Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas | |
 | |
Other name | La Distrital |
|---|---|
Former names | Municipal University of Bogotá (1948-1957) |
| Motto | Ubi Veritas Ibi Libertas |
Motto in English | Where there is truth there is freedom |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1948 |
Academic affiliations | ASCUN,AUIP,Universia |
| Rector | Giovanny Tarazona Bermúdez |
| Students | 26,140[1] |
| Undergraduates | 24,825 |
| Postgraduates | 1,315 |
| Location | , Colombia |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Red & yellow |
| Website | www |
 | |
 | |
TheUniversidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas (Spanish:Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas) is apublic,coeducational, research university based inBogotá, Colombia. It is the second most important public higher education institution in the city, after theNational University of Colombia, with a population of 26,140 students.[1] It was founded in 1948, byPriest Daniel de Caicedo, who would become its firstrector, with the support of theBogotá City Council, as the Municipal University of Bogotá (Spanish:Universidad Municipal de Bogotá). It changed its name to the current in 1957 when the municipality of Bogotá became a district. Its establishment was officialized by the 1970decree No. 1030, issued by the national government. The university offers 70 programs atundergraduate andpostgraduate levels, including fourmasters and onedoctorate.[1]
The university is member of theAssociation of Colombian Universities (ASCUN),[2] theIberoamerican Association of Postgraduate Universities (AUIP),[3] and the Iberoamerican University NetworkUniversia.
The Francisco José de Caldas District University was founded in 1948, on initiative of the priest Daniel de Caicedo, who was its first principal. The foundation act of the "Universidad Municipal de Bogotá" (as it was originally named) stated that it was a university created by the Bogotá City Council.
The first program to be created was Radiotechnology, which in time became theElectronics Engineering program. The other program wasTopography which still exists and gave birth to the Cadastral Engineering program. Another program was dedicated to the care and conservation of the environment, later named Forest Engineering.
The first university building was located where today stands theMuseo de Desarrollo Urbano (Urban Development Museum) in the Calle tenth with Carrera eighth, in front of thePalacio Liévano (Liévano Palace) and theCapitolio Nacional (National Capitol).
In 1957, the city ofBogotá became the "Distrito Especial" (Special District) and the university was then named "Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas" after the first Colombian scientistFrancisco José de Caldas.
In the 1970s the departments of Physics and Chemistry were created. In 1979 due to political and organizational difficulties, the university was closed for two years and reopened, with a newly constructed campus, in the neighborhoodLa Macarena.
Between the years 1993 and 1994, theEnvironment andNatural Resources programs were created.
It is constituted by buildings and campus around theBogotá city
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
4°37′41″N74°03′55″W / 4.62806°N 74.06528°W /4.62806; -74.06528
