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Former names | Higher Institute of Theology and Philosophy of Madagascar (1960–1973) Higher Institute of Theology (1973–1997) Catholic Institute of Madagascar (1997–2011) |
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| Motto | Fides et Lux (Latin) |
Motto in English | Faith and Light |
| Type | Private, coeducational |
| Established | 1960; 66 years ago (1960) |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Chancellor | Most Rev.Odon Razanakolona |
| Rector | Rev.Marc Ravelonantoandro |
| Location | ,, |
| Language | French |
| Colours | Red & white |
| Website | www.ucm.mg |
TheCatholic University of Madagascar (UCM;French:Université Catholique de Madagascar;Malagasy:Oniversite Katolika eto Madagasikara) is aprivate university located inAntananarivo,Madagascar. Founded in 1960 as aninstitute within theMajor Seminary of Antananarivo, it later became an independent institute. It gained accreditation from the Malagasy government in 2000, and in 2011 took its present name.
The university is located in the heart ofAntananarivo, Madagascar's capital city. The campus includes a large historic building and a sizableamphitheatre. Academics are split between four departments: the Social Sciences, Theology, Philosophy, and Psychology. The university contains a research center, publishes two scientific journals, and has partnerships with multiple international universities. The university is under the supervision of theEpiscopal Conference of Madagascar, and is the only university affiliated with theCatholic Church in Madagascar.
The Catholic University of Madagascar's roots date back to 1916, with the establishment of theMajor Seminary of Antananarivo by French missionary priests.[1][2] On 25 February 1960, the High Institute of Theology and Philosophy of Madagascar (ISTPM) was created as an institute within the seminary, becoming an associate institution of theTheological Faculty of theUniversity of Naples.[1][2] In 1961, the ISTPM awarded the firstbachelor's degree in Theology in Madagascar's history.[1] In 1973, the ISTPM changed its name to the Higher Institute of Theology (ISTA).[1][2] Still associated with the Major Seminary of Antananarivo, the "A" in its acronym stood forAmbatoroka, the neighborhood of Antananarivo to which the seminary and the ISTA had relocated to in 1930.[1] It was also in 1973 that the ISTA ended its partnership with the Theological Faculty of Naples.[1]
During thepolitical and economic crisis of 1991, theEpiscopal Conference of Madagascar called for the ISTA to reorganize and incorporate courses in economics,social science, andpolitical science in addition to theology and philosophy.[1][2] These changes were fully incorporated in 1994, through cooperation with consultants, business executives, economists, and political figures.[1] In 1997, the ISTA changed its name to the Catholic Institute of Madagascar (ICM).[1][2] In October 1998, a Faculty of Social Sciences was established alongside the philosophy and theology departments.[1][2] That same year, the Malagasy government accredited the undergraduate education of the Department of Philosophy.[1] In 1999, the Catholic Institute of Madagascar signed an agreement of cooperation with theCatholic University of Lyon inLyon,France, affiliating the ICM's Department of Philosophy with its equivalent at Lyon, and created a master's degree program.[1]
On 2 August 2000, the Catholic Institute of Madagascar as a whole, including all its faculties and departments, received accreditation by the Government of Madagascar.[1] In 2004, the Faculty of Social Sciences created a master's degree program in research, and in 2005, a master's in law and political science was inaugurated.[1] In 2011, the ICM was renamed the Catholic University of Madagascar.[1][2] In 2015, the university opened its firstdoctoral school, entitled the School of Ethics for Political, Legal, Social, and Human Development (EDHIS-JP).[1][2][3] The next year, the Department of Psychology was established, and partnered with theCatholic University of Toulouse.[4]
The campus of the Catholic University of Madagascar is located in theAmbatoroka neighborhood, in the heart ofAntananarivo, the capital of Madagascar.[1][3] The main building on campus is a historic, European-style edifice, which was built in the 1920s.[1][3] There is also anamphitheatre seating 300 people, a large library, and a chapel.[3][5]
The Catholic University of Madagascar is located within theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Antananarivo and is administered by theEpiscopal Conference of Madagascar.[5] The university is led by a rector, accompanied by a Board of Managers and an Academic Board.[5] Below the rector are a vice rector, an assistant rector, and a secretary-general.[5] The current rector is the Rev.Marc Ravelonantoandro.[6] TheArchbishop of Antananarivo,Odon Razanakolona, holds the title of Grand Chancellor.[5]
The university is a member of theFrancophone University Association,[7] the Forum of Catholic Education in the Indian Ocean,[3] and theInternational Federation of Catholic Universities.
| Academic departments | |
|---|---|
| School | Year founded |
| Department of Philosophy | 1960 |
| Department of Theology | |
| Faculty of Social Sciences | 1998 |
| Doctoral School | 2015 |
| Department of Psychology | 2016 |
| Source:[1][5][4] | |
The Catholic University of Madagascar is divided into four departments: the Faculty of Social Sciences, and the departments of Philosophy, Theology, and Psychology.[1][2][5]
The Faculty of Social Sciences is itself divided into three departments: Business and Economics, Law and Political Science, and Applied Social Sciences.[2][5] The Applied Social Sciences curriculum is thecore curriculum for undergraduates' first two semesters.[2] It offers a Bachelor of Social Sciences Applied to Development, and master's degrees in Society and Development and Population and Development.[2][3] The Department of Law and Political Science offers aBachelor of Law and master's degrees inpublic law,private law,business law,political science, international relations.[2][3]
The Faculty of Social Sciences' Department of Business and Economics offers bachelor's and master's degrees in economics, public economics, management, and business administration.[2][3] The Business section of the department is partnered with its equivalent department at theCatholic University of Lyon, and offers bachelor's and master's degrees in management and business administration.[2][3] The Economics section is partnered with theResearch Institute for Development, the Popinter Laboratory ofParis-Sorbonne University, and theUniversity of Rennes 1.[2] It offers bachelor's degrees in economics, and master's degrees in macroeconomics, and public economics.[2][3]
The Department of Philosophy uses the canonical degree system, awarding the Bachelor of Philosophy and the Licentiate of Philosophy.[3][8] It is affiliated with the Faculty of Philosophy at the Catholic University of Lyon, and participates in teacher exchanges with theUniversity of Milan, theUniversity of Toliara, and theHigher Institute of Theology and Philosophy of Madagascar.[2] In addition, the department maintains research ties with the departments of philosophy at theUniversity of Antananarivo and the University of Toliara.[2] The Department of Theology at UCM educatespriests,seminarians, andlaypeople.[2] The curriculum is spread over five years, and includes theBachelor of Sacred Theology and theLicentiate of Sacred Theology.[2][3] In addition, it provides training for those working in ecclesiastical capacities and also has courses available for those not seeking a degree.[3]
The Department of Psychology offers bachelor's master's degrees in psychology.[2][3] Its motto is: "Respect, Autonomy, Integrity."[2] The Doctoral School, entitled the School of Ethics for Political, Legal, Social, and Human Development,[1][2] offers aDoctor of Philosophy (PhD) program that abides by international standards.[3] The program lasts three years, and each student is guided by a professor chosen from any of the six academic departments.[3]
The Catholic University of Madagascar contains a library of more than 100,000 books and subscriptions to 23 newspapers and journals.[3]
The Catholic University of Madagascar contained a dedicated research center, and publishes twoacademic journals, the quarterlyAspects du Christianisme à Madagascar (ACM) and the annualCollection ISTA.[3] Regular conferences are hosted on a variety of topics, and an interdisciplinarysymposium is held every two years.[3] The university maintains a scientific partnership with theResearch Institute for Development inMarseille, France.[3][9] Other international partner institutions include: theUniversity of Fribourg inSwitzerland, theUniversity of Milan inItaly, theUniversity of La Réunion inRéunion, theUniversité de Sherbrooke inQuebec,Canada, and the universities ofAuvergne,Burgundy,Paris Descartes,Toulouse,Lyon,Rennes 1, andAngers, all in France.[3] Domestic collaborative institutions include theUniversity of Antananarivo, theUniversity of Toliara, and theHigher Institute of Theology and Philosophy of Madagascar.[2]
The Catholic University of Madagascar hosts a variety of student activities, including an art club, a debate club, a theatre group, amartial arts club, a music club, a student choir, and groups forballroom andstreet dance.[3] Astudent newspaper is also published.[3] In addition, there is acampus ministry program and a charity association, UCMCharité.[3]
The Catholic University of Madagascar supportsfootball (soccer),volleyball, andbasketball clubs.[3]
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