University of Zaragoza facts for kids
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Universidad de Zaragoza
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| Type | Public university |
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| Established | As the School of Zaragoza (7th century) University of Zaragoza in 1542 |
| Rector | José Antonio Mayoral Murillo |
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Academic staff
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3,911 (2013–2014) |
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Administrative staff
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1,806 (2013–2014) |
| Students | 36,492 including self-study and international participants (2013–2014) |
| Undergraduates | 30,415 (2013–2014) |
| Postgraduates | 3,528 (2013–2014) |
| Location |
Zaragoza, Aragon
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Spain
41°38′31″N 0°54′05″W / 41.64206390°N 0.90150650°W |
| Campus | Jaca, Huesca, La Almunia de Doña Godina, Zaragoza, Teruel |
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The University of Zaragoza, also called Saragossa University (Spanish: Universidad de Zaragoza), is a public university. This means it is funded by the government. It has campuses and research centers across the three areas of Aragon, Spain.
It was officially started in 1542. But its history goes back much further, even to Roman times. This makes it one of the oldest universities in Spain.
Many famous people have studied here. These include Prime Ministers like Manuel Azaña. Also, Santiago Ramón y Cajal, who won the Nobel Prize for Medicine and is known as the father of modern neuroscience. The Catholic saint Josemaría Escrivá and Cuban hero Jose Marti also attended this university.
In 2014, the university had over 30,000 students. It also had more than 3,000 teachers. They taught in 22 centers and offered 74 different degrees. The current head of the university is José Antonio Mayoral Murillo.
History of the University
How it Started
The University of Zaragoza began as church schools. These schools grew into the School of Zaragoza. Bishop Braulio led this school in the 600s. He later became the patron saint of the university.
The School of Arts officially became a university in 1542. Some experts believe it was already a university of arts by 1477.
The First University Building
The first main university building was in the Magdalena and St. Nicholas areas. It was a large round tower on the old city wall. This tower had over 20 rooms on three floors.
On the first floor, there was a large room called general mayor. This is where students received their degrees. There was also a library. The second floor had a prison, restrooms, and the doorkeeper's room. The top floor had bigger rooms with balconies. It also had a room for the four Masters of Arts.
The university also bought more rooms nearby. Some were called El Cocinador and El Corralet.
Who Ran the University?
The head of the university was the chancellor. This job was always held by the archbishop of Zaragoza. The second in charge was the vice-chancellor. He was also the main teacher, called the high master.
The high master collected fees from students. But poor students or church students did not have to pay. Under him were four Masters of Arts. These were chosen people who taught liberal arts.
Below them were the bachilleres. They mostly taught advanced Latin grammar. The camareros gave more basic Latin lessons. The lowest teachers were the cubicularios. They just repeated lessons from other teachers.
The university also had a rector. This person represented the archbishop's power. The rector approved all teaching jobs. He also managed student fees for repairs and other needs.
What Students Studied
The first University of Zaragoza had a Faculty of Aristotelian Logic. It also had a Faculty of Philosophy. This included natural philosophy and Aristotelian ethics. Together, these made up the Faculty of Arts.
There was also a Faculty of Grammar. This faculty had hundreds of students in the early 1500s. The Faculty of Arts had about 50 students. To get a degree, students needed support from an older student or teacher. They also had to pass private exams and pay fees. Lessons were held in the mornings and afternoons. Many students rented rooms to stay overnight.
Important Teachers
The first high master was Pedro La Cabra. After him came Luis Gorriz, who died in 1510. Then, the archbishop appointed his doctor, Juan Tarabal. He stayed until 1520.
That year, Gaspar Lax took over. He was a famous writer and a leading figure in logic, philosophy, and math. His books were used in many universities. Lax had taught in Paris and Huesca. From 1520, he was both high master and one of the four Masters of Arts.
Gaspar Lax was friends with Erasmus, a famous scholar. He allowed Erasmus's works to be taught at the university. In 1520, Michael Servetus, Gaspar Lax's brilliant nephew, began his studies there. Servetus became a Master of Arts in 1525. He left in 1527 after a disagreement with his uncle. Lax remained high master until he died in 1560.
Modern University Life
The University of Zaragoza is a key place for new technology in the Ebro Valley. It is well-known among universities in Spain, Europe, and worldwide.
The teachers at the university are experts in their fields. They have a lot of experience in research and teaching. They teach many interesting subjects. These include Spanish as a foreign language, Spanish literature, history, and nanotechnology. They also teach biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems. This mix of teaching and research works very well.
The university has about 40,000 students in total. It has about 3,000 teachers and 2,000 staff members. The university is spread across campuses in Zaragoza, Huesca, and Teruel.
University Campuses
The University of Zaragoza has campuses in the Community of Aragon in Spain. Aragon has three provinces: Zaragoza, Huesca, and Teruel. The first campus was in Zaragoza, the capital. New campuses were added in Huesca and Teruel in 1985.
Zaragoza Campus
The Zaragoza campus is split into five areas in the city. The Campus Plaza San Francisco is the biggest. It holds most of the university's colleges and departments.
The other four areas are smaller. They are called Campus Rio Ebro, Escuela Universitaria de Turismo, Plaza de Basilio, and Facultad de Veterinaria. Each of these has only one or two colleges.
The Paraninfo building, on the San Francisco campus, is very important. It opened in 1893. In 2006, it was restored. The King of Spain attended the reopening. The architects worked hard to keep its old look while adding new features.
At the front of the building are four large stone statues. They show famous scientists and doctors linked to the university. These include Andrés Piquer, Miguel Servet, Ignacio Jordán de Asso, and Fausto Elhuyar. Today, the Paraninfo is an auditorium. It also houses the main University of Zaragoza Library.
Huesca Campus
Huesca is about 75 kilometers (47 miles) northeast of Zaragoza. The Huesca campus has several colleges. These include the Polytechnic School and the Faculty of Health and Sport Science. It also has the Faculty of Humanities and Education, and the Faculty of Business and Public Management. The School of Nursing of San Jorge hospital is also in Huesca.
Teruel Campus
Teruel is about 170 kilometers (106 miles) south of Zaragoza. The Teruel campus has the technical college. This is where programs like computer engineering are taught. It also has the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences. The School of Nursing of the Obispo Polanco hospital is here too.
What You Can Study
At the University of Zaragoza, old subjects are taught in "faculties" (facultades). For example, the Facultad de Derecho is the Faculty of Law. Newer, more technical subjects are taught in "schools" (escuelas) or "polytechnics" (politécnicos). An example is the Centro Politécnico Superior, which is a Higher Polytechnic Centre.
Learning Spanish
The university offers courses to learn Spanish as a foreign language. These courses run all year. They can be from 90 to 570 hours long. You can find courses for all levels. Some special courses are also available.
During the school year, courses are in Zaragoza. Summer courses are offered in Jaca, in the Pyrenees mountains. The University of Zaragoza was the first Spanish university to offer Spanish courses for international students. This started in 1927.
Research and Discovery
The University of Zaragoza studies many different areas of knowledge. These include engineering and technology, science, health, social sciences, law, and humanities.
In 2010, the university had six research institutes. It also had other affiliated and joint research centers. At that time, the university spent €60 million each year on research. By 2011, it had about 3,803 researchers. It also worked with 8,305 companies.
Cancer Research
The University of Zaragoza is a world leader in immunotherapy cancer research. This is a way to treat cancer by helping the body's own immune system fight it. Teams led by Julián Pardo, Luis Martinez, and Alberto Anel do a lot of this research. Their work has greatly helped us understand how cancer cells affect the immune system. They also have many ideas for new cancer treatments.
MIT–Zaragoza Logistics Program
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Zaragoza created a special program in 2003. It's called the International Logistics Program. Logistics is about how things are moved, stored, and delivered. This program works with the PLAZA logistics park, which is the largest in Europe.
The program offers a master's degree. It is based on MIT's master's degree in supply chain management. The program is taught in English. It attracts students from all over the world. From 2011 to 2015, the Spanish newspaper El Mundo named it the #1 logistics and supply chain management degree in Spain. The program also offers a doctorate degree and short courses for professionals. Researchers use the logistics park to test new ways of moving goods.
University Rankings
The University of Zaragoza is highly ranked among universities.
- In 2024, QS World University Rankings placed it at #523 globally.
- In 2023, the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) placed it among the top 601-700 universities worldwide.
- El Mundo newspaper has ranked its master's programs very highly in Spain. For example, its Logistics and Supply Chain Management program was ranked #1 for several years. Its Education program was also ranked #1 in 2013-2014.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Zaragoza para niños
- List of medieval universities
- List of University of Zaragoza people
