Definición y significado de Nation_(university)

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A nation (Latin: natio meaning being born^[1][2]) are regional corporations of students at university, once widespread across central and northern Europe in medieval times, they are now largely restricted to the two ancient universities of Sweden. The students, who were all born within the same region, usually spoke the same language, and expected to be ruled by their own familiar law. The most similar comparison in the Anglo-world to the nation system is in the collegiate system of older British universities or fraternities at American universities; however, both of these comparisons are imperfect.

In the University of Paris there were the French, Normans, Picards, and the English, and later the Alemannian nation. Jean Gerson was twice elected procurator for the French natio (i.e. the French-born students at the University) in 1383 and 1384, while studying theology at Paris. Also at Paris, Germanic speakers were grouped into a single nation.^[3][4]

There were also smaller subdivisions, even cities, like Natio Misnensium^[5] for students from Meissen at the University of Leipzig, established in 1409, where other nationes were those of the Saxonum, Bavarorum, and Polonorum.[7] A similar division of students had been adopted at the Charles University in Prague, where from its opening in 1347 the studium generale was divided among Bohemian, Bavarian, Saxon, and Polish nations. When there was not a "natio" of a given nationality, students were choose another nation. At the University of Bologna, Nicolaus Copernicus in 1496 enrolled into the natio germanorum (Natio of the Germans).^[6][7][8] a priveleged university organization that included German-speaking students from many regions of Europe.^{[9] [10]}

Scotland

Nations exist in some of the ancient universities in Scotland, although their significance has largely been forgotten.

St Andrews

The University of St Andrews, in common with continental universities at the time of its founding, was divided into nations each presided over by a Procurator. The four nations were originally Albania, Angusia, Laudonia and Britannia covering approximately North West, North East, South East and South West Scotland. Later, the original Albania was renamed Fifa, while Britannia became Albania and included the Western Isles and all places outside of Scotland.^[11]

The four nations each chose an “intrant”, who in turn chose the Lord Rector. At that time the duties of Rector were similar to those of the Principal of the university today. In case of a tie, the decision was left to the outgoing Lord Rector. ^[12]

The use of the nations system for rectorial elections was discontinued after the national establishment of elected Rectors under the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858.

Glasgow

At the University of Glasgow the use of nations continued until 1977 for the election of the university's Lord Rector. The University has four nations, originally called Clidisdaliae (Clydesdale), Thevidaliae (Teviotdale), Albaniae (Albany) and Rosay (Rothesay), and later as Glottiana, Loudoniana, Transforthana and Rothseiana. Respectively, their heraldic symbols are: a two headed bird over crossed tools, an anchor over crossed tools, a horn over crossed tools and a sailing ship over crossed tools.

Three of the 'nations' consisted of defined areas in Scotland, with Loudoniana consisting of students from all other places.^[13] The heraldic symbols of the nations can be seen in the stonework of a number of university buildings, including the Glasgow University Union and the chapel, under the Latin title of the university. ^[14]

Aberdeen

The University of Aberdeen also had a system of nations.^[15] Following the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858, the use of nations to elect the Lord Rector continued via the election of Procurators, similar to the system used at the University of Glasgow, with the Chancellor having deciding vote in case of a tie.

Prior to the 1858 Act, Glasgow and Marischal College, one of Aberdeen's predecessor universities, were alone in making provision via the nations for election of a Rector. ^[16]

Sweden

At the Swedish universities of Uppsala and Lund, a system of student nations (nationer) remains, according to which each student at the university must enroll in a nation. These are named on regional lines, where the nations in Lund take their names from provinces and areas in southern Sweden, and those in Uppsala take their names from all over Sweden, except for the Scanian lands, the traditional catchment area for Lund, which was founded in 1666 to provide higher education for the youth in the newly-conquered areas. (There is a "Skånelandens nation" in Uppsala, but it has no activity, and only exists as a legal fiction for those students who do not wish to take part in the activities of the other nations.)

Traditionally, students were required to be members of the nations whose area one came from, but with one exception (Södermanland-Nerikes nation at Uppsala), this requirement is now voided. The nations are in charge of the kinds of social activities which are at other universities normally handled by the student unions, such as bars, clubs, theatre companies, orchestras, sports societies, and also some housing.

See also

• Corporation (university)
• Landsmannschaft (Studentenverbindung)
• Student organizations in Sweden (nationer)

References