Work

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

University of Erfurt

Universität Erfurt
Established 1392/1994 (closed 1815—1993)
Type Public
President Dr. Wolfgang Bergsdorf
Staff 528
Students 4,676
Location Erfurt, Germany Germany
Campus Urban
Affiliations EUniCult
Website http://www.uni-erfurt.de
Data as of May 2009

The University of Erfurt (German: Universität Erfurt) is a public university located in Erfurt, Germany. Originally founded in 1392, the university was closed in 1816 for the next 177 years. The university was re-established in 1994, three years after Thuringia reunified with the Federal Republic.

History

1392—1816

The University of Erfurt was founded in 1392 as the third university in the territory which is now Germany; for some time, it was the largest university in the country. When the town of Erfurt became part of Prussia in 1816, the university was closed.

1994—today

In December 1993, the Landtag of Thuringia voted to reestablish the university. The university was officially re-founded on January 1, 1994. Lectures began in the winter term from 1999 to 2000. Shortly afterwards, the rector who had overseen the founding, Peter Glotz, a politician in the SPD party, left the university. The position was taken over by Wolfgang Bergsdorf, a friend of Bernhard Vogel, Thuringia's Minister-president.

In 2001, the Erfurt University of Pedagogy (Pädagogische Hochschule Erfurt), founded in 1969, became part of the university.

On January 1, 2003, a fourth faculty was added to the university in the form of the Roman Catholic Theological Faculty, previously the Erfurt Philosophical and Theological Centre, Philosophisch-Theologisches Studium Erfurt.

In 2003, a chronic lack of financing meant that there were many redundancies and that vacancies were left unfilled: this led to student protests all over Thuringia. The university management and committees were reformed and the situation was stabilized.

Institutions of particular note are the Max Weber College for Cultural and Social Sciences and the , Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, the former Erfurt School of Public Policy (ESPP), named after the former Chancellor of Germany , Willy Brandt, in November 2009, which is partly financed by tuition fees. The Erfurt-Gotha Research Library houses the famous Amploniana collection of scripts from the Middle Ages.

University maxim

The University of Erfurt is sometimes thought of as a reformist university. Martin Luther once attended it in 1502, receiving his bachelor's degree. Its main focuses are multidisciplinarity, internationality and a strong mentoring system, although in fact the student body is largely regional. All new courses lead to the new Bachelor of Arts or Master's degree rather than the traditional German Diplom, which makes Erfurt one of the first German universities to completely implement the Bologna process.

An especially important faculty is that of Staatswissenschaften (Government Studies), the only one in Germany to offer integrated courses in economics, social sciences and law.

Courses

B.A. and Masters courses

  • Science of history
  • Communication studies
  • Literature
  • Philosophy
  • Religious studies
  • Linguistics
  • English language and literature
  • German language and literature
  • French language and literature
  • Slavic languages and literature
  • Law
  • Social Sciences
  • Economics
  • Master of Public Policy
  • Pedagogy
  • Psychology of teaching and training
  • Movement pedagogy
  • Evangelic religious studies
  • Art
  • Mathematics for primary and secondary school teachers
  • Music teaching
  • Pedagogy of childhood
  • Roman Catholic religious studies
  • Education management
  • Psychology
  • Primary school teaching
  • Secondary school teaching for the Regelschule

Diplom courses

  • Roman Catholic Theology

Projects

In the summer semester of 2003, a project group was formed at the university to take part in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) in New York City in April 2004. The pilot project has become a regular, student-organized seminar at the university. The various groups received several awards for their participation at the conference in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Well-known alumni

  • Martin Luther
  • Ulrich von Hutten
  • Johannes Gutenberg (debated)
  • Christoph Martin Wieland

University of Savoie


Université de Savoie
Logo
Established 1960s, officially-recognised 1979
Type Public
President Claude Jameux
Students 12,368 (2005)
Location Annecy;
Jacob-Bellecombette,
Le Bourget-du-Lac,
(both near Chambéry);
,
in Haute-Savoie/Savoie
,
France France
Website http://www.univ-savoie.fr

The University of Savoie is a university in alpine eastern France, with one campus in Annecy-le-Vieux (in the Haute-Savoie département) and two around Chambéry (in Savoie).

Campuses

The university was founded over a period in the 1960s and '70s. Wanting to avoid a straight choice between the two biggest towns of the Savoie/Haute-Savoie region, the authorities decided to set up a campus in each city for different areas of study.

  • The Annecy-le-Vieux campus (near Annecy) is the university's "technology institute" (IUT), and teaches engineering-related subjects and business and administration related subjects.
  • Jacob-Bellecombette (1.5 km south of Chambéry) is the campus for students of languages, literature, social sciences, law and economics. It has a library, sports hall and one cafeteria. Chambéry is the home of the university's presidence and administrative buildings.
  • The Technolac campus at Bourget-du-Lac (12 km north of Chambéry) teaches science.

History

  • Between 1295 and 1563, Chambéry was the capital of Savoy (as the region was called in English then). The University of Turin was founded in 1404, and Chambery was the home of an école préparatoire, a school preparing students about to go there. But there was no university in Chambéry in this period, and Turin took over from Chambéry as Savoy's capital in 1563.
  • The annexing of Savoy by France after the unification of Italy meant that Chambéry had an académie between 1860 and 1920, but not a university.
  • During the movement creating new universities in the 1960s, a Savoie Collège Scientifique Universitaire (CSU) was created, then a Collège Littéraire Universitaire (CLU) in 1963. These colleges were merged, creating the Centre Universitaire de Savoie (CUS), at Chambéry, on 9 May 1969. In 1973, Annecy's technical and business college, the Institut Universitaire Technologique (IUT), was founded, and from 27 June 1979, the CUS was officially classed as a university. It was later renamed the Université de Savoie.

Number of students at the university

1960 1992 1994 2005
300 3,000 10,400 12,368

Foreign students

After Paris I, Paris II and Strasbourg III (URS), Savoie has the fourth-highest number of Erasmus exchange students in France. The school of international relations has signed 228 conventions with universities in 82 countries, and the university takes more than 1,000 foreign students per year overall.

  • Europe : 71 %
    • United Kingdom 17 %
    • Italy 10.5 %
    • Germany 10 %
    • Spain 8 %
    • Sweden 5 %
  • North America: 7 %
  • PECO-NEI (Pays d'Europe centrale, orientale et nouveaux états indépendants de l'ex Union Sovietique): 5 %
  • Asia : 6 %
  • North Africa/Middle-East : 5 %
  • Latin America : 2,5 %
  • Africa: 2,5 %
  • Australia/New Zealand: 1%

Photos of the university

Chambéry campus

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

University of Delaware

University of Delaware
Motto Scientia Sol Mentis Est
Motto in English Knowledge is the light of the mind
Established 1743
Type Public and Private (state-assisted with private charter)
Endowment $1.34 billion USD (June 30, 2008)[1]
President Patrick T. Harker
Staff 4,004
Students 18,723
Undergraduates 15,318
Postgraduates 3,405
Location Newark, Delaware, USA
Campus Urban 2,311 acres
Colors Blue & Gold
Mascot YoUDee
Affiliations MAISA; AAU
Website www.udel.edu
UDEL logo.png

The University of Delaware (colloquially "UD" or "UDel") is the largest university in Delaware. The main campus is in Newark, with satellite campuses in Dover, Wilmington, Lewes and Georgetown. It is medium-sized – approximately 16,000 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students. Although UD receives public funding for being a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant and urban-grant state-supported research institution, it is also privately chartered.[2] At present, the school's endowment is valued at about $1.3975 billion US. The University of Delaware is ranked 68th by US News in the category of "Best National Universities." [2] In 2009, UD ranked No. 22 in the in-state category of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine's list of the 100 Best Values in Public Colleges, and No. 18 for out-of-state.[3]

The school from which the university grew was founded in 1743, making it one of the oldest in the nation. However, UD was not chartered as an institution of higher learning until 1833. Its original class of ten students included George Read, Thomas McKean, and James Smith, all three of whom would go on to sign the Declaration of Independence.

The school has renowned engineering, science, business, education, urban affairs and public policy, public administration, agriculture, history, chemical engineering, chemistry and biochemistry programs, among others, drawing from the historically strong presence of the nation's chemical and pharmaceutical industries in the state of Delaware. In 2006, UD's engineering program was ranked number 10 in the nation by The Princeton Review. In 2009, US News and World Report, ranked the chemical engineering program 10th among undergraduate programs and 9th among graduate programs. It is one of only four schools in North America with a major in art conservation. UD was the first American university to begin a study abroad program.[4]

Organization and student body


Aerial View of the University of Delaware's Green

The university is organized into 7 colleges:

  • College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics
  • College of Earth, Ocean and Environment
  • College of Engineering
  • College of Health Sciences
  • College of Education and Public Policy

The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest of the colleges. Also, on April 3, 2007 the second annual BusinessWeek review of the "Best Undergraduate B-Schools" ranked UD's Lerner College of Business and Economics 29th among the nation's top 58 public university programs and 61st among the 500 schools earning international accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

In recent years, the student body has been labeled as one of the most politically apathetic in the nation. Although there are a number of activist student groups on campus, the University was ranked 4th out of 361 schools in the "Election? What Election?" category in the Princeton Review's 2007 college ratings

This perception is quickly changing however, and such rankings have not gone unnoticed by university officials. An April 2008 report by the school's Strategic Planning Committee identified student engagement in the "social, cultural, artistic, and scientific challenges of our age" as one of the university's primary long-term goals. University students have also responded to the charges of student apathy, and the 2007-2008 academic year saw the creation of a number of student organizations aimed at increasing political dialogue amongst undergraduates .

The 2008 Presidential Election has also brought much attention to the University and has increased student involvement in political activism. In August 2008, the University was hailed as the "epicenter" of the presidential election by Bloomberg News [8]. Joe Biden (D), Delaware, who graduated from the University, was elected Vice President of the United States on November 4, 2008 as Barack Obama's running mate. In addition, Biden's wife, Jill, as well as David Plouffe, Obama's campaign strategist, and Steve Schmidt, McCain's campaign strategist all graduated from UD. Senator Biden appeared at the University in a campaign rally on October 31, 2008, just days before the election, in front of an estimated crowd of 7,000.[citation needed]

Students and Admissions

University of Delaware Facts
Class of 2012 Applicants 25,201
Class of 2012 Enrolled 35% in state, 65% out-of-state
Class of 2012 Middle 50% HS GPA 3.45 - 3.90
Class of 2012 Middle 50% SAT, Avg ACT 1790 - 1980, 27
Freshman Class Size 3,521
Class of 2012 Gender 40% male, 60% female
Number of Study Abroad Locations 35+
Undergraduate Colleges 7
Academic Offerings 125 majors, 75 minors
Undergraduate Student-Faculty Ratio 12:1


The student body at the University of Delaware is largely an undergraduate population. The University of Delaware offers over 100 undergraduate degrees, and due to the vast number of academic options many students complete dual degrees as well as double majors and minors. Delaware students have a great deal of access to work and internship opportunities. An easily accessible online database contains over 1,000 internship opportunities available for all majors. The Center hosts 15 major career fairs with over 500 employers in attendance and the Campus Interview Program, which brings over 600 employer representatives to campus. Like other corporate players that call Delaware home, MBNA (now Bank of America) invests in the UD community through the construction of the new Career Services Center building, the hiring of students, and sponsorship of scholarships. With Delaware's location in Newark, Delaware, students are able to land jobs and internships in Delaware, as well as in New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.. More than 90% of Delaware graduates who do not go directly to graduate school report finding full-time positions within six months of graduating.

Additionally, "4+1" Accelerated Programs also allow students to pursue both their bachelor's and master's degrees within a five-year period. Opportunities in the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy exist to acquire a bachelor's in leadership and a master's in public administration. Students may also pursue a bachelor's degree in hotel management and a master's in business administration through a "4+1+1" program where students work for one year between the undergraduate and graduate experiences. Students in the College of Engineering can pursue a bachelor's degree in one of the University's engineering disciplines and a master's in business administration.

The Medical Scholars Program is an opportunity for academically competitive students who wish to pursue careers in the medical profession. Successful participation in the Medical Scholars Program leads to a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from the University of Delaware and the M.D. degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.

The Ronald McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is an initiative to prepare and empower low-income, first generation college students and underrepresented students (of African American, Latino, and Native American descent) for doctoral study; allowing them to complete a Baccalaureate degree, enroll in graduate school, and ultimately attain a doctoral degree. Since its inception at Delaware, the program boasts a 100% placement rate of its scholars in graduate programs across the country.[citation needed]

Lastly, the Dean's Scholar Program is designed to serve the needs of a highly selective group of students who are motivated and talented and have a clear view of their long-range educational goals. Dean's Scholars are granted flexibility in college requirements so that they can build their entire program with faculty advisers and create original programs of study, including off-campus experiences and independent research. This opportunity is available to outstanding sophomores in the Colleges of Arts and Science, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Health and Nursing Sciences, and Education and Public Policy.

Colleges

Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics

The college offers Baccalaureate degrees in Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Operations Management. Minors in Business Administration, Economics, International Business, and Management Information Systems. A Certificate in Business Fundamentals is also offered to non-business majors. As of July 2008, the department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management was moved from the College of Education and Public Policy and to the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics.

Graduate degrees offered include Accounting, Management Information Systems, Business Administration (MBA), Organizational Effectiveness, and Economics. Dual degrees offered: MBA/MA: Economics; MBA/MS: Information Systems & Technology Management; MBA/MS: Organizational Effectiveness, Development & Change; and MBA/MS: International Business. (The latter degree is offered in conjunction with Groupe ESC Grenoble, France). An Executive MBA is offered at the University's Wilmington campus. Ph.D. offered in Economics.

The Lerner College of Business and Economics has received many awards in the past. Most notably, in 2008 the Lerner College was ranked 60th in the nation in Business Week's Best Undergraduate Business Schools. In 2009 it was ranked 6th in the mid-atlantic region for its part-time MBA program and 38th in the nation.

College of Arts and Sciences

Through the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Delaware students can choose from a vast array of concentrations. They can choose from programs in visual and performing arts, social sciences, natural sciences and many more. Listed below are some of the programs offered and the different departments within each program.

Arts and Humanities

  • Art Conservation
  • Art History
  • English
  • Fine Arts & Visual Communications
  • Foreign Languages & Literatures
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Theater
  • Communication

Social Sciences and History

  • Anthropology
  • Communication
  • History
  • Military Science - Army ROTC
  • Political Science & International Relations
  • Sociology & Criminal Justice

Natural Sciences and Mathematics

  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemistry & Biochemistry
  • Computer & Information Sciences
  • Geography
  • Linguistics
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Neuroscience
  • Physical Therapy
  • Physics & Astronomy
  • Psychology

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources


Student Residences on the South Green

Also known as "the Ag School", the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is committed to addressing issues in animal and plant biology including health, welfare, and production issues, and to environmental stewardship. This is done through the educational programs, the research, and the outreach to communities. The college values hands-on learning experiences for students and faculty. Independent research projects, service learning, and study abroad programs abound, and the faculty are a rich resource committed to learning, personal development, and shared discovery.

  1. Agricultural Education
  2. Animal & Food Sciences
  3. Bioresources Engineering
  4. Entomology & Wildlife Ecology
  5. Food & Resource Economics
  6. Plant & Soil Sciences

College of Engineering

The University of Delaware College of Engineering traces its beginnings to 1837, when a class in "surveying and leveling" was first taught at Newark College. Civil engineering became part of the science curriculum in 1850, but degree programs were not established until 1889 for Civil Engineering, 1891 for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, and 1914 for Chemical Engineering. In the early 1920s, the University of Delaware was known primarily for its engineering school, with more than half of the institution's entire student body enrolled in one of the four engineering disciplines. Long recognized for its emphasis on teaching, the College of Engineering endeavored to establish strong research and graduate programs as well. World War II brought the first significant funding for research, setting a new pattern for the institution. By 1960, Chemical Engineering's graduate education and research initiatives had earned the department national prominence. In the early 1970s, the Mechanical Engineering department became one of the first in the country to teach composite materials, leading to the creation of the internationally recognized Center for Composite Materials . The new interdisciplinary research center created a unique model for industry cooperation and led the College to establish eight more research centers over the next 30 years. Materials Science, founded in 1960 as a program, was established as the College's fifth department in 1998. Today, the College of Engineering continues a proud tradition of excellence in research, teaching and service that has brought prestigious national accolades to both faculty and students.

  1. Center for Composite Materials
  2. Chemical Engineering
  3. Civil Engineering
  4. Computer Engineering
  5. Electrical Engineering
  6. Environmental Engineering
  7. Materials Science
  8. Mechanical Engineering

College of Health Sciences

The College of Health and Nursing Sciences was formed July 1, 1997 as a result of a merger between the College of Nursing, the College of Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation, and the department of Nutrition and Dietetics. It was renamed to the College of Health Sciences on July 1, 2005. There are about 130 faculty and staff in the College and about 1600 students. The College consists of the Departments of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences and Medical Technology, the School of Nursing, and the Division of Special Programs. In addition, some of the faculty in this College participate in the interdisciplinary Biomechanics and Movement Science program. The College offers nine undergraduate degrees and five graduate degrees with eight different areas of concentration.

College of Education and Public Policy

The college's research and public service centers annually provide research expertise and educational services to thousands of individuals from hundreds of organizations and agencies. Students work with faculty and staff on virtually all of these efforts, gaining valuable practical experience that complements their academic studies.

The Center for Applied Demography & Survey Research provides demographic and survey data and information on important public issues to researchers and policymakers at all levels in addition to the Center for Community Research and Service which assists public, nonprofit and private organizations in Delaware to design, implement, and evaluate policies and programs that address the needs of low and moderate income families and communities related to economic development, housing and social services.

The Institute for Public Administration (IPA) is a college center that addresses the policy, planning, and management needs of its partners through the integration of applied research, professional development, and the education of tomorrow’s leaders.

Also in this college is the Center for Disabilities Studies. It focuses on improving the quality, quantity, and range of public and private services and supports available in Delaware for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Center for Energy & Environmental Policy, the Center for Historic Architecture & Design, the Delaware Center for Teacher Education and the Delaware Education Research & Development Center are all affiliated with this college.

Traditional academic units include the School of Education, the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy, The Department of Human Development and Family Studiers and the Department of Fashion Studies.

Majors include:

  1. Apparel Design
  2. Early Childhood Education, includes early childhood special education
  3. Educational Studies
  4. Elementary Teacher Education, includes Middle School and Special Education
  5. Fashion Merchandising
  6. Human Services
  7. Human Services, Education and Public Policy
  8. Leadership
  9. Public Administration (MPA Only)
  10. Public Policy
  11. Urban Affairs and Public Policy (MA/PhD Only)

College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment

The undergraduate component of the College is currently housed within the Department of Geological Sciences where students can major in Earth Science Education or Geology. Geology majors can undertake concentrations in Paleobiology or Coastal and Marine Geoscience. Students may also major in Environmental Science, a collaboration between the departments of Geological Sciences, Geography and Biological Sciences. Environmental Science majors can select several concentrations including the Geological Environment or the Marine Environment. There are also marine studies courses that are open to undergraduate students. These range from introductory classes for non-science majors to advanced programs for science and engineering majors.

Divisions and institutes

Disaster Research Center

The Disaster Research Center, or DRC, was the first social science research center in the world devoted to the study of disasters. It was established at Ohio State University in 1963 and moved to the University of Delaware in 1985. The Center conducts field and survey research on group, organizational and community preparation for,response to, and recovery from natural and technological disasters and other community-wide crises. DRC researchers have carried out systematic studies on a broad range of disaster types, including hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous chemical incidents, and plane crashes. DRC has also done research on civil disturbances and riots, including the 1992 Los Angeles unrest. Staff have conducted nearly 600 field studies since the Center’s inception,traveling to communities throughout the United States and to a number of foreign countries, including Mexico,Canada, Japan, Italy, and Turkey. Faculty members from the University's Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice direct DRC's projects. Professor Sue McNeil is Director. Core Faculty Benigno E. Aguirre, Joanne Nigg and Tricia Wachtendorf. Russell R. Dynes and E. L. Quarantelli, the founding directors of DRC, are Emeritus Professors. The staff also includes postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, undergraduates and research support personnel.

Delaware Biotechnology Institute

The Delaware Biotechnology Institute, or DBI, was organized as an academic unit of the University of Delaware in 1999 and moved into dedicated research facilities in 2001. DBI supports a statewide partnership of higher education, industry, medical, and government communities committed to the discovery and application of interdiscplinary knowledge in biotechnology and the life sciences. With some 180 people resident in the DBI facilities, including 20-25 faculty members representing 12 departments, 140 graduate and post-graduate students, and 20 professional staff members, DBI emphasizes a multi-disciplinary approach to life-science research. The core research areas pursued by DBI-affiliated faculty include agriculture, human health, marine environmental genomics, biomaterials, and computational biology/bioinformatics. Research in these and other areas is done in collaboration with faculty at Delaware State University, Delaware Technical and Community College, Wesley College, Christinia Care Health Systems, and Nemours Hospital for Children. One of the primary objectives of the Institute is to provide state-of-the-art research equipment to facilitate life science research and six core instrumentation centers and specialized facilities, each under the direction of an experienced researcher or administrator, is supported at DBI and made available to University researchers.

Delaware Environmental Institute

The Delaware Environmental Institute (DENIN) launched October 23, 2009. DENIN is charged with conducting research and promoting and coordinating knowledge partnerships that integrate environmental science, engineering and policy.

University of Delaware Energy Institute

The University of Delaware Energy Institute (DEI) was inaugurated September 19, 2008. DEI has been selected to receive a $3 million a year grant for advanced solar research.

Residence Life controversy

In October 2007, the Office of Residence Life's diversity program was criticized by several students, and faculty as well as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) for infringing on students rights. FIRE argued that residence hall programs, one on ones and floor meetings administered through resident assistants forced students into accepting "university-approved ideologies." FIRE specifically criticized programs dealing with issues of sexual identity, race, and sustainability. The controversy originated from training programs given to resident assistants that suggested all white people were inherently racist, and because minorities were not in the majority, they could not be racist. The program was suspended on November 1, 2007, with university president Patrick T. Harker quoted as saying, "There are questions about its practices that must be addressed and there are reasons for concern that the actual purpose is not being fulfilled." In May 2008, against some student protest, the University reinstated an amended version of the previous program. The National Association of Scholars(NAS), an education reform group, and an early critic of the Residence Life program, called the amended version a repackaging of the original program. Said the NAS: "The submission is essentially a repeat of its predecessor program. Some of the text has been re-worded but its meaning remains unchanged." The program was also criticized by Wall Street Journal commentator Naomi Schaeffer Riley. Riley, among other things, criticized loose definitions of environmental sustainability that include "Fair Trade", "Affirmative Action", "Multicultural Competence" and "Domestic Partnerships".

Architecture


South Green at the University of Delaware

In 1891, prominent Philadelphia architect Frank Furness designed Recitation Hall.

The recent history of the university has been marked by massive construction projects. North or Laird Campus, formerly home to the Pencader Complex, has been entirely redesigned and renamed Independence Complex. This began with the construction of a Marriott Courtyard run by the HRIM (Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Management) department. Three new residence hall buildings have also been built and named after the three University Alumni who signed the Declaration of Independence, George Read, Thomas McKean and James Smith (who signed for Pennsylvania). The third Delaware signer, Caesar Rodney, already had a dorm complex named after him on West Campus. A fourth residence hall opened for the Fall of 2008, named Independence Hall; the building is split into East and West wings.

New academic buildings have also been constructed recently. In 2006, the Center For The Arts had its grand opening, with new facilities for the school's music and theater programs. Also in 2006, Jastak-Burgess Hall opened, now home to the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature. In 1998, Gore Hall opened on the Green and connects to Smith Hall via an overpass on South College Avenue. Other recent construction projects include Alfred Lerner Hall (for business) and massive renovations to DuPont Hall, Wolf Hall, and Memorial Hall.

Administration

The University is currently headed by its 26th President Patrick T. Harker, who was formerly dean of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Previous President David P. Roselle retired at the end of the 2006–2007 academic year.[19] President Roselle had held that post for sixteen years. Prior to Roselle, the President was E.A. Trabant.

Roselle's 2006 salary of $979,571 was the highest of any public university president in the United States (Purdue University President Martin C. Jischke's 2006 salary was second, at $880,950).


The University of Delaware Green

Study abroad

The University of Delaware was the first American university to begin a study abroad program, which was later adopted by many other institutions. The program began when Professor Raymond Watson Kirkbride took a group of 9 students to Paris, France during the fall semester of 1923. Since this initial trip, the University of Delaware has expanded its study abroad program, which now encompasses over 75 different programs in more than 40 subjects to over 35 countries on all seven continents making it one of the largest programs in the country. As of 2006-2007, approximately 45% of all Delaware undergraduate students take advantage of study abroad experiences prior to completing their baccalaureate degrees.

Delaware's study abroad program offers many options for students. Undergraduates have the option of studying abroad for a five-week winter session, or an entire semester.

Athletics


DuPont Hall on the Central Green

The athletic teams at Delaware are known as the Fightin' Blue Hens with a mascot named YoUDee. YoUDee is a Blue Hen Chicken, after the team names and the state bird of Delaware. YoUDee was the 2002 UCA National Mascot Champion and was elected into the mascot hall of fame in 2006.

UD offers 23 varsity sports, which compete in the NCAA Division-I (FCS for football). Delaware is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in all sports. Delaware was a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference in football until the 2006 season. Football is the most popular and most successful sport at Delaware. The Fighting Blue Hens football teams have won Six National Titles, including the 2003 NCAA I-AA Championship. In 2007, the Delaware Blue Hens were the runners up in the NCAA I-AA National Championship game, but were defeated by (defending champions) Appalachian State.

Former head football coaches Bill Murray, Dave Nelson and Harold "Tubby" Raymond are College Football Hall of Fame inductees. Delaware is one of only two schools to have three straight head coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (Georgia Tech is the other). Delaware's only other NCAA National Championship came in 1983 for Women's Division I Lacrosse.

The Blue Hens have won three CAA Championship, since joining in 2001 (although unofficially the women's rowing team has won the CAA title four times since 2001, placing second the other two times). One each for the women's 2004 field hockey team, the 2007 men's lacrosse team and the 2007 women's volleyball team. The 2007 men's lacrosse program reached the final four of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in its history.

Intrastate competition

In November, 2007, it was announced that the University of Delaware and Delaware State University would have their first game against each other, the game being in the first round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

The Fight Song first appeared in the Student Handbook in 1933. It was composed by alumnus George F. Kelly (Class of 1915).

And then we'll fight! fight! fight! for Delaware,
Fight for the Blue and Gold,
And when we hit that line,
Our team is there
with a daring spirit bold
And when we strike with might
Let foes beware
Our glorious name we'll uphold
And then we'll fight! fight! fight! for Delaware,
Fight for the Blue and Gold,
Delaware will shine to-night,
Delaware will shine.
When the sun goes down and
the moon comes up,
Delaware will shine.
And then we'll fight! fight! fight! for Delaware...
[repeat]

Figure Skating


Gore Hall

Music

The University of Delaware has a variety of musical performance opportunities available to students, including a wind ensemble, orchestra, symphonic band. There are also a number of jazz groups available, including two large ensembles, and a smaller group that focus on improvisation. All ensembles are open by audition to all students at the university, and can be taken either for credit or for no credit. The school also has a steel drum ensemble, and an early music ensemble. There are also a variety of choral ensembles, including the University of Delaware Chorale, an all-women's choir, and three choirs, also open to community members, that constitute the Schola Cantorum. The music department's home is the Amy E. Dupont Music Building, named for Amy Elizabeth du Pont, a prominent benefactor of the University during the early 20th century.

In addition, the University of Delaware is known for having one of the best marching bands on the east coast, the University of Delaware Fightin' Blue Hen Marching Band. The band ranges from 300 to 350 members every year and can be seen performing at every home football game as well as at various festivals and competitions, including the Collegiate Marching Band Festival in Allentown, PA. Additionally, the marching band was selected to perform in the 56th Presidential Inaugural Parade in 2009.[26]

In 2006, the new Center for the Arts building opened. This building has a number of recital halls and a large number of practice rooms, most with upright pianos. The practice rooms are locked and cannot be used by students who are not music majors or in an official UD ensemble. The university employs a tiered access system, with larger rooms and rooms with grand pianos being reserved for certain groups of students. In addition the music department also uses their old building, with offices, classrooms, practice rooms, and recital halls. This building has public-access practice rooms with pianos.

In 2004, the University of Delaware Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Paul D. Head and accompanied by Betsy Kent, were invited to perform at the American Choral Directors Association's International Convention in Los Angeles. In April 2007, the Chorale won the Grand Prix at the Tallinn International Choral Festival, having scored higher than 40 other choirs from around the world. In 2000, the music department purchased an 18th century Ceruti violin for professor and virtuoso violinist Xiang Gao. This investment of nearly $300,000 USD has more than tripled in value. Recently Prof. Gao has been granted use of a Stradivarius Violin.

The University also has a student run radio station, 91.3 WVUD.

Technological innovations

In 2000, the University of Delaware was ranked the 2nd most "wired" university in the country by Yahoo! Internet Magazine.[citation needed] The university earned this title with the help of over 700 miles of fiber optic cable which runs throughout the campus.[citation needed]

The university has also been listed on the list of the top 10 most "wireless" universities in the country.[citation needed] Wireless connections are available in all major areas of the university including the library, dining halls, student centers, residence hall lounges, and most classroom buildings.

Deployed in 2009, The University of Delaware now offers secure (encrypted) wireless access to students.

Student media


Trabant University Center

There are currently three student newspapers at Delaware: The Review, the Lamplighter, and the Mainstreet Journal.

The Review is a weekly publication, released in print on Tuesdays and an online-only edition on Fridays. It is the school's official paper and is written with support from the University. It is distributed at several locations across campus, including Morris Library, the Perkins Student Center and the Trabant University Center, as well as various academic buildings and the dining halls. It is also distributed in the surrounding community, including newsstands and shopping centers near campus. The Review's office is located at 250 Perkins Student Center, facing Academy Street, and is above the offices of WVUD. In 2004, it was a National Newspaper Pacemaker Award Finalist, and was also named one of the ten best non-daily college newspapers by the Associated Collegiate Press.[27] They currently have a print circulation of 11,000.

The Lamplighter is a semesterly publication. It is an independent student paper written without support from or restriction by the University's administration. The Mainstreet Journal focuses on creative writing.

The student-run, non-commercial, educational radio station at Delaware broadcasts on 91.3 and uses the call letters WVUD, which the University purchased from the University of Dayton in the 1980s. Although not its intended call letter pronunciation, 'VUD has taken on the slogan "the Voice of the University of Delaware." They are licensed by the city of Newark, Delaware and broadcasts with a power of 1,000 watts 24 hours a day with its offices and studios located in the Perkins Student Center.

The transmitting facilities are located atop the Christiana East residence hall. WVUD is operated by University of Delaware students, a University staff of two, and community members. No prior radio experience is necessary, nor is there a need to enroll in any certain major to become a part of WVUD. The radio station has a variety of programming, featuring both music and talk formats.

In 2002, DEconstruction Magazine was formed "to create a forum for student writing that fell outside of journalism or creative writing. Traditionally, DEconstruction focused on an editorial style of writing to discuss everything from politics to pop culture."

Another student magazine, aUDio, was announced in Fall 2007. They aim to be "the University of Delaware's first online music magazine." To celebrate their launch, there was a concert on November 29, 2007, in the Trabant University Center.[citation needed]

STN is the student-run, non-commercial, educational television station at the University of Delaware. The station broadcasts second-run movies, original student produced content as well as live sports coverage. The initials, STN, originally stood for Shane Thomas Network, later changed to Student Television Network.

UDress Magazine is the on-campus fashion magazine which publishes one issue per semester, in conjuncture with fashion events.

Greek life

Approximately 15% of Delaware's undergraduate population is affiliated with a fraternity or sorority. There are over 19 fraternities and 15 sororities (chapters & colonies) in the Interfraternity Council (IFC), National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). They all coordinate via the Greek Council. All Greek organizations participate in an accreditation process called the Chapter Assessment Program (CAP). CAP ratings award chapters with either a Gold, Silver, Bronze, Satisfactory or Needs Improvement designation. This system is an expansion from the Five Star program of the late 1990s, requiring contributions to community service, philanthropy, university events, diversity education, professional education, a chapter/colony GPA greater than or equal to the all men's or all women's average, and attendance and compliance with numerous other criteria.

Active Fraternities include Alpha Epsilon Pi, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Gamma Rho, Lambda Chi Alpha, Sigma Pi, Alpha Phi Alpha, Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma Phi Delta, Delta Sigma Phi, Phi Gamma Delta, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Iota Phi Theta, Phi Sigma Kappa, Sigma Chi, Kappa Alpha Order, Phi Sigma Pi, Theta Chi, Kappa Alpha Psi, Pi Kappa Phi, Zeta Beta Tau, and Kappa Delta Rho.

Active Sororities include Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Xi Delta, Sigma Alpha , Alpha Epsilon Phi, Chi Omega, Sigma Kappa, Alpha Phi, Delta Gamma, Phi Beta Chi, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, Alpha Sigma Alpha, and Kappa Alpha Theta.

Alcohol abuse

A campus website claims that a 1993 study by the Harvard School of Public Health found that high-risk drinking at UD exceeded the national norm. On this survey, a majority of students reported binge drinking more than once in a two-week interval. The average consumption for students was nine drinks per week, while 29% reported that they drink on 10 or more occasions per month. Ironically, UD students were found to be more aware of policies, prevention programs, and enforcement risks than the national average.

In 2005, on the Newark campus of the university 1140 students were picked up by the campus police for alcohol-related violations. Of these, 120 led to arrests. These figures are up from previous years, 1062 in 2004 and 1026 in 2003. This represents approximately 6% of the student population. Caution must be used in interpreting these figures; a higher number of reported violations may represent more enforcement, not necessarily more actual violations.

UD has expended considerable effort and financial resources to reduce the drinking problem on campus; in 1991 UD founded the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies. One of the center's major initiatives is a collaborative plan to reduce irresponsible drinking at UD, called "A Matter of Degree"

Beginning in the fall of 2006, incoming freshman had to complete an online course, AlcoholEdu.

At least one student organization has undertaken the goal of "providing fun activities for those who chose not to drink" and to "promote the idea that one doesn't need alcohol to have a good time."

In November 2008, an 18 year old Freshman, Brett Griffin, died of alcohol poisoning at an off campus fraternity party. Griffin was pledging the Alpha Sigma Mu fraternity, and was encouraged to drink an entire bottle of "Southern Comfort" before being assigned a fraternity brother.Six UD students have been arrested and charged, and the Griffin family is currently suing the fraternity.

Nanjing University

Nanjing University
南京大學
Shield of Nanjing University
Motto 誠樸雄偉 勵學敦行
Motto in English Sincerity, Austerity, Majesty, Greatness, Endeavor to Learn, Urge to Act
Established originated in 258, and established as a modern school in 1902 and refounded in 1915 after three years close
Type National university
President Chen Jun (陈骏)
Faculty 3,000
Undergraduates 12,200
Postgraduates 9,900
Location Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
Campus Urban: Gulou Campus
Suburban: Xianlin Campus
Affiliations WUN
Website www.nju.edu.cn (Chinese)

Nanjing University (abbr NJU or NU, simplified Chinese: 南京大学; traditional Chinese: 南京大學; pinyin: Nánjīng Dàxué; colloquially 南大, Nándà) is a national comprehensive university located in Nanjing, an ancient capital of China. It is regarded as one of the best and most selective universities in China. Its history dates back to the first year of Yong'an reign (258 CE), making it one of the oldest higher learning institutions in the world. It became a modern Chinese university in the early 1920s.

History


North Great Building (北大楼)

Nanjing University was refounded in 1915 with the name Nanjing Higher Normal School (南京高等師範學校) on the site of former Nanking Imperial University. Imperial Nanking University, the predecessor of Nanjing University, was originally founded in the first year of Yong'an reign (CE 258) under the Kingdom of Wu by the emperor Sun Xiu, and the first president was Wei Zhao. The Imperial University in Nanking (南京太學, Nanking Taixue) was reestablished by Jin Dynasty's emperor Sima Rui in 317 and 155 new rooms were built in the campus. Like its original forerunner Shang Hsiang (上庠) founded by Yu (禹, 21st century BCE) in Zhongyuan, the earliest recorded imperial higher school, it was the Kingdom's central university, with the role of educating literate and virtuous citizens and educating leaders to govern and serve the kingdom. In 470 during the Song Dynasty, the Imperial Nanking University became a comprehensive institution combining higher education and research and consisted of five divisions: Literature, History, Confucianism, Xuan Study and Yin Yang Study,]and it was the first research educational institution in history.[4] In the period the faculty members included such scholars and scientists as Zu Chongzhi, Ge Hong, Wang Xizhi.


南雍祭酒 湛若水 (Zhan Ruoshui, former president)

In the 15th century during the Ming Dynasty, the Imperial Central University in Nanking was the world's largest higher education institution, with about 10 thousand students, many of whom came from a number of other countries. Wu Cheng'en and Zheng Chenggong studied there around the time. Each time when Nanking became a non-capital city, the Nanking Imperial University was changed to be Nanking Academy. The Nanking Imperial Central University (南京國子監, Nanking Guozijian) was changed to Nanking Academy (江寧府學, Jiangning Fuxue) in 1650 after Qing Dynasty replaced Ming Dynasty.[5] The Sanjiang Normal College under new educational system was established to replace the traditional Chinese school Nanking Academy in 1902. The name was changed to Liangjiang Normal College in 1906, and the new president Li Ruiqing established the first faculty of modern art in China. In 1915 after the Republic of China replaced Qing Dynasty, the Nanking Higher Normal School was founded to replace Liangjiang Higher Normal School, Jiang Qian was appointed as the first president, and the school established the first Faculty of modern Gymnastics (Physical Education) in 1916.

The "Chinese Science Society" (中國科學社) was one of the earliest comprehensive science societies in China was established in the university in 1918. It's membership mostly consisted of members of the "Academia Sinica" (中央研究院). Numerous Chinese modern science pioneers converged there to found many sciences in China. It became the Chinese cradle of modern science. Hereafter, many graduates achieved pioneering works in many fields for Chinese scientific enterprise. For instance, among 81 academicians of "Academia Sinica" elected for the first time in 1948, 5 entered or graduated from the university in the year 1920. More than half of the leading Chinese scientists whose works were published on internationally renowned scientific journals in the early period of Chinese modern science were graduates or academics of Nanjing University.

Guo Bingwen was an extremely influential university president, appointed in 1919 after Jiang Qian. He insisted on the university’s independence and academic freedom. Liu Boming advocated liberty education, scholar spirit and pure learning ethos. Tao Xingzhi changed former Instruction Approach to the Approach of Unity of Teaching and Learning, and adopted the Discipline-elective and Cause-credit-elective system. Tao Xingzhi, is famous for proposing The Audit Law for Women Students (《規定女子旁聽法案》) on December 7, 1919. He also proposed that the university to recruit female students. He was supported by Guo Bingwen, Liu Boming and famous professors such as Lu Zhiwei and Yang Xingfo. Finally, the meeting passed the law and decided to recruit women students next year. Nanjing Higher Normal Institute became the first in China to recruit coeducational students and enrolled eight women students in 1920. In 1921 the school became National Southeastern University (國立東南大學). The earliest modern scientific research laboratories and groups in China were established at the university. It integrated teaching and research, and was regarded as the earliest modern Chinese university. The Faculty of Business established in 1917 was moved to Shanghai to establish the first business school in China.

In October 1921, "Hsuehheng Society" (學衡社) was founded in the university which was the focus of the "Hsuehheng School" included the scholars Liu Yizheng, Liu Boming, Mei Guangdi, Wu Mi and Hu Xianxiao. They tried to reinvigorate traditional Chinese culture and start to publish the monthly "Critical Review" (Xueheng, 學衡 in Chinese) in January 1922. During this period, Nanjing University was known as the foremost "Oriental Education Centre" and recognized as an academic and cultural exchange centre for east and west. Many famous scholars visited and instructed there, including the American educationist Paul Monroe, W. H. Kilpatrick, E. L. Thorndike, philosopher John Dewey, writer Pearl Buck, British philosopher Bertrand Russell, German philosopher Hans Driesch and the Indian (also Bengali) poet Rabindranath Tagore.

Nju snow campus.jpg

The "Chinese Association of Natural Science" (中華自然科學社) was founded at the university in 1927. In August 1928 the school became National Central University (國立中央大學). During the Anti-Japanese War between 1937 and 1945, the university moved to Chongqing. The "Natural Science Forum" was founded by the university faculties in 1939 and then they founded the "China Association of Scientific Workers" (中國科學工作者協會) in 1944. In 1958 the associations were merged to be the "China Association for Science and Technology" (中國科學技術協會) in Beijing, which later became "Chinese Academy of Science". The "Natural Science Forum" was renamed "Sept. 3rd Forum" and later again renamed "Sept. 3rd Society" in 1945. The "Sept. 3rd Society", or called "Jiusan Society", is a China organization for intellectual groups.

In 1949, the central government of the Republic of China retreated from Nanjing to Taipei, and the National Central University was renamed National Nanjing University (國立南京大學) by the new government. In 1952, many departments and colleges of former Nanjing University moved out and formed many new independent colleges and universities, and at the same time University of Nanking (金陵大學), a private university established in 1888 and sponsored by American churches, was merged into Nanjing University (南京大學). National Central University was reinstated in Taiwan under the ROC in 1962.

In 1976, the faculties and students of the university launched the "Nanjing 3.29 Movement" to oppose the Cultural Revolution, spreading countrywide. In 1978, Hu Fuming, a faculty member of the Philosophy Department of Nanjing University, wrote and published the historic article entitled "Practice is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth". It led to the nationwide "Debate on Standards for Judging the Truth" and promoted the ending of Cultural Revolution and the coming of reform era.

Many faculties, departments, institutes and schools have been refounded and originally founded since 1978.

Faculties


Old Great Hall (大礼堂)

Nanjing University has been at the forefront of developments in teaching and research in China. It was the first institution in the country to adopt student-centered teaching methods. It was the first co-educational Chinese university. It was the first Chinese university to provide doctoral education. It has been a pioneer in many fields in China, such as literature, art, history, philosophy, religion, sociology, biology, astronomy, physics, geoscience, computer science and business studies.

Schools and Departments

  • School of Humanities
    • Chinese, History, Philosophy, Religion
  • School of Foreign Studies
    • English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, International Business
  • School of Science
    • Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy
  • School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering
    • Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer material
  • School of Geoscience
    • Earth Science, Atmosphere Science, Urban & Resources Science
  • School of Technology
    • Computer Science & Technology, Electronics Science & Engineering, Material Science & Technology
  • School of Business
    • Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Accounting, International Trading, Electronic Commerce,Marketing
  • School of Public Administration
    • Politics, Government Administration, Information Management
  • School of Social and Behavioral sciences
    • Sociology, Social work and Social policy, Psychology
  • School of Journalism & Communication
  • School of Law
  • School of Life Sciences
  • School of Medicine
    • Clinical Medicine; Dentistry; Basic Medical Science; Laboratory Medicine
  • School of Environment
  • School of Architecture
  • Software Institute
  • Department of Intensive Instruction
  • Education, Gymnastics, Art
  • Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Science
  • Other research and education institutes in areas such as African Studies, Judaic Studies, International Affairs, Anthropology, Agriculture, Space Science, Engineering Management, etc.

Campus


Renzi House (人字屋)

Nanjing University consists of three campuses: Gulou Campus, Pukou Campus and Xianlin Campus. The main campus, Gulou Campus, as the name indicates, is located in Gulou District, at the center of Nanjing City. The main campus itself is divided into two sections by Hankou Road: North Garden, Bei Yuan, is where most of teaching and research take place, and South Garden, Nan Yuan, serves as the living area for both students and academic staff.

Pukou Campus is located in the suburban Pukou District and became part of Nanjing University in 1993. Once Pukou Campus hosted undergraduate freshmen, sophomore and junior students and was connected with the main campus by both shuttle bus and public transportation. The Pukou campus is now abandoned and become the campus of the independent Jinling College, which was founded by Nanjing University.

The newly constructed Xianlin Campus will be put to use in September, 2009. It was believed that they would extend Line 2 of Nanjing Subway to include a stop near this campus, which would trustworthy make the campus more connected to the downtown.

Nalanda University

Nalanda
Nalanda
Location of Nalanda
in Bihar and India
Coordinates 25°05′N 85°16′E / 25.08°N 85.27°E / 25.08; 85.27
Country India
State Bihar
District(s) Nalanda
Nearest city Rajgir
Parliamentary constituency Nalanda
Assembly constituency Nalanda
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)


Nālandā (Hindi: नालंदा) is the name of an ancient university in Bihar, India. The site of Nalanda is located in the Indian state of Bihar, about 55 miles south east of Patna, and was a Buddhist center of learning from 427 to 1197 CE.[1][2] It has been called "one of the first great universities in recorded history."[2] Some parts of Nalanda university were constructed by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka the Great e.g. the Sariputta Stupa and by Tamil emperor Rajaraja Chola. The Gupta Dynasty also patronized some monasteries. According to historians, Nalanda flourished between 427 CE and 1197 CE, mainly on account of patronage of Buddhist Emperors like Harshavardhana, Pandyas of Pandyan Dynasty and Pala kings of Pala dynasty. The ruins of Nalanda University occupy an area of 14 hectares. This university was completely built with red bricks. At its peak, Nalanda University attracted scholars and students from many parts of the globe e.g. China, Greece etc.[citation needed]

Nalanda was identified by Alexander Cunningham with the village of Baragaon.

Nalanda means "insatiable in giving.",

The Chinese pilgrim-monk Xuanzang[5] gives several explanations of the name Nālandā. One is that it was named after the Nāga who lived in a tank in the middle of the mango grove. Another – the one he accepted – is that Shakyamuni Buddha once had his capital here and gave "alms without intermission", hence the name.

Sariputta died at the village called 'Nalaka,' which is also identified as Nalanda by many scholars.

History

[edit] Nalanda in the time of the Buddha (500 BCE)

The Buddha is mentioned as having several times stayed at Nalanda. When he visited Nalanda he would usually reside in Pāvārika's mango grove, and while there he had discussions with Upāli-Gahapati and Dīghatapassī, with Kevatta, and also several conversations with Asibandhakaputta.

The Buddha visited Nālandā during his last tour through Magadha, and it was there that Sariputta uttered his "lion's roar," affirming his faith in the Buddha, shortly before his death. The road from Rājagaha to Nālandā passed through Ambalatthikā, and from Nālandā it went on to Pātaligāma. Between Rājagaha and Nālandā was situated the Bahuputta cetiya.

According to the Kevatta Sutta,[13] in the Buddha's time Nālandā was already an influential and prosperous town, thickly populated, though it was not until later that it became the centre of learning for which it afterwards became famous. There is a record in the Samyutta Nikaya, of the town having been the victim of a severe famine during the Buddha's time. Sāriputta, the right hand disciple of the Buddha, was born and died in Nālandā.

Nālandā was the residence of Sonnadinnā. Mahavira is several times mentioned as staying at Nālandā, which was evidently a centre of activity of the Jains. Mahavira is believed to have attained Moksha at Pavapuri, which is located in Nalanda (also according to one sect of Jainism he was born in the nearby village called Kundalpur).[citation needed]

King Asoka (250 BC) is said to have built a stupa in the memory of Sariputta. According to Tibetan sources, Nagarjuna taught there.

Foundation of Nalanda University and the Gupta heyday

Historical studies indicate that the University of Nalanda was established 450 CE under the patronage of the Gupta emperors, notably Kumaragupta.

As historian Sukumar Dutt describes it, the history of Nalanda university "falls into two main divisions--first, one of growth, development and fruition from the sixth century to the ninth, when it was dominated by the liberal cultural traditions inherited from the Gutpa age; the second, one of gradual decline and final dissolution from the ninth century to the thirteen--a period when the tantric developments of Buddhism became most pronounced in eastern India."

Nalanda in the Pāla era

A number of monasteries grew up during the Pāla period in ancient Bengal and Magadha. According to Tibetan sources, five great Mahaviharas stood out: Vikramashila, the premier university of the era; Nalanda, past its prime but still illustrious, Somapura, Odantapurā, and Jaggadala.[18] The five monasteries formed a network; "all of them were under state supervision" and their existed "a system of co-ordination among them . . it seems from the evidence that the different seats of Buddhist learning that functioned in eastern India under the Pāla were regarded together as forming a network, an interlinked group of institutions," and it was common for great scholars to move easily from position to position among them.

During the Pālā period the Nālānda was less singularly outstanding, as other Pāla establishments "must have drawn away a number of learned monks from Nālānda when all of them . . came under the aegis of the Pālās."

Decline and end

In 1193, the Nalanda University was sacked by Bakhtiyar Khilji, a Turk;[20] this event is seen by scholars as a late milestone in the decline of Buddhism in India. Khilji is said to have asked if there was a copy of the Koran at Nalanda before he sacked it. The Persian historian Minhaj-i-Siraj, in his chronicle the Tabaquat-I-Nasiri, reported that thousands of monks were burned alive and thousands beheaded as Khilji tried his best to uproot Buddhism and plant Islam by the sword;[21] the burning of the library continued for several months and "smoke from the burning manuscripts hung for days like a dark pall over the low hills."

The last throne-holder of Nalanda, Shakyashribhadra, fled to Tibet in 1204 CE at the invitation of the Tibetan translator Tropu Lotsawa (Khro-phu Lo-tsa-ba Byams-pa dpal). In Tibet he started an ordination lineage of the Mulasarvastivadin lineage to complement the two existing ones.

When the Tibetan translator Chag Lotsawa (Chag Lo-tsa-ba, 1197–1264) visited the site in 1235, he found it damaged and looted, with a 90-year-old teacher, Rahula Shribhadra, instructing a class of about 70 students.[23][24] During Chag Lotsawa's time there an incursion by Turkish soldiers caused the remaining students to flee.

Ahir considers the destruction of the temples, monasteries, centers of learning at Nalanda and northern India to be responsible for the demise of ancient Indian scientific thought in mathematics, astronomy, alchemy, and anatomy.

Overview of Nalanda University

Nalanda was one of the world's first residential universities, i.e., it had dormitories for students. It is also one of the most famous universities. In its heyday it accommodated over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers. The university was considered an architectural masterpiece, and was marked by a lofty wall and one gate. Nalanda had eight separate compounds and ten temples, along with many other meditation halls and classrooms. On the grounds were lakes and parks. The library was located in a nine storied building where meticulous copies of texts were produced. The subjects taught at Nalanda University covered every field of learning, and it attracted pupils and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey.[2]

The Tang Dynasty Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang left detailed accounts of the university in the 7th century. Xuanzang described how the regularly laid-out towers, forest of pavilions, harmikas and temples seemed to "soar above the mists in the sky" so that from their cells the monks "might witness the birth of the winds and clouds."[26]. Xuanzang states: "An azure pool winds around the monasteries, adorned with the full-blown cups of the blue lotus; the dazzling red flowers of the lovely kanaka hang here and there, and outside groves of mango trees offer the inhabitants their dense and protective shade."[27] Xuanzang also writes: "The lives of all these virtuous men were naturally governed by habits of the most solemn and strictest kind. Thus in the seven hundred years of the monastery's existence no man has ever contravened the rules of the discipline. The king showers it with the signs of his respect and veneration and has assigned the revenue from a hundred cities to pay for the maintenance of the religious."[28]


The seal of Nalanda University set in terracotta on display in the ASI Museum in Nalanda

The entrance of many of the viharas in Nalanda University ruins can be seen with a bow marked floor; bow was the royal sign of Guptas'.

Libraries

The library of Nalanda, known as Dharma Gunj (Mountain of Truth) or Dharmagañja (Treasury of Truth), was the most renowned repository of Buddhist knowledge in the world at the time. Its collection was said to comprise hundreds of thousands of volumes, so extensive that it burned for months when set aflame by Muslim invaders. The library had three main buildings as high as nine stories tall, Ratnasagara (Sea of Jewels), Ratnodadhi (Ocean of Jewels), and Ratnarañjaka (Delighter of Jewels)

Curriculum

According to an unattributed article of the Dharma Fellowship (2005), the curriculum of Nalanda University at the time of Mañjuśrīmitra contained:

...virtually the entire range of world knowledge then available. Courses were drawn from every field of learning, Buddhist and Hindu, sacred and secular, foreign and native. Students studied science, astronomy, medicine, and logic as diligently as they applied themselves to metaphysics, philosophy, Samkhya, Yoga-shastra, the Veda, and the scriptures of Buddhism. They studied foreign philosophy likewise.

Berzin (2002) outlines the "four systems of Buddhist tenets" or "four doxographies" (Tibetan: grub-mtha’) taught at Nalanda, the Vaibhashika (Tibetan: bye-brag smra-ba) and Sautrantika (Tibetan: mdo-sde-pa) of the Sarvastivada (Tibetan: thams-cad yod-par smra-ba); and the Chittamatra (Sanskrit: sems-tsam-pa) and Madhyamaka (Tibetan: dbu-ma-pa) of the Mahayana:

In the Indian Mahayana Buddhist monasteries, such as Nalanda, monks studied four systems of Buddhist tenets. Two – Vaibhashika and Sautrantika – were subdivisions of the Sarvastivada school within Hinayana. The other two – Chittamatra and Madhyamaka – were subdivisions within Mahayana.

Influence on Buddhism

Nalanda layout 1b.JPG

A vast amount of what came to comprise Tibetan Buddhism, both its sutric Mahayana traditions and its Vajrayana traditions, stems from the late (9th–12th century) Nalanda teachers and traditions. The scholar Dharmakirti (ca. 7th century), one of the Buddhist founders of Indian philosophical logic, as well as and one of the primary theorists of Buddhist atomism, taught at Nalanda.

Other forms of Buddhism, like the Mahayana followed in Vietnam, China, Korea and Japan, found their genesis within the walls of the ancient university.

Theravada Buddhism was also taught at Nalanda University, but its teachings were not developed further there, as Nalanda was not a strong center of Theravada. According to Hwui-Li, a Chinese visitor, Nalanda was held in contempt by some Theravadins for its emphasis on Mahayana philosophy. They reportedly chided King Harshavardhana for patronizing Nalanda during one of his visits to Orissa, mocking the "sky-flower" philosophy taught there and suggesting that he might as well patronize a Kapalika temple.

Ruins

A number of ruined structures survive. Nearby is the Surya Mandir, a Hindu temple. The known and excavated ruins extend over an area of about 150,000 square metres, although if Xuanzang's account of Nalanda's extent is correlated with present excavations, almost 90% of it remains unexcavated. Nālandā is no longer inhabited. Today the nearest habitation is a village called Bargaon.


Wide view of the other (back) side of Sariputta's Stupa.

In 1951, a modern centre for Pali (Theravadin) Buddhist studies was founded nearby by Bhikshu Jagdish Kashyap, the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara. Presently, this institute is pursuing an ambitious program of satellite imaging of the entire region.

The Nalanda Museum contains a number of manuscripts, and shows many examples of the items that have been excavated. India's first Multimedia Museum was opened on 26 January 2008, which recreates the history of Nalanda using a 3D animation film narrated by Shekhar Suman. Besides this there are four more sections in the Multimedia Museum: Geographical Perspective, Historical Perspective, Hall of Nalanda and Revival of Nalanda.

Plans for revival

  • On December 9, 2006, the New York Times detailed a plan in the works to spend $1 billion to revive Nalanda University near the ancient site. A consortium led by Singapore and including China, India, Japan and other nations will attempt to raise $500 million to build a new university and another $500 million to develop necessary infrastructure.
  • On May 28, 2007, Merinews reported that the revived university's enrollment will be 1,137 in its first year, and 4,530 by the fifth. In the 'second phase', enrolment will reach 5,812.
  • On June 12, 2007, News Post India reported that the Japanese diplomat Noro Motoyasu said that "Japan will fund the setting up an international university in Nalanda in Bihar". The report goes on to say that "The proposed university will be fully residential, like the ancient seat of learning at Nalanda. In the first phase of the project, seven schools with 46 foreign faculty members and over 400 Indian academics would come up." ... "The university will impart courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism along with other subjects. A renowned international scholar will be its chancellor."
  • On August 15, 2007, The Times of India reported that Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has accepted the offer to join the revived Nalanda International University sometime in September 2007."
  • NDTV reported on May 5, 2008 that, according to Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, the foundation of University would likely be in the year 2009 and the first teaching class could begin in a few years from then. Sen, who heads the Nalanda Mentor Group, said the final report in this regard, is expected to be presented to the East Asia Summit in December 2008.
On May 11, 2008, The Times of India reported that host nation India and a consortium of East Asian countries met in New York to further discuss Nalanda plans. It was decided that Nalanda would largely be a post-graduate research university, with the following schools: School of Buddhist studies, philosophy, and comparative religion; School of historical studies; School of International Relations and Peace; School of Business Management and Development; School of Languages and Literature; and, School of Ecology and Environmental Studies. The objective of the school was claimed to be "aimed at advancing the concept of an Asian community...and rediscovering old relationships."