What is Chalmers University Of Technology?

Chalmers University of Technology Chalmers tekniska högskola
Logo of Chalmers University of Technology
Motto	Avancez
Established	1829
Type	Private University
President	Prof. Karin Markides
Staff	2,500
Undergraduates	10,500
Doctoral students	1
Location	Gothenburg, Sweden
Campus	Urban
Affiliations	EUA
Website	[1]

Chalmers University of Technology or Chalmers tekniska högskola (CTH), often Chalmers, is a university in Gothenburg, Sweden, that focuses on research and education in technology, natural science and architecture. The THES (2005) ranking classifies it as the top university in Sweden and among the top research schools in Europe. The University has very strong Environmental Science, Nanotechnology, IT, Bioengineering, Industrial Design, Management and Architecture departments.

History

The University was founded in 1829 following a donation by William Chalmers, a director of the Swedish East India Company, whose ships sailed across the world to supply Europe with goods from the East. He donated some of his fortune for the establishment of an “industrial school”. Chalmers was run as a private institution until 1937, when the institute became a state owned university. In 1994, the school once again became a private institution, owned by a foundation. Chalmers is the only university in Sweden named after a person.

Departments

On January 1, 2005, the old schools were replaced by new departments:

1. Applied Mechanics
2. Applied Physics
3. Architecture
4. Chemical and Biological Engineering
5. Civil and Environmental Engineering
6. Computer Science and Engineering
7. Energy and Environment
8. Fundamental Physics
9. Materials and Manufacturing Technology
10. Mathematical Sciences
11. Microtechnology and Nanoscience
12. Product and Production Development
13. Radio and Space Science
14. Shipping and Marine Technology
15. Signals and Systems
16. Technology Management and Economics

In addition to these, Chalmers is home to six national competence centres in key fields like Mathematical Modelling, Environmental Science and Vehicle Safety (SAFER).

There is also a University College affiliated with the university.

Students

Approximately 40 per cent of Sweden’s graduate engineers and architects are educated at Chalmers. Each year around 250 post graduate degrees are awarded as well as 850 graduate degrees. About 1,000 post-graduate students attend programmes at the university and many students are taking Master of Science engineering programmes and the Master of Architecture programme. Chalmers, as a truly international institution, also administers a number of Master programmes taught in English mostly to foreign students. The University offers over 30 such programmes at present. Currently about 10% of all students at Chalmers come from countries outside Sweden to enroll in a Master's or Ph.D. programme taught in English.

List of International Masters Programmes at Chalmers

Updated List of International Masters Programmes at Chalmers (starting autumn 2007)

Around 2,700 students also attend Bachelor of Science engineering programmes, merchant marine and other undergraduate courses at the Chalmers Lindholmen University College. Chalmers also shares some students with Gothenburg University in the joint IT University project. The IT University focuses exclusively on information technology and offers Bachelor and Master programmes with degrees issued from either Chalmers or Gothenburg University, depending on the programme.

Chalmers confers honorary doctoral degrees to people outside the university who have shown great merit in their research or in society.

Organisation

Chalmers is run by a private foundation which appoints a university board and a university president. Further, each department is led by the department head, usually a member of the faculty of that department. The faculty Senate represents members of the faculty when decisions are taken.

Faculty

Campus

In 1937, the school moved from the city center to the new Gibraltar Campus, named after the mansion which owned the grounds, where it is now located. The Lindholmen College Campus was created in the early 1990s and is located on the island of Hisingen. Both campuses are connected by bus line number 16, but there have been numerous complaints that the campuses are too isolated from each other.

Societies and traditions

In Chalmers tradition is taken very seriously. From the pompous graduation ceremony to the for-fun Cortège procession everything is based on long-standing traditions.

• Chalmers Students' Union
• Chalmers Aerospace Club
• Chalmers Ballong Corps
• Chalmers Computer Society
• CETAC
• Chalmers Choir
• The Cortège
• Chalmers International Reception Committee (CIRC)
• XP
• Chalmers Program Committee - PU

Ties and Partnerships

Chalmers has partnerships with major industries mostly in the Gothenburg region such as Ericsson, Volvo and SKF. The University has general exchange agreements with many European and US universities and maintains excellent relations with National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) in Taiwan.

NCTU Europe

People

• Abraham Langlet, chemist
• Gustaf Dalén, Nobel Prize Laureate
• Leif Johansson, CEO Volvo
• Peter Augustsson, CEO Saab Automobile
• Sigfrid Edström, director ASEA, president IOC
• Carl Abraham Pihl, engineer and director of first Norwegian railroad (Hovedbanen).
• Gert Wingårdh, architect

Rectors (Presidents)

Although the official Swedish title for the head is “rektor”, the university now uses “President” as the English translation.

1829-1852	Carl Palmstedt
1852-1881	Eduard von Schoultz
1881-1913	August Wijkander
1913-1933	Hugo Grauers
1934-1943	Sven Hultin
1943-1958	Gustav Hössjer
1958-1966	Lennart Rönnmark
1966-1974	Nils Gralén
1974-1989	Sven Olving
1989-1998	Anders Sjöberg
1998-2006	Jan-Eric Sundgren
2006-	Karin Markides

See also

• Göteborg University
• IT University of Göteborg
• Royal Institute of Technology
• List of universities in Sweden

External links

• Chalmers University of Technology - Official site
• Chalmers Student Union
• Chalmers Alumni Association
• Chalmers International Reception Committee

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