University of Fribourg

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Group.png University of Fribourg  
(UniversityLinkedIn WebsiteRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
Universität Freiburg (Schweiz) logo.png
MottoScientia et Sapientia
(Knowledge and Wisdom)
Formation1889
TypePublic
Klaus Schwab's alma mater

The University of Fribourg (French: Université de Fribourg; German: Universität Freiburg) is a university in the city of Fribourg, Switzerland.[1]

The roots of the university can be traced back to 1580, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg.[2] In 1763, an Academy of law was founded by the state of Fribourg which formed the nucleus of the present Law Faculty.[3] The University of Fribourg was finally created in 1889 by an Act of the parliament of the Swiss Canton of Fribourg.[4][5]

The University of Fribourg is Switzerland's only bilingual university and offers full curricula in both French and German, two of Switzerland's national languages.[6] Students number about 10,000; there are about 200 tenured professors and 700 other academic teaching and research personnel.[7] The Misericorde Campus, constructed between 1939–42, was designed by the architects Honegger and Dumas, students of Swiss architect Le Corbusier.

There are five faculties: Catholic theology, law, natural sciences, humanities, and economics & social sciences.

History

University of Fribourg, main building

The university owes its earliest origin to the foundation of the Jesuit College St. Michel on Belze Hill by Peter Canisius in 1580 at the invitation of the government of Fribourg. In 1763, an Academy of Law was founded, housed in the Albertinium (now a Dominican residence). In 1834, the cantonal library was formed from works brought to Fribourg (from Catholic monasteries) for safekeeping.[8] The College St. Michel was closed following the expulsion of the Jesuits from Fribourg after the canton's defeat in the Sonderbund war.[9]

In 1886, Georges Python, founder of the cantonal bank and State Counsellor for Fribourg (M.P. in the upper house of the Swiss parliament) became Director of Public Education. He raised funds through a lottery and was granted some 2,500,000 CHF by the canton. The cantonal library became integrated with that of the university and the Academy became the Faculty of Law. In 1939, the university moved to a new campus constructed on the former cemetery of Misericorde, ceding St. Michel to one of Fribourg's gymnasia, which took the name College St. Michel. During the Second World War, the university set up "university camps" along with the University of Zürich, HEC in St. Gall and a Lycée camp at Wetzikon provided a wide variety of courses to educate Polish prisoners of war.[10]

The Perolles campus was constructed on the site of a former wagon factory.[11]

Although many lectures were originally in Latin, Fribourg is now the only French/German bilingual university in the world (45% French and 55% German). The town itself is 70% French and 30% German. This fact, coupled with the traditional dominance of French as the language of the city aristocracy explains why French has remained so dominant in university administration and in the AGEF (Association Générale des Etudiants Fribourgois), the Student's Union. To commemorate the centenary of the university, La Poste issued a stamp depicting the figures Science and Sagesse.

Notable alumni and faculty

Klaus Scwhab, Founder of the World Economic Forum

Politics

Business and economics

  • Jean-Marie Ayer, co-founder of Dartfish, Chairman and CEO 1999–2003
  • Albert M. Baehny, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Geberit Group since January 1, 2005
  • Heinrich Burk, former CEO of ACNielsen
  • Urs Felber, Swiss industrialist, philanthropist and design pioneer
  • Stephan Klapproth, Swiss journalist and television presenter
  • Adolphe Merkle, founder of Vibro-Meter International AG, Adolphe Merkle Foundation
  • Marc Moret, former Chairman of Sandoz, uncle of Daniel Vasella's wife
  • Arthur Dunkel (1932–2005), Swiss (Portuguese-born) administrator and a professor at the University of Fribourg; director-general of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, 1980–1993


 

Employee on Wikispooks

EmployeeJobAppointedEnd
Gerardo BrogginiLaw Professor19561961

 

Alumni on Wikispooks

PersonBornDiedNationalitySummaryDescription
Gerardo Broggini16 November 192629 October 2018SwitzerlandLawyerSwiss law professor and one of the pioneers of European legal integration. Attended Bilderberg/1965
Joseph Deiss18 January 1946SwitzerlandPolitician
Economist
Economist and politician who was a Member of the Swiss Federal Council from 1999 to 2006.
Kurt Furgler24 June 192423 July 2008SwitzerlandPoliticianPresident of Switzerland. 3 Bilderbergs, from 1970 to 1980. Wanted a strong central government and integration with the European Union.
Martina Hirayama1970German
Switzerland
Politician
Chemist
Swiss up-and-coming politician with a Bilderberg wind since 2019
Pierre Maudet6 March 1978SwitzerlandPoliticianSwiss politician who attended the 2015 Bilderberg
Richard McCormack6 March 1941USSpook
Deep politician
Businessperson
Deep politician a long history and connections back to Vietnam, Nixon administration, succeeded Ted Shackley as US Chair of Le Cercle.
Ruth Metzler23 May 1964SwitzerlandPoliticianMember of the Swiss Federal Council from 1999 to 2003. Vice President of Switzerland 1 January 2003-31 December 2003. WEF/Global Leaders for Tomorrow/2002
Susanne Ruoff29 September 1958SwitzerlandCEO of Swiss Post 2011-2018. Attended the 2017 Bilderberg Conference.
Antonin Scalia11 March 193613 February 2016USJudgeUS judge
Klaus Schwab30 March 1938GermanAcademic
Economist
Deep state actor
German economist, Bilderberg Steering committee, World Economic Forum Board of Trustees
Chaim Weizmann27 November 18749 November 1952Israel
UK
Politician
Chemist
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References