About UNIKIN

University of Kinshasa

Founded in 1954 under the name Université Lovanium by the Catholic University of Louvain in collaboration with the Belgian Government, it became, through the reforms of 1971 and 1981, respectively the Université Nationale du Zaïre (UNAZA), Kinshasa Campus, and the University of Kinshasa.

The University of Kinshasa was established in 1954.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT, VISION, MISSION, GOALS AND VALUES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KINSHASA

Presentation of the University of Kinshasa

The history of the University of Kinshasa begins in 1924 with the creation, by the Catholic University of Louvain, of a medical association responsible for health and education in the Congo. This initiative led to the creation, by professors from that University, of the Fondation Médicale de l'Université de Louvain au Congo (FOMULAC), and later in 1927, of the first health facility built in Kisantu in Lower Congo, where the first nursing training course in the Congo was held.

In 1932, the University of Louvain created, on the same site, an agronomy section, to which were added a section of administrative and commercial sciences in 1936, and a section for medical assistants in 1937.

In 1947, these three sections were grouped under the name "Congolese University Center of Lovanium", which was transferred from the Kisantu site to that of Kimwenza, and which became Université Lovanium in 1952, later the University of Kinshasa on the current site of Mount Amba, covering an area of 400 hectares.

The first academic year of this new university was inaugurated in 1954 with enrolments in natural sciences, social and administrative sciences, pedagogical sciences, and agronomic sciences. Finally came the creation of the university clinics in 1957, which organized the first doctorate in medicine.

The TRIGA nuclear reactor (Training, Research, Isotope Production Generated in Africa) was installed at the new university in 1957 for the analysis of biological specimens from animals, plants, seeds, and chemical systems.

Because of its imposing infrastructure, the excellence of its programmes, the level and scope of its research activities, as well as the quality of its welcome, the new university was, from its creation, the most important and most renowned institution of university education in Central Africa and throughout sub-Saharan Africa. It was in this capacity that it welcomed certain African political celebrities, such as Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam (future President of Ethiopia), the Cameroonian Nzo Ekangaki (future Secretary General of the OAU), the Egyptian Mahmoud Riad (future Secretary General of the Arab League), and renowned speakers such as Albert Einstein, Igor Prigogine, Haroun Tazieff, Yves Cousteau, and Cheikh Anta Diop.

Nationalized in 1971, Université Lovanium became one of the campuses of the Université Nationale du Zaïre (UNAZA). It regained part of its autonomy in 1981, becoming the "University of Kinshasa". This nationalization heralded the decline of the University of Kinshasa, characterized by a progressive degradation of its heritage, a gradual disengagement of the State which could no longer subsidize the University, and a deterioration of working conditions for students, teachers, researchers, and administrative staff alike.

The 2004-2005 academic year had an enrolment of 23,250 students distributed across ten faculties (1. Agronomy, 2. Law, 3. Economics and Management, 4. Letters and Human Sciences, 5. Medicine, 6. Pharmacy, 7. Polytechnic, 8. Sciences, 9. Social, Administrative and Political Sciences, and 10. Psychology and Education Sciences). The academic and scientific body comprises 508 full professors, professors, and associate professors; the scientific body comprises 700 senior lecturers, assistants and professional practice instructors; administrative, technical and manual staff number 2,800 agents.

The vision of the University of Kinshasa

The University of Kinshasa intends to remain on the path of excellence laid out by its founders. It is committed to offering teaching and training guided by creativity, innovation and excellence.

The mission and values of the University of Kinshasa

The mission of the University of Kinshasa

The mission of the University of Kinshasa aims to make the student and that student's contribution to the economic and social development of their country the centre of all its training, research, and community development activities.

This mission consists of:

1. Providing comprehensive, high-level training to young people and adults admitted to the University, enabling them to adapt to society and participate in its evolution, and specific training adapted to the contingencies of their field of study;
2. Meeting the needs for welcoming and supporting students;
3. Making the University a research institution focused on excellence in its academic and professional functions;
4. Promoting the University's contribution to the development of the Kinshasa region in particular, and of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in general;
5. Promoting the creation of conditions for acquiring republican values and respect for the collective heritage.

The values of the University of Kinshasa

The University of Kinshasa intends to fulfil its mission by subscribing to the following fundamental values:

1. accessibility, by practising a policy of access to its programmes for all those who wish to pursue university studies, while maintaining rigorous admission criteria;
2. quality teaching, by offering relevant and stimulating training programmes that are in step with social and technological transformations in the world, so that graduates can integrate adequately into society and play a leading role therein;
3. staff competence, by fostering a stimulating environment for teaching, research and creation, in order to recruit and retain highly competent staff in all its activities;
4. excellence in research, development and creation, by supporting excellence both in traditional fields and in emerging fields;
5. academic freedom, by safeguarding and protecting the principle of academic freedom and intellectual autonomy, and by providing opportunities to stimulate critical thinking;
6. accountability and transparency, by implementing transparent and responsible management practices to ensure the quality of teaching and research programmes, as well as the competence of its staff;
7. equity, by prioritizing equity in the conduct of university affairs and in staff evaluation;
8. and openness to the world, by opening up to the world, notably through welcoming international students, student mobility programmes and exchange programmes for teaching staff.

The University Anthem

May the clouds disperse,
May the bad weather end.
The sun shines, the sun sings,
And from the top of the hill, the gaze can embrace
The path to travel, the road to progress.
Walk covered with probity, peace and justice,
Scientia, splendet et conscientia is your ideal.
You will pursue truth by using truth,
Scientia, splendet et conscientia is your ideal,
Carry high the sacred torch that enlightens your people,
Scientia, splendet et conscientia is your ideal.

Three colours: blue, yellow and red. In the blue colour, an open book on which is placed a spear pointing towards three stars. The book is knowledge. The spear is a weapon of combat. The stars are excellence.

1. The red colour symbolizes the blood of martyrs;
2. The yellow colour symbolizes wealth;
3. The blue colour symbolizes hope.

The University of Kinshasa is located approximately 25 km from downtown Kinshasa, in the commune of Lemba, more precisely on Mount Amba called "Inspired Hill" on an area of 400 hectares.

In all Faculties, the University of Kinshasa organizes a training curriculum spanning three cycles. First cycle: graduate diploma; second cycle: bachelor's degree plus engineering training; third cycle: doctorate.

1. Faculty of Law:
2. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences:
3. Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences:
4. Faculty of Medicine:
5. Faculty of Dental Medicine
6. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine:
7. Faculty of Petroleum, Gas and New Energies:
8. Polytechnic Faculty:
9. Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences:
10. Faculty of Sciences:
11. Faculty of Agronomic Sciences:
12. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences:
13. Faculty of Social, Administrative and Political Sciences:

• Kinshasa School of Public Health
• University Clinics of Kinshasa (CUK)
• Neuro-psychopathological Centre (CNPP)
• Mount Amba Hospital Centre (CHMA)

Research Centres and Institutes

The University of Kinshasa includes the following Research Centres and Institutes:

• Cardiology Centre;
• Interdisciplinary Centre for Political Studies and Documentation (CIEDOP);
• Institute for Historical Studies and Research on the Present;
• Institute for Economic and Social Research (IRES);
• Research Centre for Development;
• Research Centre for the Exploitation of Renewable Energy;
• Laboratory for Analysis of Medicines and Food;
• Centre for Parapsychological Studies and Research (CERP);

Regional Post-University Schools

1. Regional Post-University School for Integrated Planning and Management of Tropical Forests and Territories (ERAIFT)
2. Economic Policy Management Programme (GPE)
3. New Inter-University Third Cycle Programme in Economics (NPTCI)

Application Schools

• Mount Amba Medical Technical Institute (ITM-MA)
• Mount Amba School Group (GSMA)