Bolivarian University of Venezuela

The Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela (UBV, English: Bolivarian University of Venezuela) is a state university in Venezuela founded in 2003 by decree of President Hugo Chávez.

Bolivarian University of Venezuela
Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela
TypePublic
Established2003
RectorYadira Cordoba
Students180,000 (as of 2006)
Location
Caracas
,
Venezuela
Websiteubv.edu.ve

The UBV is a part of the Chávez government's "Mission Sucre" social programs, which aim to provide free higher education to the poor. Consequently, enrollment at the UBV is free and open to all, regardless of academic qualifications, prior education or even nationality. The government expects the student body to grow to 1 million by 2009, with more than 190 satellite classrooms throughout Venezuela.[1]

The education programme at the UBV is generally in line with Hugo Chávez's socialist vision of a Latin American "Bolivarian Revolution". Opposition leader Julio Borges though, labels it a "thinly disguised propaganda factory that takes advantage of the country's most vulnerable citizens".[1] However, others are more optimistic. Maria Ejilda Castellano, the rector of the Bolivarian University in Caracas, has said that the institution is designed to benefit the poor precisely by encouraging the open exchange of ideas. Castellano said that the Bolivarian University is based on UNESCO principles for education and that "The professional produced by this institution will work for the transformation of society. She will be a critical thinker who can stimulate others and generate questions."[2]

Courses
The UBV's main campus in Los Chaguaramos, Caracas.

The following courses are offered at UBV:

Locales

The University will have branches in the most important regions in Venezuela. At the present time there are branches in:

Student acceptance

Candidate students must be high-school graduates. As distinguished from the rest of Venezuelan universities, they are assigned by the Mission Sucre. As of January 2011, the UBV has awarded over 120,000 degrees.[3]

References
  1. Monte Reel (2006-05-25). "Chavez Educates Masses at a University in His Image". The Washington Post. p. A21.
  2. Maria Ejilda Castellano and Justin Podur (2004-09-19). "Revolutionary University". Znet. Archived from the original on 2005-03-20.
  3. "UBV ha otorgado más de 120 mil títulos desde su creación en Noticias24.com". Archived from the original on 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela.

10°29′15″N 66°53′9″W

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.