University of Groningen
| Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG) | |
 |
|
| Latin: Academia Groningana | |
| Motto | Verbum domini lucerna pedibus nostris |
|---|---|
|
Motto in English
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"The word of the Lord is a light for our feet" |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | 1614 |
| President | Prof. Sibrand Poppema |
| Rector | Prof. Elmer Sterken |
|
Academic staff
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5,608 employees |
| Students | 30,041 |
| Postgraduates | 1,758 |
| Location |
Groningen, Netherlands 53°13′9″N 6°33′46″E / 53.21917°N 6.56278°ECoordinates: 53°13′9″N 6°33′46″E / 53.21917°N 6.56278°E |
| Colors | Traffic red |
| Website | www |
| University rankings | |
|---|---|
| Global | |
| ARWU | 75 |
| Times | 74 |
| QS | 90 |
| Europe | |
| Times | 27 |
| QS | 35 |
The University of Groningen (abbreviated as UG;Dutch: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, abbreviated as RUG) is a public research university in the city of Groningen in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1614 and is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 200,000 students have graduated. It is a member of the distinguished international Coimbra Group of European universities.
In April 2013, according to the results of the International Student Barometer, the University of Groningen, for the third time in a row, has been voted the best university of the Netherlands. In 2014 the university celebrated its 400th anniversary.
The University of Groningen has ten faculties, nine graduate schools, 27 research centres and institutes, and more than 175 degree programmes.
The founding of the University in 1614 – at that time still a college of higher education – was an initiative taken by the Regional Assembly of the city of Groningen and the Ommelanden, or surrounding region. There were four faculties – Theology, Law, Medicine, and Philosophy.
The coat of arms of the university was confirmed by the States of the City and County of Groningen in 1615. It consists of the provincial arms, charged with an open book inscribed with the abbreviated words VER/BVM/DNI LV/CER/NA, short for Verbum Domini Lucerna Pedibus Nostris. The shield is surmounted by a golden crown of five leaves and four pearls.
The first 75 years of its existence were very fruitful for the University with about 100 students enrolling every year. Almost half of the students and lecturers came from outside the Netherlands – the first Rector Magnificus, Ubbo Emmius, came from East Frisia in modern-day Germany, for instance – but at the same time there was already a close relationship between the University and the city and the surrounding region.
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Wikipedia