The uB over the years

Warning

This historical timeline offers a selection of the most important events in the history of the University.

For more detailed contents, you are welcome to consult the timeline in French.

Thanks to the support of Louis-Henri de Bourbon-Condé, Governor of the province of Burgundy, the decision was made to create a university in Dijon endowed with four faculties.

The Regent, in the name of the King, issued an edict in Versailles establishing a single faculty of law in Dijon, a rare case of a single-faculty university, considering the opposition of other universities such as the university of Besançon and the Sorbonne.

The Letters Patent specify the functioning and organization of the university.

Its seal, on which appears the inscription UNIVERSITAS BURGUNDIAE, is also designed.

First official opening of the university, then housed in the convent of the Jacobins, which has now disappeared and been replaced by the central market hall.

117 enrollments were recorded.

Revolutionary turmoil swept over the university in Dijon.

For lack of funds, it closed its doors in 1792, and on September 15, 1793, the universities were dismantled by decree.

Napoleon Bonaparte approved the creation of a law school in Dijon.

Napoleon I’s decree founded theoretical and practical courses in medicine and pharmacy in Dijon.

Dijon became the seat of an academy, a rectorate and faculties of law, letters and sciences.

Until the end of the Empire, the faculties in Dijon were not particularly active.

The city of Dijon took on a major role in the defense and survival of its university faculties. 

Dijon academics became involved in the defense against the Prussian occupation of Dijon (Franco-German war).

The law of July 10, 1896 created modern universities, including that of Dijon.

Three days of celebrations and a solemn session of speeches by academic and public figures were organized.

Creation of the committee of sponsors for foreign students to promote their material and personal well-being, in addition to the support of the faculties which organized courses for them.

Foundation of the oenological and agronomic institute, with its library containing hundreds of samples of wines of various origins and its monthly practical oenological magazine, Le petit viticulteur bourguignon, published from 1901.

Louis Renault, born in Autun and professor at the Faculty of Law in Dijon between 1868 and 1873, received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work as the first French international jurist and member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

The beginning of the war and the mobilization of the army were a blow to the very core of the university.

Its operations were disrupted by the events, money became scarce, and its premises were requisitioned. 194 of its students died for France (20% of the 1914 student body).

The university accepted in legacy the wine estate of Jean-Baptiste Hippolyte Lucotte located in Marsannay-la-Côte, to be used for research and teaching.

First threats of closure. The period between the two world wars was a time of disillusionment for the University of Dijon, which was not recovering well from the rupture created by the conflict.

It had lost its dynamism, appeared weakened and feared that it would be closed down, as rumors spread across the country.

Celebration of the bicentennial of the University of Dijon and its Faculty of Law in the presence of the President of the Republic, Alexandre Millerand, who was pleased to have presided over a ceremony at which a number of solemn commitments were made, guaranteeing the future of the university and saving it temporarily.

The first title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Dijon was awarded to Henri Pirenne, Belgian historian. 

The financial crisis of 1934 triggered a serious budget deficit that threatened the University of Dijon in particular.

Albert Lebrun, President of the Republic, cancelled this project, refusing to close the University of Nancy, city of his birth, and in the process saving the University of Dijon as well…

Georges Connes, an English professor at the university and an active member of the Resistance, was appointed mayor of Dijon on September 22, 1944.

He welcomed General de Gaulle in October.

The final threats of closure. The university found itself in a critical financial situation.

A bill provided for the suppression of the faculty of sciences in Dijon and Besançon and the distribution of the teaching of literature between the two universities. Canon Kir intervened at the National Assembly and obtained the withdrawal of the bill.

The new rector, Marcel Bouchard, assumed his duties.

He was surprised by the university, which was confined to cramped and inadequate premises, and decided to give it the space it needed to develop, taking as a model the campuses of English and American universities, which constructed their buildings on a single site.

René Billères, Minister of National Education, inaugurated the Faculty of Sciences and laid the foundation stone of the Faculty of Law and Economics.

After ten years of tenacious efforts, Rector Bouchard wrote “that its completion signaled the end of difficult times and seemed to herald peaceful years for the university…”

Since 2012, the Gabriel building has been listed as a historic monument.

General de Gaulle, President of the Republic, visited the Faculty of Sciences and the campus under construction.

He praised the contributors to this achievement, including Rector Bouchard.

Creation in Dijon of the conference of rectors and vice-chancellors of European universities, for the purpose of promoting cooperation. Rector Bouchard became its first president.

The INRA took up residence on campus in a new building.

Inauguration of the Faculty of Law and Economics, in a building bringing together the faculties of law, letters and the humanities.

The new university library, a university residence and the thermal power station planned to heat the whole campus are inaugurated.

The IBANA, Institute of Applied Biology in Nutrition and Food, was officially established as a university institute.

Inauguration of the Bocage Hospital, a new university hospital center (CHU).

On the occasion of the international colloquium on student housing, the 4th pavilion of university housing for male students and the university restaurant were inaugurated.

Two chemistry laboratories in Dijon were accredited by the CNRS in October 1966: LA23 (research on the reactivity of solids – LRRS) and LA33 (organic polarography).

The Institute for the Training of Specialized Educators (IFES) opened on the campus.

The large prefabricated sports hall of 3000m² was built and opened in 1967.

Creation of a mixed faculty of medicine and pharmacy, whose building opened at the start of the 1968 academic year.

Massive student demonstrations never before seen in Dijon.

A general student strike, marches (for or against the strike), building occupations and general assemblies marked May 1968. The Faure law and the creation of autonomous universities headed by an elected president followed.

Creation of the University Institute of Technology of Dijon, whose four departments launched their operations in October 1968.

Creation of a mixed faculty of medicine and pharmacy, whose building opened at the start of the 1968 academic year.

Opening of the two large amphitheaters Plato and Aristotle (600 and 800 seats).

Opening of the Mirande Faculty of Sciences.

The presidency established its offices and those of the university’s administrative services in the new building.

Election of the first university president. Dijon caused a sensation with the election of the first female president of a university in France : Françoise Moret-Bailly, 37, a professor of mathematics.

Resignation of Françoise Moret-Bailly against a backdrop of budgetary difficulties.

Pierre Feuillée, 41 years old and professor of geology, was elected second president of the university.

Installation of Gottfried Honegger’s “Homage to Jacques Monod” on the square in front of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy.

A first for the university, which has since continued to erect monumental works of art near its buildings.

The Université pour tous de Bourgogne (UTB), a kind of open university, offered its first courses, thus continuing the policy of university outreach.

First international agreements and partnerships, notably with the University of Mainz (Germany).

Roger Guillemin, born in Dijon in 1924 and a medical student here, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discoveries on endorphins that regulate the pituitary gland and the pancreas.

He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Dijon in 1978.

Jacques Vaudiaux, lecturer in political science, was elected third president of the university.

Airing of the first Radio Dijon Campus program, reporting on university and cultural life with interviews of national and international artists (Christophe, Daft Punk, Muse…).

https://archives.radiodijoncampus.com/sounds/

Inauguration of the Atheneum cultural center, one, if not the first on a university campus in France.

Roger Paris, a 42-year-old biologist, was elected the university’s fourth president.

The University of Dijon changed its name to University of Burgundy (as it was named on its seal of 1722).

Implementation of the European ERASMUS program promoting the first student exchange programs.

Gilles Bertrand, 43 years old and professor of chemistry-physics, was elected fifth president of the university.

The University of Burgundy, which had been present in Le Creusot since 1975, expanded its presence in the region with the opening of programs in Chalon-sur-Saône, Nevers, Auxerre and Mâcon.

Presentation of the development plan for the Dijon campus, designed by Rémi Zaugg, artist, Pierre de Meuron and Jacques Herzog, associated architects based in Basel, future winners of the 2001 Pritzker Prize (considered the Nobel Prize for architecture) for their work as a whole, including the Antipodes university residence on the Montmuzard campus.

Inauguration of the Condorcet University Center in Le Creusot.

The Institut Supérieur de l’Automobile et des Transports, the only public engineering school for the automotive sector, was inaugurated by François Mitterrand.

Jocelyne Pérard, 53-year-old geography professor, elected sixth president of the university.

Inauguration of several new buildings, including the “Maison de l’université.”

Bernard Laurin, 51, was elected the university’s seventh president.

The university implemented the LMD system (Licence-Master-Doctorat), the new standard for degrees in European higher education (Bologna Process).

Jean-Claude Fortier, 62, professor of public law, was elected president of the university.

Jean-Claude Fortier promoted the creation of a Bourgogne Franche-Comté research cluster with the University of Franche-Comté.

Inauguration of the Maison de l’étudiant, in the center of the Dijon campus.

Establishment of the UNESCO Chair “Wine Culture and Traditions,” the only one in the world to focus on these themes.

Inauguration of the “Colette Besson” athletics stadium, certified World Athletics in 2021 and preparation center for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Election of Sophie Béjean, 43-year-old economics professor, as the university’s ninth president.

The university’s project was selected by an international jury in the context of the “operation for the campus,” which provided for the development of the Dijon campus : multiplex hall, tramway, regional innovation center, etc…

Creation of Agrosup Dijon: agronomic, food and environmental sciences.

Alain Bonnin, 53, professor of parasitology, was elected the university’s tenth president.

Inauguration of the green data center. Its innovative cooling system optimizes us of heat from the university heating network.

The Shanghai Ranking system distinguished the University of Burgundy, placing it in the 23rd spot among French universities.

Vincent Thomas, 53, professor of private law, was elected the university’s eleventh president.

The University Science Library became Le Cortex, offering a range of new services and innovative facilities.

Day of celebrations for the 300-year anniversary of the University of Burgundy on all its campuses.