11 Facts About Universities

Universities (credit: apsce)

With lecture halls, student debt, late into the evening studying sessions, and perhaps one or two strange lecturers, I constantly assumed I understood what universities were all about. However, the further I explored, the greater the unforeseen facts I found. As it happens, universities are far more interesting, and occasionally strange, than we understand. Higher education has an entire overlooked aspect that does not appear frequently in the brochures, from embracing secret societies to implementing bats to guard libraries. So brace up if you believe you have witnessed everything there is to witness on campus. You could gain a whole new perspective on universities after reading these 11 facts.

1. Universities Have Existed For Over a Thousand Years: Although we often consider universities to be recent establishments, others, like the University of Al Quaraouiyine in Morocco, which was established in 859 AD, have existed for more than a thousand years. It is older than the majority of nations. The majority of these historic universities continue to be in existence presently, and they helped shape our current understanding of education.

2. Universities Originally Served Religious Purposes: Computer science and economics were not taught in the first universities. Actually, its main goals were to advance studies in religion and training clergy. Picture lengthy debates on sin, righteousness, and Latin grammar at institutions like the University of Bologna and the University of Paris, which placed a strong emphasis on philosophy and theology.

3. Universities Were The First to Formalize Academic Degrees: Have you ever questioned the origins of the bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees? Give medieval universities that responsibility or the credit. These establishments developed the structure that we currently use nowadays by formalizing the pathway to higher education. Although it has evolved throughout the ages, the fundamental framework is remarkably old.

4. Universities Can Exist Entirely Online: Complete universities currently are present without any physical structures due to the growth of digital learning. Online degrees with complete accreditation are available from universities such as the University of the People. This implies that a learner living in remote Kenya could obtain a degree equivalent to that of a learner in New York City without even needing to visit a campus.

5. Universities May Have Their Own Police or Security Forces: This particular one seems like a reach at the beginning. However, big universities like Ohio State and UCLA do have fully operational police departments. These campus police have the same investigative and arresting powers as city police. It is reasonable logic considering the vastness of certain universities. A number of them are significantly more populous than small towns.

6. Universities Sometimes Operate Their Own Power Plants: Universities require a lot of power. A number of them have constructed their own minimal power systems in order to maintain power 24/7. For instance, Cornell University has a power plant with combined heat and power that provides heating in addition to electricity throughout the harsh winters in Ithaca.

7. Universities Often Influence The Development of Cities: Consider Cambridge or Oxford. Maybe also Ann Arbor, Michigan. Universities in these cities have influenced and been influenced by them. Campus life dominates anything ranging from accommodation to entertainment to public transportation, and local economies frequently rely on university students. The university is frequently the city itself, not merely located within it.

8. Universities Occasionally Use Animals For Preservation: It becomes pleasantly unusual at this point. Certain institutions use animals like bats to keep off insects that consume books, especially those that have precious manuscripts. Bats reside in the library at the University of Coimbra in Portugal, and they emerge at night to consume pests that might cause damage to ancient manuscripts. Employees cover surfaces with tablecloths to keep bat waste off of them, and finally drop them off in the morning as if nothing had taken place. That is a collaborative effort.

9. Universities Can Be Tuition-Free: Yes, you read correctly. In addition to international students, public universities in nations like Finland, Norway, and Germany provide free or extremely inexpensive education. Learners in these nations can obtain excellent degrees without incurring lifelong debt, even though the average tuition in the United States is rising. Most learners would freeze at the sight of their loan debt.

10. Universities May Have Secret Societies or Exclusive Clubs: Have you ever heard rumours of strange clubs on campus? They are not basically envisions from movies. A number of them have existed for more than a century, such as UVA's Seven Society or Yale's Skull and Bones. They frequently involve powerful alumni, have secret gatherings, and have strange customs. Although specifics are unclear, there is no denying these clubs' influence on anything ranging from international connections to student governance.

11. Universities Sometimes Offer Unusual Degrees: Certain universities offer degrees in subjects like magic (University of Exeter's "Magic and Occult Sciences"), puppetry (University of Connecticut), as well as video game narrative, so forget about business or biology. These disciplines powerfully examine cultural backgrounds, interactions, and creative expression; they are not only with regard to innovation. This additionally demonstrates how much more adaptable the academic environment has become.

Summary: Higher Learning, Stranger Than Fiction

What number of the above were you previously familiar with? Not all eleven, most likely, which is the purpose. Universities are more than simply locations to study for tests or experience freedom for the first time. They are centers of invention, fascination, history, and, yes, a little craziness. I hope the above facts provided you a new perspective, whether you are preparing to attend university, employed in higher education, or simply missing your university years. Higher education is not limited to ivy League institutions. It is living, changing, and sometimes propelled by secret societies and bats. And truthfully? It is far more fascinating as a result.