Javeriana University

Javeriana University Overview

The Pontifical Javeriana University (PUJ), established in 1623, stands as a distinguished private institution situated in both Bogotá and Cali, Colombia. Over its extensive history, PUJ has maintained an unwavering commitment to academic excellence, consistently garnering recognition in national and international rankings. For five consecutive years (2018-2022), Times Higher Education magazine acclaimed it as the top university in Colombia, while the QS World University Rankings placed it at the 13th spot in Latin America in 2023.

With a diverse student body, PUJ enrolls students across a wide array of disciplines. Notably, the academic programs in Medicine and Economics and Business Administration have earned special accolades, receiving recognition from Dinero magazine and the French Eduniversal ranking.

The university holds membership in several prominent academic organizations, including the Latin American Association of Jesuit Universities (AUSJAL). In terms of institutional quality, PUJ holds the distinction of being Colombia's first university to achieve the High-Quality Institutional Accreditation from the National Accreditation Council (CNA), renewing this accreditation successfully on two occasions.

Moreover, PUJ has demonstrated a substantial commitment to global issues in education, playing a leading role in discussions surrounding technology and integral ecology as part of the Global Education Pact.

History Colonial Period On July 19, 1621, Pope Gregory XV granted the university a document named "In Supereminenti," a legal document conferring "university value to the courses given in the colleges of the Society of Jesus in America" and granting "universal value to degrees." King Philip III, through a decree on February 2, 1622, ordered authorities in the Americas to execute the papal document, paving the way for the founding of Javeriana in the Jesuit College in Bogotá, now known as the Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé. Father Baltasar Mas, S.J., presented the Pontifical Brief and Royal Decree to the Academy of Santa Fe on June 13, 1623. Under these new conditions, the first Bachelor's degrees in Arts and Theology were awarded to those who had previously passed the corresponding courses at the Jesuit College in Bogotá, now called Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé.

On June 23, 1704, the Academy of San Francisco Xavier was elevated by Clement XII to the status of a Public University, under the Brief "In Apostolicae dignitatis." The King of Spain also ratified the Pontifical Brief. Two years later, the first Law lessons began at Javeriana University.

After 143 years of operation, on July 31, 1767, the Jesuits were expelled from the capital of the New Kingdom of Granada, marking the end of the university's first phase.

Contemporary Period On October 1, 1930, 163 years after the university's closure, the Founding Act of Javeriana University was signed, officially restoring the university in the Rectoral Hall of the Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé. The inaugural academic year commenced in 1931 with the Mass of the Holy Spirit held at the Church of San Ignacio in the Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé. On July 31, 1937, the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Holy See canonically erected Javeriana University and approved its statutes on August 24 of the same year. The following year, it was granted the title of Pontifical University.

Initially located in Plaza de Bolívar, the university's campus later moved to its current location at Carrera Séptima with Calle 40 in the 1940s. The first rector (see Appendix: Rectors of Javeriana University) was Father José Salvador Restrepo, S.J., who was also the rector of the Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé at that time.

On October 6, 1970, responding to requests from the Valle del Cauca community and specific efforts by a group of practicing accountants aspiring to obtain university degrees, a Public Accountancy program was initiated in Cali, marking the inception of the Javeriana University Cali Extension. On November 20, 1978, the university's governing council proposed the name "Seccional de Cali," with an organizational structure similar to the main campus in the capital and under the same higher authorities. At the request of the governing council, the board of regents adopted the name "Seccional de Cali."

On May 16, 1985, the university's statutes, approved by the Colombian Government, were ratified under Resolution No. 5117 from the Ministry of National Education.

In 2001, the National Accreditation Council (CNA) granted the university Institutional Accreditation of High Quality. On March 6, 2012, its accreditation was renewed for 8 years. On July 22, 2020, it received another renewal, this time for 10 years in the Multicampus category, becoming the first university in Colombia to receive such recognition.

Emblems and Symbols The descriptions that follow are derived from the General Regulations of Pontifical Javeriana University approved in 1979.