Complutense University of Madrid

Complutense University of Madrid or Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) - public higher education institution in Spain.

Complutense University of Madrid - Description

The Complutense University of Madrid, in Spanish Universidad Complutense de Madrid, is a prestigious Spanish university, located in Madrid. Its origins lie in the middle ages, when King Sancho IV of Castile created the Studium General on May 20, 1293. In 1499, Pope Alexander VI granted the request of one of its former pupils, Cardinal Cisneros, to convert it into a full university; this was named the Universitas Complutensis, after Complutum, which was the Latin name of Alcalá de Henares, where it was located. In 1836 the university was moved to Madrid, with the name of Universidad Central de Madrid. In 1970 the university returned to its original name. When, later, the people of Alcalá succeded in reestablishing a university in the old buildings, they had to name it Universidad de Alcalá de Henares. The Universidad Complutense is the largest university in Spain having, at the end of 2003, more than 98,000 students, with nearly 9,500 workers, of which nearly 6000 are involved in teaching duties. The campus is spread over a large area with faculties in both Moncloa and around the Somosaguas area, spanning in total over 36,000 acres including the university gardens. The university's extensive administrative centre is...

Description of Complutense University of Madrid

The Complutense University of Madrid (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) is a public higher education and research institution offering high quality Degree, Graduate and Continuing Education programs in almost all areas of knowledge: Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Health Sciences, Engineering and Social and Legal Sciences. The Complutense University of Madrid, in its role as a public higher education institution, believes that students are the number one priority, and teaching and learning methods are thus adapted to their personal and professional development needs and expectations. The Complutense University of Madrid has a European and International vocation and has designed its educational offering so that it adapts to students’ cultural and social realities and the demands of the job market. Through innovation the Complutense University of Madrid guarantees a quality education that will let students reach their full potential in their future professional careers. A comprehensive approach combines scientific, humanistic and artistic content with socio-cultural activities and professional experiences with the aim of forming responsible, free, critical and engaged citizens committed to an idea of progress based on equity and tolerance, and which will allow them to join the workplace in the best possible conditions. The Complutense University of Madrid, as a public university, is open to social reality and embraces all ways of thinking and expression that defend democratic values. Democracy, transparency and accountability to the university community and society as a whole are its driving values, and it encourages the participation and commitment of all members. The UCM works to reduce social inequality through initiatives that focus on cooperation and social cohesion. The UCM believes that both the faculty and the administrative staff are its greatest assets and makes every effort to meet their expectations through a flexible and efficient management model, based on objective information, and by creating a suitable environment for innovation and creativity, which encourages teamwork and interdisciplinarity. The Complutense University of Madrid, as public research organization, conducts both basic and applied research with a focus on scientific and cultural development. Its work, which is recognized internationally, seeks to address the cultural, social, educational and economic needs of society, with the ultimate goals of improving people’s quality of life, and contributing to both national and international social and cultural development. The Complutense University of Madrid, as part of its commitment to society, focuses special attention on the scientific, technical, cultural and economic development of the Community of Madrid, through which it has established collaboration agreements with a wide network of public and private companies and entities as well as with the local, regional and central administrations. Also, part of this focus on social responsibility includes participation in human development through extensive cooperation programs. The UCM encourages the use of best practices in its quest to make these new values a reality