University of
Amsterdam
The University of Amsterdam is one of the
major
comprehensive universities in Europe
First founded as the Athenaeum Illustre in 1632, the University
of Amsterdam was built to educate students in Trade and Philosophy.
During the early days, when this establishment was not yet a proper
university, the lessons were generally given at the homes of the
professors, and until the nineteenth century, the Athenaeum
remained as a small institution, with no more than 250 students and
eight teachers.
Universiteit van Amsterdam -
UvA
In 1877, the Athenaeum Illustre saw its boom when it was changed
to Universiteit van Amsterdam, now known as UvA or University of
Amsterdam. It was also during that time that the University of
Amsterdam was permitted to bestow the highest educational
degrees.
Since the name change, years of rapid growth lay ahead. By 1900,
it was recorded that there were about 900 students studying at the
University of Amsterdam. This number had risen to 2,500 by 1935,
and to 7,500 by 1960. The following years, more fields of study and
research were introduced and the new university departments were
formed.
One of the major European
universities
The University of Amsterdam these days has already more than
22,000 students. (Amsterdam provides good apartments and studio accommodation outside the university.)
It is also worth noting that from Trade to Philosophy, the original
Athenaeum Illustre had expanded into a comprehensive university
offering almost 60 disciplinary fields. Of these fields, the field
of technology is an exception.
With its number of students, the University of Amsterdam
achieved the title of being one of the major comprehensive
universities in the whole continent of Europe. The title is also
attributed to the university’s budget of 487 million euros. The
University of Amsterdam currently has a strong internalization
programme and as an Amsterdam-based university, they offer a number
of Dutch and English language courses. In addition, the University
has seven faculties covering humanities, social and behavioral
sciences, economic and business, medicine and dentistry, science,
and law.
Comprehensive range of academic
studies
It is further interesting to know that the University of
Amsterdam offers a comprehensive range of academic study
programmes. They also publish scholarly articles of around 7,500
every year. As it is highly claimed, the fundamental academic
research of the university is top of the international league in a
number of respects. And, in terms of their applied research
programmes, it has been noted that these programmes are often of
interdisciplinary nature and they generally often focus on the
social issues.
What’s more interesting to know is the fact that the University
now has a number of great libraries and museums. In particular,
there is the University Musuem, Art and the UvA, Allard Pierson
Museum, Museum Vrolik, Schriftmusuem J.A. Dortmond, UvA Computer
Museum, Zoological Museum Amsterdam, and Libraries. All of these
carry a great collection of necessary materials like documentation,
records, art crafts, and a lot more.
International academic
environment
Finally, as a well-known and reputable institution, the
University of Amsterdam now strives so hard to offer an inspiring
and broadly oriented international academic environment where both
members of the staff and students can enhance their capabilities to
achieve an optimum result. It is interesting to know that the
University of Amsterdam is now characterized by a critical,
creative and international atmosphere, open minded and strongly
engaged with society. And, since it was founded in both the
historic and modern buildings spread throughout the city, the
University greatly forms an integral part of the Amsterdam.
|