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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Collège de France, formerly called Collège royal, was founded in 1530 by François I on the advice of Guillaume Budé, bookstore master and humanist. The institution was designed to teach subjects ignored by the University of Paris, such as Greek, Hebrew or mathematics, inspired by the Collegium Trilingual of Leuven. The first "royal readers" were scholars paid by the king to spread humanist thought. The college has evolved over the centuries, becoming a symbol of academic excellence, with a motto: "Docet omnia" (He teaches everything).

The current building, located at Place Marcelin-Berthelot, was built in several phases. The architect Jean-François Chalgrin carried out expansion work in 1772, followed by Paul Letarouilly in the 19th century, who gave the college its present appearance. Subsequent changes, such as the addition of chemical and amphitheater laboratories by Albert Guilbert (1938-1946), modernized the infrastructure. In 1938, four pieces of the administrator were decorated by renowned architects-decorators, including Francis Jourdain and Pierre Chareau.

The Collège de France is distinguished by its free, non-diplomatic and inclusive teaching model, which focuses on research and interdisciplinarity. It now has 52 chairs in seven departments, ranging from mathematics to social sciences. Teachers, elected by their peers, enjoy prestigious status and great academic freedom. The institution is also a pioneer in digital dissemination of knowledge, with over 14,000 videos and 10,000 audios available online.

The Collège de France maintains international partnerships, such as the host chair at the Collège Belgique (2009) or its participation in the Paris Sciences et Lettres Foundation (2010). His libraries, among the richest in the world in fields such as Byzantine studies or Egyptology, are labeled "Collections of Excellence". The institution continues to evolve, with recent projects such as the inauguration of the Institute of Civilizations in 2024.

Among the notable innovations, the Collège de France was the first to broadcast its podcast courses free of charge in 2006. He also works with Radio France to expand access to his teachings. His history reflects a constant adaptation to scientific advances, while preserving his humanist heritage founded under Francis I.

Future

The Collège de France provides high-level non-graduate courses in scientific, literary and artistic disciplines. Education is free and open to all without registration, making it a special place in French intellectual life. To be appointed professor at the Collège de France is considered one of the highest distinctions in French higher education.

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