University of Fribourg facts for kids
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Université de Fribourg
Universität Freiburg |
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| Latin: Universitas Friburgensis | |
| Motto | Scientia et Sapientia ("Knowledge and Wisdom") |
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| Type | Public |
| Established | 1582/1763, 1889 |
| Rector | Astrid Epiney |
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Administrative staff
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academic 1'150, admin 750 |
| Students | 10,000 |
| Location |
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46°48′23″N 7°09′06″E / 46.80625°N 7.15174°E |
| Campus | University town |
| Affiliations | BeNeFri; Compostela Group of Universities |
The University of Fribourg (French: Université de Fribourg; German: Universität Freiburg) is a public school located in Fribourg, Switzerland. It is a place where students go to learn and get advanced degrees.
This university is special because it is Switzerland's only school that teaches fully in two languages: French and German. These are two of Switzerland's national languages. About 10,000 students attend the university. There are also many professors and other staff who teach and do research.
Contents
Discovering the University's Past
The university's story began a long time ago, in 1580. A person named Peter Canisius started a school called Collège Saint-Michel in Fribourg. Later, in 1763, a law school was created. This law school eventually became part of the university.
The University of Fribourg was officially started in 1889. This happened because the government of the Swiss Canton of Fribourg passed a law.
In 1939, the university moved to a new campus called Misericorde. This campus was built on an old cemetery. During World War II, the university helped educate Polish prisoners of war by offering many courses.
Exploring the Campuses
The University of Fribourg does not have one big central campus. Instead, its buildings are spread out across the city. Here are some of the main places where students learn:
- Misericorde: This is where students study humanities (like history and languages) and where the main offices are.
- Perolles: This campus is for science students.
- Perolles 2: This newer campus is home to the economics and social sciences departments.
- Regina Mundi: This building is used for psychology studies.
- BCU centrale: This is the main library for the university and the canton.
- Pierre Aeby: This building houses the Department of Classical Philology, which studies ancient languages.
- Bonnesfontaines: This campus is for students studying pedagogy, which is about teaching.
- Stade St. Leonard: This is the university's sports stadium.
What Can You Study?
The University of Fribourg has five main areas of study, called faculties:
- Humanities: This is the biggest faculty, with about 4,600 students. They learn about philosophy, history, languages, literature, education, psychology, and social sciences.
- Law: About 1,900 students study here. They learn about national and international laws. You can even study these subjects in both French and German.
- Theology: This faculty focuses on Catholic theology. It is the largest and most international theology faculty in Switzerland.
- Management, Economics, and Social Sciences: Around 1,400 students are in this faculty. They can choose from programs in business, economics, computer science, or media and communication.
- Science and Medicine: This faculty started in 1896. It has seven departments, including biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics. It also offers studies in human medicine and dentistry. The Adolphe Merkle Institute (AMI) is part of this faculty. It does research on tiny materials called nanomaterials.
Fun University Traditions
- Dies Academicus: This special day happens every November. No regular classes are held. The day starts with a religious service. Then, everyone from the university walks together to the Great Hall. After speeches, special honorary degrees are given out. Student groups wear fancy clothes and even carry swords!
- Student Groups (Corporations): These groups are like clubs where students meet to socialize, sing, and have fun. They often follow old traditions from Central Europe. Some groups are based on language. Joining these groups can sometimes help students in their future careers.
- The Day of Welcomes (Jour D’Accueil): This is like a "Freshers’ Week" for new students. The university leaders and the mayor of Fribourg welcome new students. Afterward, everyone shares a meal together in the university cafeteria.
- Fribourg Sunday: Every year, the Catholic Church collects money during masses across Switzerland. This money helps foreign priests get scholarships to study at the Faculty of Theology.
The University's Look
The university's official seal shows a cross and a bishop's ring. These symbols represent the university's Catholic background. They are on a black and white shield, which are the colors of the Fribourg canton. The university's logo is a blue letter "F" that looks like triangles. These triangles remind people of the university's main building and the Alps mountains. The logo also has the university's name in Latin.
Famous People from Fribourg University
Many interesting people have studied or taught at the University of Fribourg. Here are just a few:
Writers and Thinkers
- Patrick Aebischer: He used to be the president of a famous technical university in Switzerland.
- Mary Daly: A well-known feminist theologian and writer.
- Lionel Groulx: A priest and historian from Quebec.
- Eleanor Purdie: The first woman to earn a doctorate (a very high degree) from the University of Fribourg.
- Winfried Sebald: A famous German writer.
- Peter Trudgill: A British expert in sociolinguistics, which studies how language is used in society.
- Jean Zermatten: A professor who chaired the U.N. Commission on the Rights of the Child.
Religious Leaders
- Basil Hume: A former Archbishop of Westminster in England.
- Franciszek Macharski: A former Archbishop of Kraków in Poland.
- Christoph Schönborn: The current Archbishop of Vienna, Austria.
- Angelo Scola: A former Patriarch of Venice, Italy.
Political Figures
- Juan Carlos I: The former King of Spain.
- Corina Casanova: She was the Federal Chancellor of Switzerland for many years.
- Joseph Deiss: A former President of the Swiss Confederation and President of the United Nations General Assembly.
- Ignacy Mościcki: He was the President of Poland from 1926 to 1939.
- Giuseppe Motta: A Swiss politician who was President of the Swiss Confederation multiple times and President of the League of Nations.
- Simonetta Sommaruga: A current member of the Swiss Federal Council and a former President of the Swiss Confederation.
- Chaim Weizmann: The very first President of Israel.
- Sérgio Vieira de Mello: A UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Business and Economics
- Klaus Martin Schwab: He founded and leads the World Economic Forum, a very important meeting for world leaders and business people.
Sports
- René Fasel: The president of the International Ice Hockey Federation.
- Gianni Infantino: The current president of FIFA, the world's football (soccer) governing body.
Judiciary
- Antonin Scalia: A former Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Images for kids
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Aula Magna (Great Hall)
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BCU, University of Fribourg
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Pavilion of Musicology
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