The University of Deusto was inaugurated in 1886. The concerns and cultural interest of the Basque Country in having their own university, as well as the interest of the Jesuits in establishing higher studies in some part of the Spanish State coincided in its conception. Bilbao, a seaport and commercial city which was experimenting considerable industrial growth during that era, was chosen as the ideal location.
Bilbao is the centre of a metropolitan area with more than one million inhabitants, a city traditionally open to Europe. It is, in addition, an important harbour, a commercial and financial centre of the Basque Country and the north of Spain. In September of 1997, the city has undergone a significant transformation under a symbol, an emblematic building, the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. The central headquarters of the University of Deusto is situated on the opposite side of the estuary, facing the Guggenheim Museum.
In 1916, the "Universidad Comercial de Deusto" received the first group of students which would be the first graduates in Economic Sciences in Spain, 25 years before this degree was officially recognised.
In 1963, the Institute of University and Technical Studies of Guipuzcoa in San Sebastian was formed by the integration of three already-existing entities. This institute, years later, would form a part of the University of Deusto. Therefore, the University is located on two campuses, in the two coastal capitals of the Basque Country: Bilbao and San Sebastian.
Beyond individual research and that research work which is co-ordinated from chairs such as Law and the Human Genome, Leisure and Disabilities, there is, in the institutional sphere, a clear option for the social topics of interdependency, distribution of resources, migration, human rights, development, poverty and environment, ethics and society. There are also studies about cultural identity (individual and collective), and European integration processes taking part in various international research groups.
Internationalisation, without excluding other regions, demonstrates a clear commitment to Europe and Latin America, having signed agreements with more than 200 universities.
With a mobility of approximately 1.300 students and 50 professors, the faculties, institutes and schools are also implicated in intensive programmes, European modules and joint curricular designs at various levels, at the same time as they participate in cross-border activities, integrated languages, ODL and Leonardo programmes. The entire University adopted the European credit system in the year 1994, and works to promote it and improve its quality. As a matter of fact, Deusto was the first European university to extend the European credits to all its faculties.
University of Deusto, Spain
Web: http://www.deusto.es
Contact: University of Deusto
Iker Izquierdo,
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