Social responsibility
The University includes in its mission a commitment to Academic Social Responsibility (RSA) whose objective is to foster student personal development and training, with a view to their contribution in improving the living conditions of Guatemalans and the constant renewal of the University. RSA links students, faculty, staff, officials, and employees to the political sector, economic sector, and community sector of society. Its main objectives are:
- the formation of values and attitudes of ethics, solidarity, fairness, and responsibility, with critical and proactive thinking;
- to encourage professional training, through the application of knowledge in real and different contexts as a learning strategy – service with clearly defined objectives, which enables the generation of knowledge integrated and relevant to Guatemala;
- to contribute in ways consistent with the capabilities and characteristics of the University to improving the living conditions of Guatemalans, especially the disadvantaged sectors of the country;
- to contribute to the constant renewal of the University, through feedback that incorporates new issues into the academic program.
The University also instituted a Department of Academic Social Responsibility whose main function is to be a bridge between social groups in need and entities providing such assistance including disciplines at the University.[7]
Academics
The University is organized around the following schools:[8]
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Activities
Activities at the main campus include:[9]
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References
Coordinates: 14°35′45″N 90°29′3″W / 14.59583°N 90.48417°W