Imagine stepping back in time to 1821. The newly independent nation of Argentina was pushing for a university in its capital. That dream became reality. The Rectorado, the heart of the Universidad de Buenos Aires, was officially founded.
At the Rectorado, cleric Antonio Sáenz was appointed as the first Rector. He was instrumental in Buenos Aires getting its own university.
The Rectorado witnessed conflicts. There were clashes between those wanting a laicist approach and those defending a traditional religious education. Existing institutions merged into the university. Courses from the Consulate of Buenos Aires and the Military Medical Institute were transferred. Law professors came from the Academia de Jurisprudencia. This allowed the Rectorado to start medicine and law degrees right away.
During Juan Manuel de Rosas’ rule, free access was suspended. Student numbers decreased. Budget cuts meant professors weren’t paid. However, Francisco Javier Muñiz made strides in paleontology. After Rosas fell in 1852, the Rectorado’s situation improved. The government prioritized higher education.
In 1863, the Rectorado established the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires. In 1869, the first twelve Argentine engineers graduated. By 1909, new faculties were created such as Agronomy and Veterinary Sciences.
The federalization of Buenos Aires in 1881 made the Rectorado dependent on the national state. During the Generation of ’80, the Rectorado progressed in scientific research. The 1880s also saw the first women graduates: Élida Passo and Cecilia Grierson.
In June 1918, a student movement in Córdoba caused a shockwave. Students protested for university autonomy and democratic governance. The University Reform granted UBA co-governed institutions.
The Rectorado’s co-governance was suspended during Juan Domingo Perón’s presidency. In 1949, access to public universities became free. Student numbers grew.
The 1955 Revolución Libertadora re-established autonomy. However, it also persecuted Peronists. Further repression followed during Juan Carlos Onganía’s dictatorship. The Night of the Long Batons saw violent removal of students and professors. Hundreds were detained. Many professors went into exile.
In 1974, a law mandated university autonomy. Despite this, Alberto Ottalagano launched a campaign of persecution. Up to 4000 professors were fired.
After the 1976 coup, state terrorism followed. Research was censored. Books were burned. The dictatorship suspended degrees.
With democracy’s return in 1983, autonomy was re-established. The Ciclo Básico Común was created in 1985. In 1988, the Faculty of Social Sciences was established.
Today, the Rectorado leads thirteen self-governing faculties. It administers hospitals, museums, scientific institutes, and high schools. The Rector and Consejo Superior govern the university. Deans and representatives are elected every four years.
The University of Buenos Aires is one of the most prestigious universities in Ibero-America. It is known for its teaching quality and research. Five Nobel Prize winners were students or professors here. Seventeen presidents graduated from UBA. The last one was Alberto Fernández.
The University of Buenos Aires continues to stand as a beacon of knowledge. It upholds its commitment to culture and Argentine progress. The Rectorado remains a symbol of education and intellectual pursuit.