Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf
Encyclopedia
Heinrich Heine University , located in Düsseldorf
, Germany, is named after German poet and political thinker Heinrich Heine
, who was born in Düsseldorf in 1797. It became a full-fledged university in 1965 and currently comprises faculties of law, medicine, philosophy, mathematics and natural sciences, and economics. Its current enrollment slightly exceeds 16,000 students. The rector
is Prof. Dr. Hans Michael Piper.
, Napoleon Bonaparte's brother-in-law, who had been put in charge of the Duchy of Berg
, wanted to found a university in Düsseldorf. At the time, there existed only a few college-like institutions, which had developed between the 16th and 18th centuries.
On 12 December 1811, Napoleon issued a decree calling for a university to be chartered in the duchy. It was to support five faculties. The French invasion of Russia
, however, impeded its establishment.
In 1907, a medical academy was founded in Düsseldorf. It began training students in 1923. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia
assumed responsibility for the academy from the city of Düsseldorf in 1962.
In 1965, the state government decided to transform the medical academy into a university. On 1 January 1966, the university constituted itself with a faculty of medicine and a combined faculty for natural sciences and philosophy. There was an opening ceremony on 14 February of the same year. The central campus' buildings, located south of Düsseldorf, were completed in the 1970s, a fact evinced by the architectural style prevailing on campus. Due to decades-long controversies, the university was not yet named after Heinrich Heine at this time. Heine was not considered an appropriate figurehead, first for pragmatic then for political reasons. The university's senate did not decide to name the university after Düsseldorf's most famous son until 20 December 1988.
Numerous SOCRATES
/ERASMUS-partnerships exist, too.
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, Germany, is named after German poet and political thinker Heinrich Heine
Heinrich Heine
Christian Johann Heinrich Heine was one of the most significant German poets of the 19th century. He was also a journalist, essayist, and literary critic. He is best known outside Germany for his early lyric poetry, which was set to music in the form of Lieder by composers such as Robert Schumann...
, who was born in Düsseldorf in 1797. It became a full-fledged university in 1965 and currently comprises faculties of law, medicine, philosophy, mathematics and natural sciences, and economics. Its current enrollment slightly exceeds 16,000 students. The rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
is Prof. Dr. Hans Michael Piper.
History
In 1806, Joachim MuratJoachim Murat
Joachim-Napoléon Murat , Marshal of France and Grand Admiral or Admiral of France, 1st Prince Murat, was Grand Duke of Berg from 1806 to 1808 and then King of Naples from 1808 to 1815...
, Napoleon Bonaparte's brother-in-law, who had been put in charge of the Duchy of Berg
Berg (state)
Berg was a state – originally a county, later a duchy – in the Rhineland of Germany. Its capital was Düsseldorf. It existed from the early 12th to the 19th centuries.-Ascent:...
, wanted to found a university in Düsseldorf. At the time, there existed only a few college-like institutions, which had developed between the 16th and 18th centuries.
On 12 December 1811, Napoleon issued a decree calling for a university to be chartered in the duchy. It was to support five faculties. The French invasion of Russia
French invasion of Russia
The French invasion of Russia of 1812 was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. It reduced the French and allied invasion forces to a tiny fraction of their initial strength and triggered a major shift in European politics as it dramatically weakened French hegemony in Europe...
, however, impeded its establishment.
In 1907, a medical academy was founded in Düsseldorf. It began training students in 1923. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
assumed responsibility for the academy from the city of Düsseldorf in 1962.
In 1965, the state government decided to transform the medical academy into a university. On 1 January 1966, the university constituted itself with a faculty of medicine and a combined faculty for natural sciences and philosophy. There was an opening ceremony on 14 February of the same year. The central campus' buildings, located south of Düsseldorf, were completed in the 1970s, a fact evinced by the architectural style prevailing on campus. Due to decades-long controversies, the university was not yet named after Heinrich Heine at this time. Heine was not considered an appropriate figurehead, first for pragmatic then for political reasons. The university's senate did not decide to name the university after Düsseldorf's most famous son until 20 December 1988.
Honorary Degrees
- Johannes RauJohannes RauJohannes Rau was a German politician of the SPD. He was President of Germany from 1 July 1999 until 30 June 2004, and Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1978 to 1998.-Education and work:...
, former President of the Federal Republic of GermanyPresident of GermanyThe President of the Federal Republic of Germany is the country's head of state. His official title in German is Bundespräsident . Germany has a parliamentary system of government and so the position of President is largely ceremonial...
and Ministers-President of North Rhine-WestphaliaNorth Rhine-WestphaliaNorth Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
. - Paul SpiegelPaul SpiegelPaul Spiegel was leader of the Zentralrat der Juden in Germany and the main spokesman of the German Jews...
, former president of the Central Council of Jews in GermanyZentralrat der Juden in DeutschlandThe Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland is a federation of German Jews organizing many Jewish organisations in Germany. It was founded on July 19, 1950, as a response to the increasing isolation of German Jews by the international Jewish community and increasing interest in Jewish affairs by the ... - Marcel Reich-RanickiMarcel Reich-RanickiMarcel Reich-Ranicki is a Polish-born German literary critic and member of the literary group Gruppe 47. He is regarded as one of the most influential contemporary literary critics in the field of German literature and therefore was in Germany often called the 'Pope of literature' .-Life:Marcel...
, literary critic
Partner Universities
- University of NantesUniversity of NantesThe University of Nantes is a well-known French university, located in the city of Nantes. Currently, it is attended by approximately 34,000 students. 10% of them are international students coming from 110 countries.-History:...
(France) - University of Naples Federico IIUniversity of Naples Federico IIThe University of Naples Federico II is a university located in Naples, Italy. It was founded in 1224 and is organized into 13 faculties. It is the world's oldest state university and one of the oldest academic institutions in continuous operation...
(Italy) - Peking UniversityPeking UniversityPeking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
(China) - University of AlicanteUniversity of AlicanteThe University of Alicante was established in 1979 on the basis of the Center for University Studies , which was founded in 1968. The University main campus is located in San Vicente del Raspeig/Sant Vicent del Raspeig, bordering the city of Alicante to the north...
(Spain) - University of ReadingUniversity of ReadingThe University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
(UK) - University of California, DavisUniversity of California, DavisThe University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
(USA) - Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State UniversityThe Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
(USA) - Woodbury UniversityWoodbury UniversityWoodbury University, founded as "Woodbury Business College", is a private, non-profit, coeducational, nonsectarian university located in Burbank, California.-History:...
(USA) - Charles University PragueCharles University in PragueCharles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
(Czech Republic) - Keio UniversityKeio University,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
Tôkyô (Japan) - Interdisciplinary CenterInterdisciplinary CenterThe Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya is a private Israeli college located in Herzliya, Israel.The languages of instruction in the Interdisciplinary Center are Hebrew and English.-History:...
(Israel)
Numerous SOCRATES
Socrates programme
The SOCRATES programme was an educational initiative of the European Commission; 31 countries took part. The initial Socrates programme ran from 1994 until 31 December 1999 when it was replaced by the Socrates II programme on 24 January 2000, which ran until 2006...
/ERASMUS-partnerships exist, too.
List of subjects
- Medicine
- Dental Medicine
- Law
- Philosophy
- Social Sciences, Politics, and Communication
- Cultural and Media Studies
- German Language and Literature
- Latin and Ancient Greek
- English Language and Literature
- Romanic Languages and Literature (French, Spanish, Italian, Catalan)
- Modern Japan
- Jewish Studies
- Linguistics and Computer Linguistics
- Information Science
- History
- Middle Ages and Renaissance Studies
- History of Arts
- Sports
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Medical physics
- Chemistry
- Geography
- Biology
- Biochemistry
- Computer Sciences
- Pharmacy
- Psychology
- Economics
- Chemistry with Applications in Economy
- European Studies