Université Catholique de Lille | |
Motto |
In fide ad scientam In faith, to knowledge |
---|---|
Type | Private |
Established | 28 October 1875 (142 years ago) |
Chancellor | Lawrence Ulrich |
President-Rector | Pierre Giorgini (2012-2017) |
Academic staff
|
1000 permanent 2500 visiting |
Students | 25,500 (2010–2011) |
Location | Lille, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France |
Campus | Urban (10ha) |
Founder | Philibert Vrau |
Website | univ-catholille.fr |
Lille and Polytechnic University Federation (French: Université Catholique de Lille), which also goes by the name Lille Catholic University ("Catho"), is a federation of Catholic-inspired institutions established in 1973. Its history dates back to 1875 when the first of these institutions was created. The Federation comprises five faculties, 20 schools and institutes, research centers, and a hospital, with a cumulative student body of 24,540 in 2012.
The year of the Wallon Law of 12 July 1875 freeing up higher education, the Catholic University of Lille was founded by a committee of lay Ultramontanes including Philibert Vrau, "embarrassed" by the absence of such a structure in Lille while public schools were established in Lille since 1854. This was amidst a national debate on secularism before the church-state separation in France.
The Faculty of Medicine was created in 1876 and the College of Theology in 1877. The official inauguration took place on 15 January 1877, upon receipt of the papal bull which gave the Lille Catholic University canonical status.
A new law on 19 March 1880 provided funding for private institutions of higher education, but denied them the use of the term "university". The young "free university" became officially the Lille Catholic Institute. In 1973, Lille and Polytechnic University Federation was created, bringing together some forty private institutions of higher education. Although a section of the Education Code prohibits the use of the term university by private institutions, it is still called Lille Catholic University, in France and abroad.
The coat of arms was developed during the founding period, the 1870s. It highlights the institution's academic and ecclesial character, the tradition in which it is rooted, and the part played by the two northern provinces in its creation. It has four sections.
Catho includes:
Its campus, which covers 10 hectares in the city, includes 2000 student rooms on campus, chaplaincy, and a cultural center.
The Catho is chaired by Pierre Giorgini since July 2012. His administration is composed of several boards and commissions: the University Council, Supervisory Board, and the board including the bishops of Arras, Cambrai, and Lille. There are also five Advisory Committees, (e.g., the Cultural Commission).
The federation has 25,500 students in 2014 (including 6500 in faculties). Overall, this corresponds to 4500 graduates per year, including 635 engineers. The teaching staff consists of 1,000 permanent and 2,500 temporary lecturers.
Catho is a founding member of the COMUE (Commonwealth of Universities and Institutions of Lille Nord de France), University of Lille Nord de France.