Université De Kinshasa
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The University of Kinshasa (), colloquially known by its acronym UNIKIN, is a
public university A public university, state university, or public college is a university or college that is State ownership, owned by the state or receives significant funding from a government. Whether a national university is considered public varies from o ...
located in
Kinshasa Kinshasa (; ; ), formerly named Léopoldville from 1881–1966 (), is the Capital city, capital and Cities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa is one of the world's fastest-grow ...
's Lemba commune within the western region of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...
. It is the country's premier university. Initially established in 1954 as
Lovanium University Lovanium University () was a Catholic university in Kinshasa in the Belgian Congo. The university was established in 1954 on the Kimwenza plateau, near Kinshasa. The university continued to function after independence until it was merged into th ...
during Belgian colonial rule, the current university was established following the division of the
National University of Zaire The National University of Zaire (, or UNAZA) was a federated university in Zaire (the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) which existed between 1971 and 1981. UNAZA was established in August 1971 when the country's three existing u ...
(UNAZA) in 1981. The university had an enrollment of 29,554 and a faculty and research staff of 1,929 in the 2018–19 academic year, and currently has twelve academic divisions. The Notre-Dame de la Sagesse is strategically located on the campus and provides pastoral ministries to professors and students.


Campus

The university is located about south of central Kinshasa, in the suburb of Lemba. Many of the campus facilities have deteriorated and are in poor condition, or lack proper instructional tools - in 2003, the science library had as few as 300 titles in its collection. Since 2001, the university has hosted Cisco Academy, a joint project sponsored by the American software company
Cisco Cisco Systems, Inc. (using the trademark Cisco) is an American multinational digital communications technology conglomerate corporation headquartered in San Jose, California. Cisco develops, manufactures, and sells networking hardware, s ...
and the
United Nations Development Programme The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a United Nations agency tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development. The UNDP emphasizes on developing local capacity towar ...
. The academy focuses on providing recent technology, training students to install and operate computer networks and all coursework is online.


History


Lovanium University

The origins of the University of Kinshasa traced back to 1924 when the
Catholic University of Louvain The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
established a
medical association A medical association or medical college is a trade association that brings together practitioners of a particular geographical area (a country, region, province). In common-law countries, they are often grouped by medical specialties ( cardiolo ...
to address health and education in the
Belgian Congo The Belgian Congo (, ; ) was a Belgian colonial empire, Belgian colony in Central Africa from 1908 until independence in 1960 and became the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville). The former colony adopted its present name, the Democratic Repu ...
. At that time, the colony grappled with a critical shortage of medical professionals. The proposal gained traction, particularly through the advocacy of physiologist Fernand Malengreau and histologist Jules Havet, each of whom contributed distinctively to its realization. Malengreau championed the establishment of an independent association, while Havet recommended the formation of a university foundation for the overseas initiative. Malengreau contended that combating the pervasive epidemic of
sleeping sickness African trypanosomiasis is an insect-borne parasitic infection of humans and other animals. Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as African sleeping sickness or simply sleeping sickness, is caused by the species '' Trypanosoma b ...
required an extensive and well-structured healthcare network across the Belgian Congo, with the critical solution being the training of a significant cohort of skilled Congolese personnel. This vision could not be entrusted solely to public authorities, who had previously established six underperforming nursing schools due to the reluctance of Catholic missions to collaborate with state-run institutions. This initiative culminated in the establishment of the Fondation Médicale de l'Université de Louvain au Congo (FOMULAC) on 15 January 1926 in
Kisantu Inkisi, more commonly known as Kisantu, is a town in the western Democratic Republic of Congo, lying south west of Kinshasa, on the Inkisi River. It is known for its large cathedral and for its botanical garden, which includes an arboretum of i ...
,
Bas-Congo Kongo Central (), formerly Bas-Congo, is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Matadi. History At the time of independence, the area now encompassing Kongo Central was part of the greater province of ...
(now
Kongo Central Kongo Central (), formerly Bas-Congo, is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Matadi. History At the time of independence, the area now encompassing Kongo Central was part of the greater province of ...
), through the collective efforts of a group of French-speaking professors, inspired by the suggestion of rector Paulin Ladeuze. The association's statutes were officially published in the ''
Moniteur belge The Belgian official journal (, , ) is the official journal or gazette of the Kingdom of Belgium. It is where the official publication of laws, royal decrees, decrees, ordinances, and official notices are published. The publication is handled by ...
'' on 13 February of that year. While Léon Dupriez, a law professor and vice-president of the Colonial Council, was appointed president for reasons of prestige, Malengreau became the intellectual architect of the foundation, remaining actively involved for three decades, even after his emeritus status. As secretary-general, he facilitated communication among the university, missionary authorities, and colonial administration. The medical infrastructure construction began in April 1926. Spanning a 10-hectare site, the facility consisted of ten pavilions, with separate sections for black African and white patients, a
dispensary A dispensary is an office in a school, hospital, industrial plant, or other organization that dispenses medications, medical supplies, and in some cases even medical and dental treatment. In a traditional dispensary set-up, a pharmacist dispense ...
, and specialized departments for
surgery Surgery is a medical specialty that uses manual and instrumental techniques to diagnose or treat pathological conditions (e.g., trauma, disease, injury, malignancy), to alter bodily functions (e.g., malabsorption created by bariatric surgery s ...
,
obstetrics Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a su ...
,
internal medicine Internal medicine, also known as general medicine in Commonwealth nations, is a medical specialty for medical doctors focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases in adults. Its namesake stems from "treatment of diseases of ...
, and general health. The complex also included a medical staff training school,
research laboratories A research institute, research centre, or research organization is an establishment founded for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research. Although the term often implies natural ...
, a
chapel A chapel (from , a diminutive of ''cappa'', meaning "little cape") is a Christianity, Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. First, smaller spaces inside a church that have their o ...
, and residential accommodations for the Sisters of Charity of Namur, who assisted in the hospital's operations. A 'maternity village' was gradually constructed, surrounding the medical complex with traditional dwellings. In 1932, the Catholic University of Louvain expanded its efforts by establishing an agronomy section at the Kisantu site. This was followed by the addition of a section dedicated to administrative and commercial sciences in 1936, and a section for medical assistants in 1937. In 1947, these various academic departments were consolidated into the Congolese University Center of Lovanium. The center was relocated from Kisantu to the
Kimwenza Kimwenza is a neighborhood in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the Mont Ngafula commune in the south of the capital, Kinshasa. Location Kimwenza is on a plateau above the main city of Kinshasa. It is near to the Petites Chutes de la Lukay ...
neighborhood, where it evolved into
Lovanium University Lovanium University () was a Catholic university in Kinshasa in the Belgian Congo. The university was established in 1954 on the Kimwenza plateau, near Kinshasa. The university continued to function after independence until it was merged into th ...
in 1952. In 1954, the institution officially began its operations at its Mount Amba site, covering an area of 400 hectares. The inaugural academic year offered a diverse array of programs in natural sciences, social and administrative sciences, pedagogical sciences, and agricultural sciences. It received heavy subsidies from the colonial government and funding from the
Ford Foundation The Ford Foundation is an American private foundation with the stated goal of advancing human welfare. Created in 1936 by Edsel Ford and his father Henry Ford, it was originally funded by a $25,000 (about $550,000 in 2023) gift from Edsel Ford. ...
, the
Rockefeller Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation is an American private foundation and philanthropic medical research and arts funding organization based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The foundation was created by Standard Oil magnate John D. Rockefeller (" ...
and the
United States Agency for International Development The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an agency of the United States government that has been responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. Established in 1961 and reorganized in 1998 ...
. A landmark development in 1957 included the establishment of university clinics and the introduction of the first doctoral program in medicine. Additionally, the installation of the
TRIGA TRIGA (Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics) is a class of nuclear research reactor designed and manufactured by General Atomics. The design team for TRIGA, which included Edward Teller, was led by the physicist Freeman Dyson. Design ...
nuclear reactor A nuclear reactor is a device used to initiate and control a Nuclear fission, fission nuclear chain reaction. They are used for Nuclear power, commercial electricity, nuclear marine propulsion, marine propulsion, Weapons-grade plutonium, weapons ...
that same year provided a foundation for cutting-edge research in
biological specimen A biological specimen (also called a biospecimen) is a biological laboratory specimen held by a biorepository for research. Such a specimen would be taken by sampling so as to be representative of any other specimen taken from the source of t ...
analysis, including animals, plants, seeds, and chemical systems. Lovanium University rapidly gained distinction as a leading institution, recognized for its robust infrastructure, academic excellence, and wide-ranging research activities. Its reputation attracted eminent political figures, such as Colonel
Mengistu Haile Mariam Mengistu Haile Mariam (, pronunciation: ; born 21 May 1937) is an Ethiopian former politician, revolutionary, and military officer who served as the head of state of Ethiopia from 1977 to 1991. He was General Secretary of the Workers' Party o ...
(future President of
Ethiopia Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Ken ...
), Nzo Ekangaki (future Secretary-General of the
Organization of African Unity The Organisation of African Unity (OAU; , OUA) was an African intergovernmental organization established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with 33 signatory governments. Some of the key aims of the OAU were to encourage political and ec ...
), and Mahmoud Riad (future Secretary-General of the
Arab League The Arab League (, ' ), officially the League of Arab States (, '), is a regional organization in the Arab world. The Arab League was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945, initially with seven members: Kingdom of Egypt, Egypt, Kingdom of Iraq, ...
), as well as notable intellectuals like
Albert Einstein Albert Einstein (14 March 187918 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist who is best known for developing the theory of relativity. Einstein also made important contributions to quantum mechanics. His mass–energy equivalence f ...
, Igor Prigogine, and
Cheikh Anta Diop Cheikh Anta Diop (29 December 1923 – 7 February 1986) was a Senegalese historian, anthropologist, physicist, and politician who studied the human race's origins and pre-colonial African culture. Diop's work is considered foundational to the the ...
.


National University of Zaire

In 1971, under the authoritarian regime of President
Mobutu Sese Seko Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa za Banga ( ; born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu; 14 October 1930 – 7 September 1997), often shortened to Mobutu Sese Seko or Mobutu and also known by his initials MSS, was a Congolese politician and military officer ...
, a significant reform of the higher education sector was implemented in
Zaire Zaire, officially the Republic of Zaire, was the name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1971 to 18 May 1997. Located in Central Africa, it was, by area, the third-largest country in Africa after Sudan and Algeria, and the 11th-la ...
. This restructuring sought to amalgamate all public universities into a cohesive entity known as the
National University of Zaire The National University of Zaire (, or UNAZA) was a federated university in Zaire (the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) which existed between 1971 and 1981. UNAZA was established in August 1971 when the country's three existing u ...
(''Université Nationale du Zaïre''; UNAZA). Although the reform was presented as a measure to rectify systemic inefficiencies and align academic programs with the
socio-economic Economics () is a behavioral science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work. Microeconomics analys ...
and political objectives of the post-independence nation, it was heavily influenced by Mobutu's totalitarian principles that prioritized state regulation at the expense of academic freedom and institutional independence. The reorganization entailed the merger of Lovanium University with the Protestant University in the Congo and the
University of Lubumbashi The University of Lubumbashi (), also known by the acronym UNILU, is one of the largest universities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located in Lubumbashi in Haut-Katanga Province, previously Katanga Province. The campus is located ...
. Academic programs were standardized into a three-tier structure: a three-year undergraduate cycle, a two-year
master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...
, and
doctoral studies A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...
. During this time, the university severed its ties with the Catholic University of Leuven, and funding began to drop precipitously. The institution's infrastructure was only capable of accommodating 5,000 students, leading to significant capacity challenges amidst rising enrollment demands. The centralized governance of UNAZA, managed by a single rectorate, placed all faculty and staff under federal payroll. While this system was intended to enhance national integration and promote standardized scientific research, it ultimately subordinated the educational agenda to Mobutu's political objectives. Ideological conformity supplanted academic innovation, undermining the university's ability to develop practical skills and foster expertise in fields critical for national progress. Despite its lofty aspirations, the 1971 reform faced financial challenges, compounded by widespread corruption, which led to chronic underfunding of the higher education system. By 1977, the university grappled with deteriorating
infrastructure Infrastructure is the set of facilities and systems that serve a country, city, or other area, and encompasses the services and facilities necessary for its economy, households and firms to function. Infrastructure is composed of public and pri ...
, inadequate research facilities, and stagnating
academic standards Academic standards are the benchmarks of quality and excellence in education such as the rigour of curricula and the difficulty of examinations. The creation of universal academic standards requires agreement on rubrics, criteria or other system ...
. Faculty members frequently protested against inadequate salaries, while students experienced overcrowded classrooms and limited access to resources. These systemic issues culminated in a marked decline in the quality of education. The state's inability to expand the system in tandem with the country's population growth resulted in a bottleneck that stifled the development of Zaire's human capital. The erosion of academic autonomy, coupled with bureaucratic inefficiency, entrenched educational stagnation, leaving a legacy of unmet potential that persisted well into subsequent years.


1981 reform

The 1981 reform, enacted through State Decisions No. 08/CC/81 and No. 09/CC/81, sought to revolutionize the Zairean education system across
primary Primary or primaries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Primary (band), from Australia * Primary (musician), hip hop musician and record producer from South Korea * Primary Music, Israeli record label Work ...
, secondary, and
tertiary Tertiary (from Latin, meaning 'third' or 'of the third degree/order..') may refer to: * Tertiary period, an obsolete geologic period spanning from 66 to 2.6 million years ago * Tertiary (chemistry), a term describing bonding patterns in organic ch ...
levels. This initiative emphasized cultivating professionals capable of generating transformative ideas to catalyze national development. However, the reform's underpinning framework retained the authoritarian tendencies of the 1971 restructuring. The reform addressed critical shortcomings by aligning education with the country's developmental needs. At the higher education level, universities were tasked with producing "executives" equipped with a blend of advanced technical expertise and moral leadership, ostensibly aimed at fostering a sense of nationalism and civic responsibility. Higher
pedagogical Pedagogy (), most commonly understood as the approach to teaching, is the theory and practice of learning, and how this process influences, and is influenced by, the social, political, and psychological development of learners. Pedagogy, taken ...
institutes were reoriented to train educators of "exceptional moral and pedagogical caliber", who would teach and also serve as political overseers and embody the nobility of their profession. Despite these ostensibly progressive goals, the reforms were deeply entrenched in political dogma. This ideological rigidity stymied the transformative potential of the reform, leaving fundamental systemic flaws unaddressed.


Persistent challenges

The lofty aspirations of the 1981 reform failed to resolve enduring challenges inherited from the 1971 unification of the university system. One major issue was the mismatch between education and employment, as university curricula remained disconnected from the demands of the job market, leaving graduates ill-equipped to contribute effectively to national development. Additionally, the reform failed to foster the intended sense of nationalism and professional integrity among students and educators. Universities also faced significant research deficits, struggling to conduct meaningful studies that could address societal challenges due to inadequate funding and resources.


Decentralization and the establishment of autonomy

In recognition of the failures of centralized management under the 1971 reform, the government sought to introduce administrative autonomy for higher education institutions in 1981. This effort included re-establishing three distinct universities: the University of Kinshasa, the
University of Kisangani The University of Kisangani (UNIKIS) is located in the city of Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was founded in 1963 by Protestant missionaries as the Free University of the Congo (, ULC); it was transformed into part of the ...
, and the
University of Lubumbashi The University of Lubumbashi (), also known by the acronym UNILU, is one of the largest universities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located in Lubumbashi in Haut-Katanga Province, previously Katanga Province. The campus is located ...
. While this decentralization was a step toward alleviating the burdens of a centralized system, it was insufficient in addressing the systemic dysfunctions.


Decline in funding

Newly independent, the University of Kinshasa continued to struggle financially throughout the 1980s. By 1985, the campus was in decline, strewn with trash and the dormitories in poor condition. The university's
cafeteria A cafeteria, called canteen outside the U.S., is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether in a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a scho ...
stopped serving meals and pay for professors slipped as low as $15. In response to declining government funds, tuition was raised 500 percent in 1985. A subsequent reform effort culminated in the promulgation of Framework Law No. 86-005 on 22 September 1986. This legislation aimed to formalize the organizational structure of national education, articulate its objectives, and delineate the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders, including the state, educators, and private institutions. It also established guidelines for the regulation of educational entities and mechanisms for addressing systemic violations. Although the framework law aligned with international standards and provided much-needed structure, it largely perpetuated the status quo. The politicization of education under the party-state continued to undermine progress. The absence of technical competence, coupled with a state apparatus riddled with corruption and inefficiency, hindered the effective implementation of the law. In 1989, deeper cuts were made at UNIKIN, with the suspension of nearly all scholarships and financial aid and institution of new fees. Through the 1980s, as much as 90 percent of the university's budget was paid for by the government, with only a small amount of revenues coming from student tuition. By 2002, the government only contributed $8,000 (USD) of the university's estimated $4.3 million annual budget (not including some personnel costs which are paid directly by the state). By the 2004–2005 academic year, the university's enrollment had decreased to 23,250 students, spread across ten faculties, including Agronomy, Law, Economics and Management, Letters and Humanities, Medicine, Pharmacy, Polytechnic, Sciences, Social, Administrative and Political Sciences, and Psychology and Educational Sciences. The academic and scientific body consisted of 508 professors, while the technical and administrative staff numbered approximately 2,800 personnel.


Rehabilitation


Student homes

On 9 December 2015, students appealed for the renovation of several heavily deteriorated homes, including homes x, xx, xxx, 150, 80, Vatican, and eight others. These aging structures built decades ago, required significant exterior and interior refurbishment to ensure their structural integrity and overall condition.
Erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as Surface runoff, water flow or wind) that removes soil, Rock (geology), rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust#Crust, Earth's crust and then sediment transport, tran ...
also posed a threat to some of these homes. The Office of Roads and Drainage (OVD), supported by government funds, was actively engaged in addressing erosion issues in the "trafic" area at UNIKIN. This initiative involved backfilling with earth and constructing gutters to control existing erosion affecting houses opposite UNIKIN. Torrential rains had further exacerbated access routes to this area, particularly at the Plateau des résidences des enseignants.On 10 February 2020, President
Félix Tshisekedi Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo (; born 13 June 1963) is a Congolese politician who has served as the fifth president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, since 2019. He was the leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Demo ...
launched initiatives to enhance the housing conditions, with a specific focus on rehabilitating student residences. This initiative followed the displacement of over 6,412 students who were forced to leave their accommodations after altercations with the police in early January 2020. The students' protest against the increased academic fees led to a suspension of academic activities. The renovation project was administered by the Intendance Générale (IG), the Entreprise Générale de Construction de Kinshasa (EGECOK), and a company referred to as the "Contractor". UNIKIN's administrative secretary general, Godefroid Kabengele Dibwe, reported that 12 out of 14 residences had been rehabilitated and were awaiting furnishing for student accommodation. After almost four years of closure, the UNIKIN's Management Committee reopened the student residences on 3 October 2023.


Omnisport complex

On 1 March 2022, UNIKIN's rector Jean-Marie Kayembe Ntumba, received a delegation from the
Ministry of Finance A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfoli ...
,
Nicolas Kazadi Nicolas Kazadi (born 7 January 1966) is a Congolese politician and career diplomat who has been Ambassador-at-large for the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 7 March 2019 and Minister of Finance since 12 April 2021. He is a member of t ...
. The meeting, held near the office of the Minister of Finance, marked the commencement of the rehabilitation and modernization project of the UNIKIN Omnisport complex, which was in a severely dilapidated condition. The projected timeframe for the work exceeded ten months and involved the refurbishment of the
swimming pool A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable Human swimming, swimming and associated activities. Pools can be built into the ground (in-ground pools) or built abo ...
and its facilities, the
grandstand A grandstand is a normally permanent structure for seating spectators, typically at sports stadiums and including both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium i ...
,
changing room A changing room, locker room (usually in a sports, theater, or staff context), or changeroom (regional use) is a room or area designated for changing one's clothes. Changing-rooms are provided in a semi-public situation to enable people to ch ...
s, the machine room,
electrification Electrification is the process of powering by electricity and, in many contexts, the introduction of such power by changing over from an earlier power source. In the context of history of technology and economic development, electrification refe ...
, renewal of floor and wall
ceramic A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature. Common examples are earthenware, porcela ...
s,
earthenware Earthenware is glazed or unglazed Vitrification#Ceramics, nonvitreous pottery that has normally been fired below . Basic earthenware, often called terracotta, absorbs liquids such as water. However, earthenware can be made impervious to liquids ...
, and equipment for the improved functioning of the Olympic-sized swimming pool. Nicolas also announced plans to upgrade the large stadium to international standards, featuring a
synthetic turf Artificial turf is a surface of synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass, used in sports arenas, residential lawns and commercial applications that traditionally use grass. It is much more durable than grass and easily maintained wi ...
playing area and stabilized embankments. Additionally, two annex stadiums were to be constructed, along with a protective wall and embankments for the
basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
-
volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...
and
tennis Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles (tennis), doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket st ...
-
handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball, Olympic handball or indoor handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball using their hands with the aim of thr ...
stadium, and a drainage network for all the grounds leading to the outlet on the
Kimwenza Kimwenza is a neighborhood in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the Mont Ngafula commune in the south of the capital, Kinshasa. Location Kimwenza is on a plateau above the main city of Kinshasa. It is near to the Petites Chutes de la Lukay ...
road.


Internal road

On 8 December 2022, Jean-Marie Kayembe Ntumba officially inaugurated the rehabilitation works of the internal roads at the site, pre-financed by EGECOK, which was carrying out these works in a short period of time, in consideration of the upcoming
Jeux de la Francophonie The Jeux de la Francophonie (Canadian English: ''Francophonie Games''; British English: ''Francophone Games'') are a combination of artistic and sporting events for the Francophonie, mostly French-speaking nations and former colonies of France ...
.


Nuclear reactor

The first nuclear reactor in Africa was built at the University of Kinshasa in 1958. The reactor, known as TRICO I, is a
TRIGA TRIGA (Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics) is a class of nuclear research reactor designed and manufactured by General Atomics. The design team for TRIGA, which included Edward Teller, was led by the physicist Freeman Dyson. Design ...
reactor built by
General Atomics General Atomics (GA) is an American energy and defense corporation headquartered in San Diego, California, that specializes in research and technology development. This includes physics research in support of nuclear fission and nuclear fusion en ...
. TRICO stands for a combination of TRIGA or “Training Isotopes General Atomic” and Congo. The reactor was built while the country was still under Belgian control, and with the assistance of the United States government, under the
Atoms For Peace "Atoms for Peace" was the title of a speech delivered by U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower to the UN General Assembly in New York City on December 8, 1953. The United States then launched an "Atoms for Peace" program that supplied equipment ...
program. TRIGA I was estimated to have a 50-kilowatt capacity and was shut down in 1970. In 1967, the African Union established a nuclear research center, the
Regional Center for Nuclear Studies The Regional Center for Nuclear Studies in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, (CREN-K, ), prior to 1970 known as the Trico Center (), houses the TRICO I and TRICO II nuclear research reactors. TRICO I was the first nuclear reactor on the A ...
and the United States agreed to provide another TRIGA reactor. The second reactor, TRICO II, is believed to have a one-megawatt capacity and was brought online in 1972. In 2001, the TRICO II reactor was reported to be operational, but was apparently put on standby in 1998. The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo stopped funding the program in the late 1980s, and the United States has since refused to ship replacement parts. International observers have long been concerned about the safety and security of the two nuclear reactors and the enriched uranium they contain.


Faculties and divisions

There are twelve academic divisions at the university: * Faculty of Arts and
Humanities Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture, including Philosophy, certain fundamental questions asked by humans. During the Renaissance, the term "humanities" referred to the study of classical literature a ...
* Faculty of
Law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been variously described as a science and as the ar ...
* Faculty of
Economics Economics () is a behavioral science that studies the Production (economics), production, distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics), consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interac ...
and Management * Faculty of Social Sciences Policy and Administrative * Faculty of
Engineering Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...
* Faculty of Science ** The following subjects are available to study in the Faculty of Science: Physics,
mathematics Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...
,
computer science Computer science is the study of computation, information, and automation. Computer science spans Theoretical computer science, theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, and information theory) to Applied science, ...
,
biology Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms. It is a broad natural science that encompasses a wide range of fields and unifying principles that explain the structure, function, growth, History of life, origin, evolution, and ...
, chemistry, geology. * Faculty of
Agricultural Sciences Agricultural science (or agriscience for short) is a broad multidisciplinary field of biology that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. Professiona ...
* Faculty of
Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feel ...
and
Educational Sciences Education is the transmission of knowledge and skills and the development of character traits. Formal education occurs within a structured institutional framework, such as public schools, following a curriculum. Non-formal education also fol ...
* Faculty of
Medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...
**The following subjects are available to study in the faculty of medicine: biological medicine, physical medicine and
dentistry Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the Human tooth, teeth, gums, and Human mouth, mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, dis ...
. * Faculty of
Pharmaceutical Sciences Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it links healt ...
* Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, medical diagnosis, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in non-human animals. The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all a ...
* Faculty of
Petrochemistry Petrochemicals (sometimes abbreviated as petchems) are the chemical products obtained from petroleum by refining. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, or renewable s ...
and Renewable Energies


Rankings

In the 2022 Eduranking, the university achieved a ranking of 62 out of 1,104 African universities. According to this ranking, UNIKIN holds the top position among the six higher education and university institutions in Kinshasa. Nationally, it leads the selection of 25 universities, and globally, it holds the 3063rd position out of 14,131 evaluated establishments.


Public figures


Former teachers

*
Marcel Lihau Marcel Antoine Lihau or Ebua Libana la Molengo Lihau (29 September 1931 – 9April 1999) was a Congolese jurist, law professor and politician who served as the inaugural First President of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Congo from 1968 un ...
, lawyer *
Mabi Mulumba Évariste Mabi Mulumba (born 22 April 1941) is a Congolese former politician. He was Minister of Finance of Zaire from October 1986 to January 1987. He served as the First State Commissioner of Zaire Zaire, officially the Republic of Zair ...
, Congolese politician


Notable alumni

* Didier Etumba, Congolese military officer * Sylvestre Ilunga, Congolese politician * Steve Wembi, Congolese criminologist and investigative journalist * Webe Kadima, Congolese academic *
Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary (born 29 November 1960) is a politician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who was a presidential candidate in the December 2018 presidential elections in the country. He was selected following consultations wit ...
, Congolese politician * Alain Daniel Shekomba, Congolese businessman, politician and physicist * Jacqueline Penge Sanganyoi, Congolese politician


See also

*
List of universities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo This is a list of universities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Universities Other institutions References {{Universities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo * Universities A university () is an educational institution, ...
*
Education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Primary education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is not free or compulsory. The education system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is governed by three government ministries: the ''Ministère de l'Enseignement Primaire, Se ...


References


Further reading

*


External links


Homepage of the University of Kinshasa
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Kinshasa Kinshasa (; ; ), formerly named Léopoldville from 1881–1966 (), is the Capital city, capital and Cities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa is one of the world's fastest-grow ...
Schools in Kinshasa 1954 establishments in the Belgian Congo Universities and colleges established in 1954 Lemba, Kinshasa