Mining Academy (Banská Štiavnica)
The Mining Academy (Slovak: Banícka akadémia, Hungarian: Selmeci Akadémia), in Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia, was a technological university founded in 1735 by scientist Sámuel Mikoviny (then Kingdom of Hungary).
History
Its original name was Bergschule (Berg Schola), and it has been had formal status as an academy since December 13, 1762, when it was established by Maria Theresa in order to train specialists in silver, gold mining and metallurgy for mines in the surrounding area and the whole country. It is the world's first institution of technology or technical university with tertiary technical education.
Teaching started in 1764 with the Department of chemistry and metallurgy and first 40 students, who were required to be above 18 years old, to have complete secondary education, and had one year of practical experience. Later the Department of Mathematics, Mechanics, Hydraulics and Mining engineering was established. Third Department of mining wells was settled in 1770. In 1807 Department of Forestry was organized. In 1839 Department of technical drawing and descriptive geometry started. In 1841 Department of Mineralogy, Geology and Paleontology started. In 1866 Department of Melallurgy and Testing and Department of Chemistry and Physics. In 1872 the Department of Mining and Mineral Processing and Department of Mining Surveying and Geodesy.
Courses
The course of study took three years of theoretical education, one year practice and final examination with practical test and was completely free of charge.
References
- Kamenický, Miroslav. Banícke školstvo na Slovensku do založenia Baníckej akadémie v Banskej Štiavnici [Mining schools in Slovakia from the foundation of the Mining Academy in Banská Štiavnica] (in Slovak). Bratislava: Slovak Academic Press. ISBN 80-89104-83-5.
- Banská Štiavnica town article about Banícka akadémia to its 250. anniversary of foundation
- Banská Štiavnica town web page about Banícka akadémia
- Media Agency of Slovak republic (TASR) article about 250. anniversary of university