The Catholic University of the West (UCO; French: Université catholique de l'Ouest), 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 Stat ...

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 Marbodus, Marbod or Marbode of Rennes ( 1035 – 11 September 1123) was archdeacon and schoolmaster at Angers, France, then Bishop of Rennes in Brittany. He was a respected poet, hagiographer, and hymnologist. Biography Marbod was born near Anger ...

, 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 dioce ...

, 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. 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 pr ...

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 fir ...

. 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. 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 th ...

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 pr ...

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 ...

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 conside ...

. 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 r ...

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, 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 associate ...

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 departme ...

, Laval,

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 ...

Angoulême Angoulême (; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Engoulaeme''; oc, Engoleime) is a commune, the prefecture of the Charente department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Angoumoisins ...

Tours Tours ( , ) is one of the largest cities in the region of Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is the prefecture of the department of Indre-et-Loire. The commune of Tours had 136,463 inhabitants as of 2018 while the population of the whole metro ...

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 agglome ...

. The university then took the title of "Facultés Catholiques de l'Ouest." The University is regarded as one of the most prestigious private universities 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 Bohemia. His career was markedly unsuccessful. Born at the Château de Vincennes, Louis was the first of the Ange ...

(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 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, 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 onc ...

, 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.

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 do ...

(1846, in Sierck-les-Bains, 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 (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 pioneer of motor racing and automobile manufacturing. He started his sporting career as a successful cyclist. In 1891 he won the French National Staye ...

(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 historic ...

- 1965) - physician * Robert Corillion (1908, in Hanvec-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 depart ...

– 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 Univer ...

'' * (born 1941, in Clohars-Carnoët) - sociologist and ethnologist * Pierre Grandet - (born 1954) - egyptologist * Fred Poché (born 1960) - philosopher * Joseph Gelfer (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 metr ...

) - 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 -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 ...

(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, 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 ...

) - 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 German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the third-largest city in Germany, after Berlin and ...

) - 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 expec ...

(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