University of Campinas
Young but with Tradition
Unicamp was officially founded on October 5, 1966, when the cornerstone was laid. Even compared with other Brazilian universities, the oldest of which was established 70 years ago, Unicamp can be considered a young institution and one that has already developed a strong tradition in education, research and services to society.
Unicamp: vista aérea do campus de CampinasThe project to create Unicamp was a response to the growing demand for qualified personnel in a region of the country – the State of São Paulo – that by the 1960s accounted for 40% of Brazil’s industrial capacity and 25% of its economically active population.
Unicamp broke with the Brazilian tradition of creating a university by simply accumulating courses and units. Instead, it was created based on an idea that included all of its present structure. This explains why, even before it was established, Unicamp had already attracted more than 200 foreign academics in a wide range of areas and about 180 academics from the best Brazilian universities.
Unicamp has three campuses – in Campinas, Piracicaba and Limeira – which are home to 22 teaching and research centers. It also has a vast hospital complex (two large hospitals in Campinas, and one in each of the neighboring towns of Sumaré and Hortolândia); 23 interdisciplinary centers; two technical high schools; and a series of support units within a universe of about 50 thousand people in which thousands of research projects are carried out.
Source: Unicamp