The Catholic University of the West (UCO; French:

Université catholique de l'Ouest The Catholic University of the West (UCO; French: :fr:UCO, Université catholique de l'Ouest), known colloquially to its students as «''la Catho''», is a university located in Angers, France. History Early in the 11th century this school beca ...

), known colloquially to its students as «''la Catho''», is a

university A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

located in

Angers, France Angers (, , ) is a city in western France, about southwest of Paris. It is the prefecture of the Maine-et-Loire department and was the capital of the province of Anjou until the French Revolution. The inhabitants of both the city and the prov ...

History

Early in the 11th century this school became famous under the direction of Marbodus, later

Bishop of Rennes The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rennes, Dol, and Saint-Malo (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Rhedonensis, Dolensis et Sancti Maclovii''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Rennes, Dol et Saint-Malo''; br, Arc'heskopti Roazhon, Dol ha Sant-Maloù) is a dioces ...

, and of

Ulger Ulger (''Ulgerius''; died 1149) was the Bishop of Angers from 1125. Like his predecessor, Rainald de Martigné (died 1123), he consolidated the Gregorian reform in his diocese. Ulger was a student of Marbod and the latter's successor as archdeac ...

, later

Bishop of Angers The Roman Catholic Diocese of Angers ( Latin: ''Dioecesis Andegavensis''; French: ''Diocèse d'Angers'') is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. The episcopal see is located in Angers Cathedral in the city of A ...

, both pupils of the renowned canonist,

Fulbert de Chartres Fulbert of Chartres (french: Fulbert de Chartres; 952–970–10 April 1028) was the Bishop of Chartres from 1006 to 1028 and a teacher at the Cathedral school there. Fulbert was a pupil of Gerbert of Aurillac, who would later become Pope Syl ...

. It was enlarged in 1229 by an influx of students, many of them Englishmen, from the

University of Paris , image_name = Coat of arms of the University of Paris.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of Arms , latin_name = Universitas magistrorum et scholarium Parisiensis , motto = ''Hic et ubique terrarum'' (Latin) , mottoeng = Here and a ...

, who sought in

Angers Angers (, , ) is a city in western France, about southwest of Paris. It is the prefecture of the Maine-et-Loire department and was the capital of the province of Anjou until the French Revolution. The inhabitants of both the city and the prov ...

a shelter from the direct control of the

King of France France was ruled by monarchs from the establishment of the Kingdom of West Francia in 843 until the end of the Second French Empire in 1870, with several interruptions. Classical French historiography usually regards Clovis I () as the first ...

. Angers then became a center for the study of civil law, and a "studium generale," although it was officially recognized as such by an Episcopal ordinance only in 1337. In 1364 it received from King Charles V a charter granting the same privileges as those enjoyed by the

University of Orleans A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...

. It was only in 1432 that a papal bull of

Pope Eugene IV Pope Eugene IV ( la, Eugenius IV; it, Eugenio IV; 1383 – 23 February 1447), born Gabriele Condulmer, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 3 March 1431 to his death in February 1447. Condulmer was a Venetian, and ...

added the usual colleges of

Theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

Medicine Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pract ...

and

Arts The arts are a very wide range of human practices of creative expression, storytelling and cultural participation. They encompass multiple diverse and plural modes of thinking, doing and being, in an extremely broad range of media. Both hi ...

to the College of

Canon and Civil Law A doctor of both laws, from the Latin ''doctor utriusque juris'', or ''juris utriusque doctor'', or ''doctor juris utriusque'' ("doctor of both laws") (abbreviations include: JUD, IUD, DUJ, JUDr., DUI, DJU, Dr.iur.utr., Dr.jur.utr., DIU, UJD a ...

. This organization continued until the

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...

. After the

National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repre ...

had granted to all freedom of teaching (July 1, 1875), the French bishops decided to found five Catholic universities, and Angers, thanks to Bishop

Charles Émile Freppel Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was ...

, was chosen for the western portion of France, including the

Dioceses In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associat ...

Rennes Rennes (; br, Roazhon ; Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France at the confluence of the Ille and the Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department ...

Laval Laval means ''The Valley'' in old French and is the name of: People * House of Laval, a French noble family originating from the town of Laval, Mayenne * Laval (surname) Places Belgium * Laval, a village in the municipality of Sainte-Ode, Luxem ...

Le Mans Le Mans (, ) is a city in northwestern France on the Sarthe River where it meets the Huisne. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Man ...

Angoulême Angoulême (; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Engoulaeme''; oc, Engoleime) is a communes of France, commune, the Prefectures of France, prefecture of the Charente Departments of France, department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern Franc ...

Tours Tours ( , ) is one of the largest cities in the region of Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Indre-et-Loire. The Communes of France, commune of Tours had 136,463 ...

and

Poitiers Poitiers (, , , ; Poitevin: ''Poetàe'') is a city on the River Clain in west-central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and the historical centre of Poitou. In 2017 it had a population of 88,291. Its agglomerat ...

. The university then took the title of "Facultés Catholiques de l'Ouest." The University is regarded as one of the most prestigious

private universities Private universities and private colleges are institutions of higher education, not operated, owned, or institutionally funded by governments. They may (and often do) receive from governments tax breaks, public student loans, and grants. Depe ...

in France. The main campus is situated in a beautiful location in the city of Angers with more than 7,000 students. Catholic University of the West has international partnerships with more than 75 universities in the world. Starting from 2009, the university is trying to maintain international partnerships and agreements with more prestigious universities around the world.

Timeline

* 1229: During a crisis with the

, some students and faculty came to the Episcopal school system of Angers. * 1242: A "studium" was created, to be the origin of the future university. * 1363:

Louis I, Duke of Anjou Louis I, Duke of Anjou (23 July 1339 – 20 September 1384) was a French prince, the second son of John II of France and Bonne of Luxembourg, Bonne of Bohemia. His career was markedly unsuccessful. Born at the Château de Vincennes, Louis was th ...

(the region in which Angers and the university are located), obtained from his brother Charles V patent letters formally recognizing the school as a university; however, it had already been recognized as such by various kings and popes. * At the end of the 14th century, the university in Angers had some 230 students. * 1432: The university added colleges of Theology, Medicine and the Arts, after a papal bull of Pope Eugene IV. * 1477: New buildings were constructed for the university (where the theater stands today). * 1604: The celebrated professor William Barclay became the Chair of Civil Law of the university. * 1792: The French Revolution suppressed and temporarily disbanded the university. * 1875: The Catholic University of Angers was re-founded by Monsignor Freppel. The College of Law, inaugurated at Cathedral St. Maurice on November 15, was the first of its kind in France. The other colleges reopened in the following years: Literature (1876), Sciences (1877) and Theology (1879). * 1879: The University was organized according to the catholic canon as a Catholic University by

Pope Pius IX Pope Pius IX ( it, Pio IX, ''Pio Nono''; born Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878, the longest verified papal reign. He was notable for convoking the First Vatican ...

. * 1898: The School of Agriculture and Viticulture, predecessor of the current Superior School of Agriculture (ESA), was founded by * October 1909: The School of Commercial Sciences (ESSCA) was created. * 1947: The Foreign Center for French Language and Civilization Studies was founded. * 1950: The Technical School of Chemistry (ETSCO) was founded. * 1956: The School of Electronics of the West (ESEO) was created. * October 22, 1993: The ceremonial first brick was laid for the new buildings of the university. * 2002: Robert Rousseau was appointed the Rector of the University. * 1 January 2008: became

Rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...

of the university. Bedouelle, renown for his work in literature and theology, served the Church as juror, international historian, council member and teacher. * 1 September 2012: , an economist, became

of the university.

Location

The university is located on nine campuses:

Organization

The university is organised into six Faculties: * Law, Economics and Management * Education * Humanities * Science * Social and Human Science * Theology and Religious Studies The Centre International d'Études Françaises, located at the Angers campus, provides dedicated instruction in the French language. In 1990, under the authority of l'Université Catholique d'Angers, the

Catholic Institute of Higher Studies - ICES The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwide . It is am ...

was opened in

La Roche-sur-Yon La Roche-sur-Yon () is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France. It is the capital of the department. The demonym for its inhabitants is ''Yonnais''. History The town expanded significantly after Napo ...

. After three years of collaboration, the Superior Council of the Catholic University of the West awarded ICES its academic independence in 1993.

François Garnier François Charles Garnier (7 April 1944 – 15 August 2018) was a French Roman Catholic archbishop. Garnier was born in Beaune, France and was ordained to the priesthood in 1970. He served as coadjutor bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Luç ...

, Bishop of

Luçon Luçon () is a commune in the Vendée department, Pays de la Loire region, western France. Its inhabitants are known as Luçonnais. Luçon Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Luçon (comprising the Vendée), where Cardinal Richelieu once se ...

, became the institutional head of the establishment with the responsibility of maintaining its ecclesiastical membership. The Institute is also called the ''Catholic University of the Vendée''. L'Université Catholique d'Angers is a member of the

International Federation of Catholic Universities The International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) is an organisation of over 200 Catholic universities throughout the world. History Founded in 1924. Created by a Papal Decree in 1948 as the ''Fœderatio Universitatum Catholicarum'' it ...

Notable people

Faculty

Louis Billot Louis Billot (12 January 1846 in Sierck-les-Bains, Moselle, France – 18 December 1931 in Ariccia, Latium, Italy) was a French Jesuit priest and theologian. He became a cardinal in 1911 and resigned from that status in 1927, the only person to d ...

(1846, in

Sierck-les-Bains Sierck-les-Bains (, Lorraine Franconian: ''Siirk''/''Siirck'') is a commune in the Moselle department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. Localities of the commune: Rudling, Kœnigsberg (German: Rudlingen, Königsberg) Language Revitalizatio ...

, Moselle – 1931) - Jesuit priest and theologian *

René Bazin René François Nicolas Marie Bazin (26 December 1853 – 20 July 1932) was a French novelist. Biography Born at Angers, he studied law in Paris, and on his return to Angers became Professor of Law in the Catholic university. In 1876, Bazin marr ...

(1853, in Angers – 1932) - lawyer and novelist *

Maurice Couette Maurice Marie Alfred Couette (9 January 1858, Tours – 18 August 1943, Angers) was a French physicist known for his studies of fluidity. Couette is best known for his contributions to rheology and the theory of fluid flow. He designed a concent ...

(1858,

– 1943, Angers) - physicist known for his studies of fluidity *

Pierre Fauvel Pierre Louis André Fauvel (8 October 1866, in Cherbourg – 12 September 1958, in Angers) was a French zoologist, who specialized in the study of ''polychaetes''. He worked as a préparateur of zoology at the University of Caen, faculty of sc ...

(1866, in

Cherbourg Cherbourg (; , , ), nrf, Chèrbourg, ) is a former commune and subprefecture located at the northern end of the Cotentin peninsula in the northwestern French department of Manche. It was merged into the commune of Cherbourg-Octeville on 28 Feb ...

– 1958, in Angers) - zoologist, who specialised in the study of polychaetes *

Maurice de la Taille Maurice de La Taille (30 November 1872 – 23 October 1933) was a French Roman Catholic priest whose writings influenced the Liturgical Movement. He entered the Jesuit order in 1890 and taught theology at the Catholic University of the West in An ...

(1872-1933) - Catholic priest whose writings influenced the Liturgical Movement *

Fernand Charron Fernand Charron (30 May 1866, in Angers – 13 August 1928, in Maisons-Laffitte) was a French Innovator, pioneer of motor racing and automobile manufacturing. He started his sporting career as a successful cycle sport, cyclist. In 1891 he won the ...

(1884, in

Châteaubriant Châteaubriant (; br, Kastell-Briant; Gallo: ''Châtiaoberiant'') is a town in western France, about southwest of Paris, and one of the three sous-préfectures of the Loire-Atlantique department. Châteaubriant is also situated in the historica ...

- 1965) - physician * Robert Corillion (1908, in

Hanvec Hanvec (; br, Hañveg) is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France. Population Inhabitants of Hanvec are called in French ''Hanvécois''. See also *Communes of the Finistère department *Parc naturel régio ...

-1997) - botanist *

René Laurentin Father René Laurentin (; October 19, 1917 – September 10, 2017) was a French theologian. He is widely recognized as "one of the world’s foremost students" of Mariology and is the author of numerous books and scholarly articles on topics includ ...

(1917-2017) - theologian *

Germain Marc'hadour Germain Marc'hadour (16 April 1921 – 22 February 2022) was a French Catholic priest and a professor of English at the Université Catholique de l'Ouest in Angers. He was an internationally recognized authority on the life and work of Saint Si ...

(1921, in

Langonnet Langonnet () is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France. Geography Langonnet is in north-west part of Cornouaille, in Lower Brittany. It's one of the few Cornouaille parishes that are now in the Morbihan departm ...

– 2022) - Catholic priest, professor of English, founder of the journal ''

Moreana ''Moreana'' is a biannual peer-reviewed academic journal covering research about Thomas More and his milieu and writings, as well as relevant broader questions of 16th-century history, literature and culture. It is published by Edinburgh Univers ...

'' * (born 1941, in

Clohars-Carnoët Clohars-Carnoët (; ) is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France. The beach resort of Le Pouldu, with the beaches of Bellangenet and Kerrou, is located in the town. Geography The commune has two small harbours: ...

) - sociologist and ethnologist *

Pierre Grandet Pierre Grandet (born 1954) is a French Egyptologist. After studying history and Egyptology at the University of Paris IV Sorbonne and the practical school of Advanced Studies, he had taught the hieroglyphics and Egyptian pharaonic civilization dur ...

- (born 1954) - egyptologist *

Fred Poché Fred Poché (born 21 May 1960) is a French philosopher. Bachelor of philosophy (ICP Institut Catholique de Paris), higher degree in language sciences from the University of Paris III : Sorbonne nouvelle, PhD in philosophy (Paris X-Nanterre), and ...

(born 1960) - philosopher *

Joseph Gelfer Joseph Gelfer (born 1974) is a British author and academic. He is noted for his academic analysis of spiritual and religious topics and masculinity. His book ''2012: Decoding the Countercultural Apocalypse'' (which brought together scholarly an ...

(born 1974, in

Southampton Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...

) - British researcher; specialist in masculinity * (born 1947, in

Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metro ...

) - education

Alumni

Alexis-Armand Charost Alexis-Armand Charost (14 November 1860 – 7 November 1930) was a French cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Rennes from 1921 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1922. Biography Alexis Charost ...

(1860 – 1930) - cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, Archbishop of Rennes * (born 1879, in

- 1952) - theologian *

Louis-Marie Billé Louis-Marie Billé (18 February 1938 – 12 March 2002) was a French clergyman, archbishop of Lyon from 6 September 1998 and a cardinal until his death in office. Life Louis Marie Billé studied Catholic Theology and Philosophy in Luçon ...

(1938, in

Fleury-les-Aubrais Fleury-les-Aubrais () is a commune in the Loiret department, Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is a northern suburb of Orléans. As a part of German-occupied France, its railway station was destroyed in 1944 by the Combined Bomber Offensive. Popu ...

-2002) - Archbishop of Lyon, President of the French Council of Bishops * (born 1909, in Angers - 2003) - politician *

Paul Poupard Paul Joseph Jean Poupard (born 30 August 1930) is a French prelate of the Catholic Church who has been a Cardinal since 1985. He held positions in the Roman Curia for more than 25 years, serving as President of the Pontifical Council for Cult ...

(born 1930, in Bouzillé, Maine-et-Loire) - Cardinal of the Catholic Church *

Joël Mercier Joël Mercier (born 5 January 1945) is a French prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who serves in the Roman Curia as the Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy. Biography Mercier was born in Chaudefonds-sur-Layon, France, and ordained a p ...

(born 1945, in

Chaudefonds-sur-Layon Chaudefonds-sur-Layon (, literally ''Chaudefonds on Layon'') is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department of western France. Geography The commune is traversed by the river Layon. See also *Communes of the Maine-et-Loire department The foll ...

) - prelate of the Roman Catholic Church * Nora Barry Fischer (born 1951, in

Homestead, Pennsylvania Homestead is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, in the Monongahela River valley southeast of downtown Pittsburgh and directly across the river from the city limit line. The borough is known for the Homestead Strike of 1892, an imp ...

) - Senior United States District Judge * Dominique-Marie David (born 1963) - prelate of the Catholic Church, Archbishop of Monaco * Susanne Koelbl (born 1965, in

Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...

) - German journalist, lecturer and foreign correspondent *

Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland (Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée; born 14 July 1977) is the heir apparent to the Swedish throne, as the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf. If she ascends to the throne as expecte ...

(born 1977)

References

External links

*
International UCO Website

English PDF Profile
{{authority control Catholic universities and colleges in France Buildings and structures in Angers 1364 establishments in Europe 1360s establishments in France Education in Pays de la Loire Universities and colleges in Angers Universities in Pays de la Loire