The first modern university in Romania

 

The first modern university in Romania was established in Iasi in 1860, at the initiative of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza and with the special contribution of the then Minister of Education, Mihail Kogălniceanu.

The institution is considered the successor of the Michaelian Academy and was inaugurated in the building that today houses the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, '' Gr. T. Popa ''. At that time, it had three faculties: Philosophy, Law and Theology. Subsequently, various changes were made, being introduced the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences.

 

Before these steps, the first university course had already opened at the Faculty of Law (1858), with Gheorghe Mârzescu and Simion Bărnuțiu among the professors. The latter also dealt with the draft program of the Faculty of Theology. At the inauguration of the modern University, on October 26, 1860, in the presence of the authorities and the prince of the Romanian Lands, Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Gheorghe Mârzescu gave a speech that is just as current today: "public education is the means by which the ideas of justice and duty come to spread over the whole body bearing the title of state, nation or people, it rightly occupies an eminent place in the economy of peoples, because as it is more or less widespread in the circle of people, on it is said that that people are aware of its existence, freedom and independence ''. After the inauguration ceremony, a show with a full hall took place at the National Theater.

 

In the first year, the University of Iași had 105 students, most of them at the Faculty of Law. The first headquarters, the palace known today as Calimachi-Ghica, named after the first owners, actually belonged to Ruxanda Roznovanu, who sold it to the Ministry of Public Instruction.

For 30 years, courses and exams were held in halls that once hosted social gatherings.

The buildings were modernized later, from the initial architecture we still find today right in front of the Gate of Hope, on which the coat of arms of Moldova can be seen.

Increasing the number of students and diversifying specializations, the university needed another building, for which the University Palace of Copou was built, with 260 modern rooms, with lighting, heating, lecture halls, amphitheaters, laboratories and a university library.

 

Only the Faculty of Medicine remained in the old building, which later separated from the University and the Institute of Anatomy was built next to it.