Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore facts for kids
| Latin: Universitas Catholica Sacri Cordis Jesu | |
| Motto | Nel cuore della realtà (Italian) |
|---|---|
|
Motto in English
|
In the heart of reality |
| Type | Private |
| Established | 7 December 1921 |
|
Religious affiliation
|
Catholic Church |
|
Academic affiliations
|
IFCU |
| Rector | Franco Anelli |
|
Administrative staff
|
4,160 |
| Students | 39,593 (2018) |
| Location |
,
Italy
|
| Campus | Urban |
| Newspaper | Vita e pensiero |
| Colors | Blue and gold |
|
Sporting affiliations
|
CUS Milano |
 |
|
The Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (which means Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in English) is a private university in Italy. It was started in 1921. Its main campus is in Milan, Italy. It also has other campuses in cities like Brescia, Piacenza, Cremona, and Rome. People sometimes call it the Catholic University of Milan or just "the Cattolica."
This university has 12 main departments (called faculties) and 7 special schools for advanced studies. Students can study for different degrees here, like Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees, and even PhDs. You can take classes in both Italian and English.
The Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic is a big hospital that works with the university. It's where students who want to become doctors learn and practice. The hospital is named after Agostino Gemelli, who helped start the university.
Contents
History of the University
How it Started
The idea for a Catholic university began around 1870. Many Catholic thinkers wanted to create a special place for learning. In 1918, as World War I was ending, a man named Giuseppe Toniolo told Father Agostino Gemelli to make sure the university was built after the war.
Building the University
In 1919, Father Agostino Gemelli and his friends started a group called the Istituto Giuseppe Toniolo di Studi Superiori. In 1920, the Italian government officially recognized this group. At the same time, Pope Benedict XV also approved the university.
On December 7, 1921, the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore officially opened. Father Gemelli celebrated a special Mass. The first campus was in a building called Palazzo del Canonica. In 1930, the main campus moved to the old St. Ambrose Monastery, where it still is today.
When it first opened in 1921, only 68 students joined. They could study philosophy or social sciences. By 2016, the university had grown a lot, with over 30,000 students and 14 different study programs across its campuses.
In 1924, the Italian government allowed the university to give out official degrees. This led to new programs in Humanities and Law. Over the years, more departments were added, like Economics, Political Science, and Education.
In 1947, the School of Economics opened. In 1952, the School of Agricultural Sciences opened in Piacenza.
A big step was taken in 1958 when the plan for a Medical School in Rome was approved. It was a difficult project, but construction began in 1959. In 1961, Pope John XXIII opened the Medical School. The first doctors graduated from this school in 1967. Today, it offers programs in medicine and dentistry.
The university continued to grow, opening a campus in Brescia in 1956. Later, in the 1990s, more schools opened in Milan, including Banking, Foreign Languages, and Psychology.
In 2000, the university started 13 Cultural Centres across Italy. These centers used satellite technology to offer distance-learning courses. In 2001, a new School of Sociology opened in Milan.
More recently, in 2012, two new schools were created by combining existing ones: the School of Political and Social Science in Milan, and the School of Economics and Law in Piacenza-Cremona.
During World War II
During World War II, the university was a place where people secretly worked to help the Resistance movement. A professor named Ezio Franceschini even hid important documents and books in the university's basement to keep them safe from soldiers.
The university was partly damaged by bombing in August 1943. Many parts of the buildings were destroyed. But immediately after, people started working to rebuild it, aiming to make it "more beautiful and bigger than before."
Student Activities in 1968
In 1968, students at the university expressed their opinions about changes in tuition fees. These discussions spread to other universities in Italy. Students tried to make their voices heard.
University Leaders in Government
In 2011, the Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti chose three professors from the university to become ministers in the government. This showed how respected the university's experts were.
University Leadership
The main leader of the university is called the Magnifico Rettore. This person is chosen every four years. Their job is to represent the university and lead important meetings.
What You Can Study
The Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore offers many different courses through its 12 main departments (faculties).
Main Departments (Faculties)
- Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (in Piacenza-Cremona, started 1951)
- Arts and Philosophy (in Milan, Brescia, started 1924)
- Banking, Finance and Insurance Sciences (in Milan, started 1990)
- Economics (in Milan, Rome, started 1947)
- Economics and Law (in Piacenza-Cremona, started 2000)
- Educational Sciences (in Milan, Brescia, Piacenza, started 1936)
- Law (in Milan, started 1924)
- Linguistic Sciences and Foreign Literatures (in Milan, Brescia, started 1991)
- Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences (in Brescia, started 1968)
- Medicine and Surgery (in Rome, started 1958)
- Political and Social Sciences (in Milan, Brescia, started 1931)
- Psychology (in Milan, Brescia, started 1999)
Special Schools for Advanced Studies
These schools are for students who want to do very advanced research and learning.
- ALMED - Media Communications and Performing Arts (Milan, started 2002)
- ALTIS - Business & Society (Milan, started 2005)
- ASA - Environmental Studies (Brescia, started 2008)
- ASAG - Psychology Agostino Gemelli (Milan, started 2001)
- ASERI - Economics and International Relations (Milan, started 1995)
- ALTEMS - Health Economics and Management (Rome, started 2009)
- SMEA - Agricultural and Food Economics (Cremona, started 1984)
University Locations (Campuses)
Milan Campus
The main campus of Cattolica is in Milan. It's located in an old monastery that was built by monks a long, long time ago, near the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio. The campus has been expanded and changed over many years.
The buildings have special features like the Chapel of the Sacred Heart and the Great Hall (Aula Magna). Many of the university's buildings and student facilities are in the city center of Milan.
Other Campuses
The university also has campuses in other Italian cities:
- Piacenza and Cremona: The Piacenza campus started in 1953 for the Faculty of Agriculture. It also has a large sports center. The Cremona campus opened in 1984.
- Rome: The medical campus in Rome is very large, covering 37 hectares. It has two main departments, many research centers, and thousands of students. Construction for the Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic (the teaching hospital) began here in 1959.
- Brescia: The Brescia campus has four buildings in the city center. It includes classrooms and labs for science subjects. There are plans to expand this campus even more.
- Campobasso: In 1995, Pope John Paul II helped start a research and education center for biomedical sciences in Campobasso. It opened in 2002 and now has many students studying health professions.
Academics and Research
Research Activities
The university is very active in research. In 2009, they had almost 3,000 research projects happening! They also publish many papers and have special centers for research on important topics like bioethics, family, and international help.
How to Get In
Most of the programs at the university have a limited number of spots. This means that students usually need to take an admission test to get in. The test for the Medical School in Rome is especially competitive.
Libraries
The university has a big library system that works with other libraries around the world. They have many books and resources to help students with their studies and research.
Rankings and International Connections
The Cattolica is well-known internationally. A survey found that it's one of the most recommended universities in Europe by international students.
According to the QS World University Rankings, the Cattolica is ranked among the top universities globally. It's especially strong in subjects like law, economics, and agriculture. The university is also part of many international networks, which helps students study abroad and connect with other universities worldwide. They have programs for student exchanges and even offer double degrees with universities in other countries.
EDUCatt Foundation
EDUCatt is a special foundation that helps students at the university. It provides financial aid, housing, food services, health care, and even psychological support. It also helps create study books for students.
University Media
The university has its own publishing house called Vita e pensiero, which was founded in 1918.
They also have several magazines:
- Vita e pensiero: The official magazine of the university since 1914.
- Presenza: This magazine shares news and important topics about the university. It's given out for free to students, teachers, and graduates.
- Comunicare: A magazine for the Medical School in Rome and the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic.
Youcatt is the university's web TV channel. It started in 2009 and covers university events, student experiences abroad, and current topics. It even won an award for being the best Italian web TV in 2011. Students also have their own radio and TV stations called Radio Catt and TV Catt.
Student Life
Student Housing (Colleges)
The university has several residential colleges where students can live. Some are right on campus, and others are nearby in the city. These colleges help students get to know each other and feel part of the university community.
Code of Ethics
In 2011, the university introduced a "code of ethics." This document explains the values and rules of behavior that students are expected to follow. It's based on ideas like honesty, fairness, and respecting others. Every student signs this code when they join the university.
Student Groups
There are many student groups and associations across the university's campuses. These groups organize fun cultural activities and publish magazines. They also work on issues important to students and the wider community.
IT Services
The university provides many online tools for students. I-Catt is a student homepage with information about classes and exams. They also use Blackboard Inc. for online learning, where professors share study materials. There are computer labs and Wi-Fi available on all campuses.
Sports
The university has a sports center in Milan where students can play different sports. The university teams have won many championships. In 2009, the university even hosted an international sports event for universities called the 2009 World Interuniversity Games.
Traditions
At the Milan campus, there's a special garden called the Garden of St. Catherine of Alexandria. It's sometimes called "The Virgins' Garden" because it used to be open only to female students.
A fun tradition for new students at the university's colleges is called "nicchiato." Older students sometimes playfully throw buckets of water at freshmen. This has been a tradition for many years. Another tradition in the colleges is "processes" evenings, which help students relax and get to know each other better.
Alumni Association
The Alumni Cattolica Ludovico Necchi Association was started in 1930. It's a group for all the people who have graduated from the university. Every year, this association gives out the Agostino Gemelli award to the best student from each department.
Famous People from the University
Many important people have studied or taught at the Università Cattolica.
Some famous alumni (people who studied here) include:
- Italian political leaders like Oscar Luigi Scalfaro and Romano Prodi.
- Italy's first woman cabinet minister, Tina Anselmi.
- Michaëlle Jean, who was the Governor General of Canada.
- The founder of the ENI energy company, Enrico Mattei.
- Fashion designer Nicola Trussardi.
- Singer Roberto Vecchioni.
- Gymnast Igor Cassina.
Some famous faculty members (people who taught here) include:
- Banker Giovanni Bazoli.
- Archaeologist Valerio Massimo Manfredi.
- The founder of the Communion and Liberation movement, Luigi Giussani.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Católica del Sagrado Corazón para niños
- List of Italian universities
- Agostino Gemelli
- Cloisters of Sant'Ambrogio
Images for kids
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Atrium of the zodiac in 1932
