University of Groningen

University of Groningen (UG)
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG)
Latin: Academia Groningana
Motto Verbum Domini lucerna pedibus nostris
Motto in English
 "The word of the Lord is a light for our feet"
Type Public research university
Established 1614 (1614)
President Prof. Jouke de Vries[1]
Rector Prof. Elmer Sterken[2]
Academic staff
 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°E / 53.21917; 6.56278Coordinates: 53°13′9″N 6°33′46″E / 53.21917°N 6.56278°E / 53.21917; 6.56278
Colours      Groningen red[3]
Website www.rug.nl

The University of Groningen (abbreviated as UG;[4] 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. Since its founding more than 200,000 students have graduated. It is a member of the distinguished 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, was voted the best university of the Netherlands.[5] In 2014 the university celebrated its 400th anniversary.[6] The university was ranked 59th in the world, according to ARWU in 2017.[7]

The University of Groningen has eleven faculties, nine graduate schools, 27 research centres and institutes, and more than 175 degree programmes. The university's alumni and faculty include four Nobel Prize winners, five Spinoza Prize winners, multiple mayors, Aletta Jacobs, Johann Bernoulli, royalty, and a secretary general of NATO.[8][9][10]

History

Ubbo Emmius was the first rector magnificus of the University of Groningen

The institution was founded as a college in 1614 in 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.[11][12][13]

The coat of arms of the university was confirmed by The Estates 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.

The development of the University came to a standstill at the end of the seventeenth and during the eighteenth century because of theological differences of opinion, a difficult relationship with the Regional Assembly and political problems that included the siege of the city by ‘Bommen Berend’ in 1672. On average two to three hundred students were registered with the University at any one time during this period. Petrus Camper, though, was a shining academic example during the second half of the eighteenth century and was famous far beyond the city limits as an anatomist, a fighter against rinderpest and the founder of the first outpatient’s clinic for surgical medicine.

The 19th-century main building in 1858

Opportunities and threats followed on each other’s heels during the nineteenth century. In 1815, at the same time as Leiden and Utrecht, the University gained recognition as a national college of higher education, but this was followed by discussions about closure. The situation improved markedly when a new main university building, the Academiegebouw, was constructed in 1850, a building that was largely financed by the people of Groningen. This made the fire that completely destroyed this building in 1906 even more poignant.

In the meantime, the Higher Education Act of 1876 had radically improved the position of the University, which was renamed the "Rijksuniversiteit Groningen" (RUG). Teaching took place in Dutch and Latin and the University was given a research as well as an educational duty.

The 20th-century main building in 2009

The University of Groningen developed apace during the first decades of the twentieth century. The number of faculties and courses grew steadily while the number of students showed an explosive growth. When the University celebrated its first 300 years in 1914 there were 611 registered students; this had already grown to 1000 by 1924. After a drop back during the Depression, and in particular during the Second World War, the number of students grew rapidly from 1945 to reach 20,000 in 1994. At the present time there are about 30,000 students registered at the University of Groningen with the number of foreign students again growing steadily, and following the tradition set by the first Rector Magnificus, the number of German students and researchers has grown strongly in recent years.

In 2016 the Dutch chemist Ben Feringa, who has spent most of his career at the University of Groningen, won the Nobel prize for his work on molecular motors.[14]

Facts and figures

University rankings
Global
ARWU World[15] 66
Times World[16] 79
USNWR World[17] 94
QS World[18] 113

Key facts and figures about the University of Groningen are:[19]

  • The university, as of September 2016, has 30,000 students enrolled in various programs from the undergraduate level up to doctorate students. This includes 6000 international students, and about 6500 PhD students. Individuals from more than 120 nationalities currently study or work at the University.
  • The university currently has 5,900 individuals in its academic staff. The UMCG included, a third of the academic staff is international.
  • 400 professors (of which 100 female professors), 69 associate professors, 92 professors by special appointment (including University Medical Center Groningen, UMCG)
  • 48 bachelor's degree programmes (29 bachelor's degree programmes are taught in English)
  • 167 master's degree programmes (126 master's degree programmes are taught in English)
  • 16 research master's programmes
  • 11 faculties, 9 graduate schools
  • 120,000 alumni
  • 800 million euro annual turnover
  • 6,000 research publications
  • 160 million euro research contract
  • 22 patent applications in 2016
Students numbers

The University of Groningen is in the top 3 of European research universities in the fields of: Ecology, Material Sciences, Chemistry and Astronomy. Other strong research groups are in: Nanoscience, Physics, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Medical Sciences, Neurosciences, Sociology, Philosophy, Theology, Archaeology and Arts.

The university operates under the BSA system, under which a first year undergraduate( bachelors) student must achieve a certain number of ECTS in order to progress to the second year. This varies from 30 ECTS to 45 ECTS among various degrees.[20]

The University of Groningen is a member of the so-called Excellence Group of the best universities in Europe. The Excellence Group has 56 members, which is 1.3 percent of the approximately 4,500 European institutions of higher education.[21]

  • The University of Groningen belongs to the top 100 large comprehensive research universities in the world.[22]
  • In 2015–2016, the University of Groningen ranked 74th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.[23]
  • The University of Groningen holds a shared position 59 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) in 2017-2018. ARWU is a global Top 500 published annually by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University.[24] In addition to this impressive overall score, the University falls within the global top 100 for several specific fields and subjects: Psychology (28), Clinical Medicine (51-75), Business Administration (32), Ecology (51-75) and Sociology (50). Automation and Control at the University of Groningen is number one in the Netherlands, 5th in Europe and 29th worldwide (2017).
  • The University was ranked 72th in the world in 2016 by the National Taiwan University that publishes the Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities.[25]
  • University of Groningen was internationally ranked 113 by QS World University Rankings,[26]
  • The University of Groningen holds the 14th position in the European ranking (87th worldwide) of Webometrics.[27]
  • The University of Groningen has its own newspaper: the Universiteitskrant.[28]

The university's Center for Information Technology (CIT) houses an IBM Blue Gene/L supercomputer and data center of Target used by the LOFAR project as well as a Virtual Reality and 3D-visualisation center.[29]

Faculties

Duisenberg building (Faculty of Economics and Business
Harmonie building of the Faculty of Arts
Faculty of Medical Sciences
Linnaeusborg (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Bernoulliborg (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Smitsborg (Donald Smits Centre of Information Technology, CIT)
Kapteynborg (Astronomy)
KVI-CART Research institute

The University of Groningen is organized in eleven faculties that offer programmes and courses in the fields of humanities, social sciences, law, economics and business, spatial sciences, life sciences, and natural sciences and technology. Each faculty (cf., College in the USA or School in Europe) is a formal grouping of academic degree programmes, schools and institutes, discipline areas, research centres, and/or any combination of these drawn together for educational purposes. Each faculty offers Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, and Exchange programmes, while some also offer short certificate courses.

Campus

The various faculties have been housed in old and new buildings around the city, particularly around the historic city center. Most of the faculties- including the Faculty of Law, Faculty of Arts, and the Faculty of Philosophy are located in and around the city center. The university's original building, which acts are the main administrative building, lies exactly in the center of the city at Broerstraat. The faculty of medical sciences is located close-by at the UMCG. The Faculties of Economics and Business, Spatial Sciences, and Science and Engineering is housed in the northern outskirts of the city, at Zernike Campus, named after Dutch Nobel Prize winner Fritz Zernike.

The university has libraries in three locations: the main one at the city center, one in the Duisenberg building in Zernike Campus, and one in the faculty of medicine, that includes a vast array of books and online material for students. The library at the city center also has a Starbucks in its premises. The university has also recently opened another campus in Leeuwarden, Friesland, referred to as " Campus Fryslan" that offers multiple disciplines, in both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.[30]

Student Life

The city of Groningen boasts a remarkable student life, and is known as the student city of the Netherlands; around one-third of the city's residence are students at either The University of Groningen or at Hanze. The city is tailored around students, and is known to be very welcoming. The university, through ACLO offers a wide range of sporting activities, and courses. Almost each sport has its own association, and offers the use of its facilities at discount rates for students.[31]

The university, also has multiple student societies, such as the Cleopatra Algemene Studentenvereniging that organize social events for its members, as well as student and study associations, that are mostly concerned with specific faculties and courses.

The use of cycles as the means for transport is particularly prevalent for locals and students alike, and has integrated, labelled bike paths from the city center to Zernike. The city is popularly referred to as " The World Cycling City" because of this.[32]

Student Housing

The University of Groningen, much like most universities in Europe, does not have student accommodation themselves. It does, however, offer students with accommodation via SSH Student Housing- which operates student houses in various locations in Groningen, and various other cities within the Netherlands. [33] A significant number of students live in private accommodations within the city, however. A recent addition to the housing options for students is The Student Hotel as well. The Dutch government does has very strict laws for private accommodations for both the tenants( students) and the landlords, so that fair rent prices, and renting conditions can be maintained.[34]

The university has recently come into spotlight due to the housing crisis in the city. Due to the fact that most incoming students at the university are primarily from other parts of the country, or the world, there has been a lack of housing options for students.[35]

Research

Research schools, centres and institutes

Humanities and Social Sciences

  • Center for Language and Cognition Groningen (CLCG)
  • Globalisation Studies Groningen (GSG)
  • Centre for Religious Studies (CRS)
  • Groningen Institute of Archeology (GIA)
  • Groningen Institute for Educational research (GION)
  • Groningen Research Institute of Philosophy (GRIPH)
  • Groningen Research Institute for the Study of Culture (ICOG)
  • Heymans Institute
  • Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS)
  • Urban and Regional Studies Institute (URSI)

Law

  • Centre for Law, Administration and Society (CRBS)
  • Groningen Centre of Energy Law (GCEL)

Economics & Business

  • Economics, Econometrics and Finance (EEF)
  • Global Economics and Management (GEM)
  • Human Resource Management & Organisational Behaviour (HRM-OB)
  • Innovation & Organization (IO)
  • Marketing
  • Operations Management & Operations Research (OPERA)

Life Sciences

  • Research School of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCN) / UMCG[36]
  • Research Institute BCN-BRAIN / UMCG[37]
  • Cancer Research Center Groningen (CRCG) / UMCG[38]
  • Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES)[39]
  • Groningen University Institute for Drug Exploration (GUIDE) / UMCG[40]
  • Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology (GBB)
  • Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP)
  • Research Institute SHARE / UMCG[41]
  • W.J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science / UMCG[42]

Science & Technology

Graduate schools

The University of Groningen’s Graduate Schools are organized somewhat different from its international counterparts.[45] The main difference is that the Graduate Schools do not contain all Master’s programmes; Graduate Schools manage and facilitate the two-year Master's programmes: top master's degree programmes and Research master's degree programmes.

  • Graduate School of Behavioural and Social Sciences
  • Graduate School of Economics and Business
  • Graduate School of Humanities
  • Graduate School of Law
  • Graduate School of Medical Sciences
  • Graduate School of Philosophy
  • Graduate School of Science
  • Graduate School of Spatial Sciences
  • Graduate School of Theology and Religious Studies

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of the University of Groningen include:[46]

Notable researchers

See also

References

  1. ↑ "" (Press release University of Groningen)
  2. ↑ Patriecia Koltho, "RUG wil meer diversiteit onder hoogleraren" (in Dutch), Dagblad van het Noorden, 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Principal colour". University of Groningen. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  4. ↑ "Rug wordt 'joedzjie'". Universiteitskrant. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  5. ↑ International Student Barometer: University of Groningen nr. 1 in the Netherlands! (Press release)
  6. ↑ University of Groningen turns 400! (website)
  7. ↑ "University of Groningen | Academic Ranking of World Universities - 2017 | Shanghai Ranking - 2017". www.shanghairanking.com. Retrieved 2018-06-03.
  8. ↑ "Prominent Professors | History | University Museum | Public outreach | Society/Business | University of Groningen". www.rug.nl. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
  9. ↑ "Awards and medals | Facts and figures | Our position | About us | University of Groningen". www.rug.nl. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
  10. ↑ "Spinoza Prize winners 1996-2015 | NWO Spinoza Prize | Top researchers | Leading research | Research | University of Groningen". www.rug.nl. Retrieved 2018-06-11.
  11. ↑ "Groningen, University of". 22 March 2011.
  12. ↑ "University of Groningen: Facts & Figures".
  13. ↑ "Article in U.S. News & World Report; accessed on 11 July 2017".
  14. ↑ "The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2016". www.nobelprize.org.
  15. ↑ Academic Ranking of World Universities 2018
  16. ↑ https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2019/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/-1/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats
  17. ↑ U.S. News Education: Best Global Universities 2018
  18. ↑ QS World University Rankings 2018
  19. ↑ "Key figures". Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  20. ↑ "Binding study advice (BSA) | Studying at the University | Find out more | Education | University of Groningen". www.rug.nl. Retrieved 2018-06-03.
  21. ↑ "CHE ranking (2010)". Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  22. ↑ "Internationale positie". Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  23. ↑ "University of Groningen World University Rankings | THE". The Times Higher Educational Supplement. 2015. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  24. ↑ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2017". Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  25. ↑ "2016 - Overall ranking". Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  26. ↑ "University of Groningen". Top Universities. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  27. ↑ "Europe". Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  28. ↑ "UKrant". UK. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  29. ↑ "The Cave". Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  30. ↑ "Faculties | Our organization | About us | University of Groningen". www.rug.nl. Retrieved 2018-06-11.
  31. ↑ "Sports associations | Extracurricular activities and associations | Student life | Find out more | Education | University of Groningen". www.rug.nl. Retrieved 2018-06-11.
  32. ↑ Zee, Renate van der (2015-07-29). "How Groningen invented a cycling template for cities all over the world". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-06-11.
  33. ↑ "SSH student housing | Rooms and apartments for students". www.sshxl.nl. Retrieved 2018-06-11.
  34. ↑ "Housing rights & Tenant's duties - Housing in groningen". Housing in groningen (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-06-11.
  35. ↑ "The Student Housing Nightmare". The Dutch Review. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  36. ↑ Research School of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCN), University of Groningen.
  37. ↑ Research Institute BCN-BRAIN, University of Groningen.
  38. ↑ Cancer Research Center Groningen (CRCG), University of Groningen.
  39. ↑ Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen.
  40. ↑ Groningen University Institute for Drug Exploration (GUIDE), University of Groningen.
  41. ↑ Research Institute SHARE, University of Groningen.
  42. ↑ W.J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Groningen.
  43. ↑ "institute for Artificial Intelligence & Cognitive Engineering". Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  44. ↑ "The Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials". Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  45. ↑ "PhD programma's". Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  46. ↑ "Prominente Groningse hoogleraren". Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  47. ↑ Klaas Knot wordt nieuwe president van DNB NU.nl

Further reading

  • (in Dutch) Klaas van Berkel: Universiteit van het Noorden. Vier eeuwen academisch leven in Groningen. Part 1 De oude universiteit 1614-1876. Hilversum, Verloren, 2014. ISBN 978-90-8704-466-4
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