University of Geneva

University of Geneva
Université de Genève
Latin: Schola Genevensis
Established 1559
Type Public university
Rector Prof. Jean-Dominique Vassalli
Students 13,364
Location Geneva, Switzerland
46°11′56″N 6°08′40″E / 46.19889°N 6.14449°E / 46.19889; 6.14449Coordinates: 46°11′56″N 6°08′40″E / 46.19889°N 6.14449°E / 46.19889; 6.14449
Affiliations Coimbra Group
LERU
EUA
Website www.unige.ch

The University of Geneva (French: Université de Genève) is a university in Geneva, Switzerland.

Founded by John Calvin in 1559 as a theological seminary that also taught law, it remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873 it dropped its religious affiliations and became officially secular. Today, the university is the second-largest university in Switzerland. It has programs in many fields but is especially noted for its programs in international relations (with Geneva being a center for many international organizations), law, scientific research (with a record of notable discoveries in planetary science and genetics) and theology.

Classes are taught mainly in French. The university pursues three missions: teaching, research, and service to the community. It was ranked number one generalist university in continental Europe, thirty-second world wide among the "Top 100 Global Universities" by Newsweek in 2006 and 81-83rd worldwide by the Global University Ranking in 2009.[1] The university is a member of the League of European Research Universities.

In 2009, the University of Geneva has celebrated the 450th anniversary of its birth, through a wide range of public events.

Degree system

Before 2005, the University applied the French education model of granting academic degrees, with some minor differences: demi-licence (two years), licence (four years), diplôme d'études approfondies and diplôme d'études superieures spécialisées (DEA/DESS) (1–2 years), and doctorate (3–5 years). The University now follows the requirements of the Bologna process: bachelor's (three years), master's (1–2 years), Master of Advanced Studies (1–2 years), doctorate (3–5 years).

Organization

University of Geneva

The university is composed of eight faculties:

  • Faculty of Sciences (natural sciences)
  • Faculty of Medicine (medical school)
  • Faculty of Arts (arts)
  • Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences with studies including business school (Haute École Commerciale - HEC), economics, sociology and international relations)
  • Faculty of Law (Geneva Law School) (law school)
  • Faculty of Protestant Theology (Protestant theological school)
  • Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (psychology and education)
  • School of Translation and Interpretation (translating and interpreting)

The university has also developed a continuing education programme. The university has a partnership with the nearby Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and the Bossey Ecumenical Institute, and students at the university may take courses at these institutes.

Inter-faculty centers:

  • Institute for Reformation History (the Reformation)
  • Computer Science Department (computer science)
  • University Centre for Study of Energy Problems (energy policy)
  • The European Institute of the University of Geneva (European studies, European integration)
  • Interfaculty Center of Gerontology (gerontology)
  • Swiss Center for Affective Sciences (affective science)
  • Center for Environmental Studies
  • Geneva Finance Research Institute

Trivia

On the 2009 THE–QS World University Rankings (known from 2010 onwards as the QS World University Rankings), the University of Geneva was ranked inside the top 200 for the fifth consecutive year. An overview of the last years:

Year Rank (Change)
2005 88
2006 39 ( 49)
2007 105 ( 66)
2008 68 ( 37)
2009 72 ( 4)

Notable scholars

  • Werner Arber (1929- )
  • Jonathan Barnes (1942- )
  • Roland Barthes (1915–1980)
  • Samuel Baud-Bovy (1906–1986)
  • Yves Bonnefoy (1923- )
  • Raymond Boudon (1934- )
  • Jacques Bouveresse (1940- )
  • Bernard Bouvier (1861–1941)
  • Bertrand Bouvier (1929- )
  • François Bovon (1938 -)
  • Michel Butor (1926- )
  • Edouard Claparède (1873–1940)
  • Georges Cottier (1922- )
  • Victoria Curzon-Price (1942- )
  • Waldemar Deonna (1880–1959)
  • Alfred Dufour (1933- )
  • Pascal Engel (1954- )
  • Georges Favon (1843–1902)
  • Théodore Flournoy (1854–1920)
  • Bernard Gagnebin (1915–1998)
  • Orio Giarini (1936- )
  • Marcel Golay (1927- )
  • Jeanne Hersch (1910–2000)
  • Bärbel Inhelder (1913–1997)
  • Albert Jacquard (1925- )
  • Jean Kellerhals (1941- )
  • Hans Kelsen (1881–1973)
  • Ulrich K. Laemmli
  • Jan-Erik Lane (1946- )
  • Michel Léonard (1949- )
  • Alain de Libera (1948- )
  • Giorgio Malinverni (1941- )
  • Michel Mayor (1942- )
  • Franklin Mendels (1943–1988)
  • Hans Morgenthau (1904–1980)
  • Kevin Mulligan (1951- )
  • Robert Mundell (1932- )
  • Joseph Nye (1937- )
  • Douglass North (1920- )
  • Carlo Ossola (1946- )
  • Jean Piaget (1896–1980)
  • Jean Pictet (1914–2002)
  • Olivier Reverdin (1913–2000)
  • André Rey (1906–1965)
  • Gonzague de Reynold (1880–1970)
  • Georges de Rham (1903–1990)
  • Anik de Ribaupierre (1946- )
  • Denis de Rougemont (1906–1985)
  • Jean Rousset (1910–2002)
  • Ferdinand de Saussure (1857–1913)
  • Klaus Scherer (1943- )
  • Klaus Schwab (1938- )
  • Jean Starobinski (1920- )
  • George Steiner (1929- )
  • Pierre Weiss (1952- )
  • Chaim Weizmann (1874–1952)
  • Éric Werner (1940- )
  • Jean Ziegler (1934- )


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