The School of Engineering (Spanish: Facultad
de Ingeniería) at the National Autonomous
University of Mexico (UNAM) is the most prestigious
engineering school in Latin America and one
of the top engineering schools worldwide.
At the undergraduate level, it offers thirteen
majors and some graduate programs.
In fall 2008, the school of engineering had
over 10,900 undergraduate students and 1,115
graduate students and postdocs.
The School of Engineering offers undergraduate
studies in:
Biomedical systems engineering
Civil engineering
Computer engineering
Electrical and Electronic engineering
Geomatics engineering
Geophysical engineering
Geotechnical engineering
Industrial engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechatronics engineering
Mining and Metallurgy engineering
Petroleum engineering
Telecommunications engineeringThe studies
on Chemistry, as for chemical engineering,
are offered by UNAM's own School of Chemistry.
== History ==
The school of Engineering at the UNAM has
its origins as the Real Seminario de Mineria
(Royal School of Mining), which building is
still standing near the Zocalo in Mexico City.
After the university was closed in 1833, several
scientific institutes were established in
Mexico, all of them related to some branch
of engineering.
These eventually merged into a single institution
which in 1910 was put under the supervision
of the newly created UNAM and renamed to Escuela
Nacional de Ingeniería (National School of
Engineering).
In 1954 the school changes its location to
Ciudad Universitaria.
In 1959, with the creation of the Engineering
Institute and the availability of its first
graduate program, the school changes its name
to Facultad de Ingeniería.
The history of UNAM indicates that the School
of Engineering has been a strong technology
innovator, and today, student associations
focus on creating technological innovations.
UNAM's School of Engineering has made great
strides to include more women in technology.
It also organizes several tech events to help
its students become innovators and entrepreneurs.
The All Latina Hackathon was sponsored by
Google and took place in the computer engineering
department.
== Organization and departments ==
The school of engineering is organized in
divisions (somewhat the equivalent of departments),
each under the direct supervision of a Head
of division.
These are themselves coordinated and supervised
by the faculty dean, currently Carlos Agustín
Escalante Sandoval.
Fundamental Science Division (DCB):Is in charge
of subjects such as physics and mathematics,
every student has to take one or more subjects
of this department, specially during the first
4 semesters.
These subjects on fundamental science are
then common to all students and are often
regarded as the most difficult among all.
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Division
(DIMEI):In charge of the majors in the name,
is the contact between the school and the
industry, there are some programs for young
entrepreneurial and some courses that may
resemble a BA program in US
Civil and Geomatic Engineering Division (DICyG)The
civil Engineering division is one of the oldest
divisions and has great prestige.
Many famous researchers, and business leaders,
such as Carlos Slim have studied in this division.
Electrical Engineering Division (DIE): The
Electric Engineering Division is in charge
of three different bachelor's degrees: Electric
Engineering, Computer Engineering and Telecommunication
Engineering.
It is the biggest division by number of students,
as the degrees it offers have a high employment
rate.
This division, especially the computer engineering
department, has established many on-going
collaborations with industry and academia,
such as: Google, Intel, IBM, Oracle, Telmex,
Microsoft, Carnegie Mellon University, UC
Berkeley, Stanford, and Wikimedia Foundation.
The DIE has a head chair that coordinates
these different departments.
The current chair is Dr. Boris Escalante.
Each department also has its own chair and
coordinator.
The department with most students, faculty
and infrastructure is the Computer Engineering
department, whose current coordinator is professor
Norma Elva Chavez.
Earth Sciences Engineering (DICT):This division
is organizes the Mining, Petroleum, Geophysics
and Geology Engineering bachelor Programs.
Is one of the oldest divisions in the school
and currently has some joint programs with
PEMEX among other petroleum companies.
Distance and Continuing Education Division:As
the name implies, this division is in charge
of courses and diplomas for active professionals
who wish to stay up to date with current technological
trends or wish to stay in contact with the
academic community in some way other than
the conventional graduate programs.
Social Sciences and Humanities Division (DCSyH):In
charge of cultural activities and some subjects,
such as literature, ethics and history.
== Location and facilities ==
The school of engineering has numerous facilities,
most of which are located in Ciudad Universitaria
in Mexico City, between Faculty of Science
and the Faculty of Administration.
It has two libraries for undergraduate students
and one for graduate ones.
It also has some of Mexico's finest laboratories
for civil and mechanical engineering,and various
laboratories of electronic engineering with
cutting-edge technology.
== Noted alumni and faculty ==
Carlos Slim, (Civil Engineer, Business man,
and world's wealthiest person.)
Jesus Savage, (Professor in Computer Engineering,
researcher, and founder of the Mexican Institute
of Robotics)
Nabor Carrillo Flores (a soil mechanics expert,
a nuclear energy advisor and former president
of UNAM)
Rodolfo Neri Vela, (Professor in Telecommunications
Engineering and the first Mexican in space)
Daniel Vargas, (Electrical Engineer and Volleyball
Olympian)
Jordi Messeguer Gally, (Industrial Engineer
and PRD congressman)
Leda Speciale, (first Mexican woman to be
a civil engineer, and currently an honorary
professor in the school of engineering)
Enrique Martínez Romero, (Civil Engineer
of the Torre Mayor, and Mexico City's international
airport.)
Leonardo Zeevaert, (Civil Engineer of the
Torre Latinoamericana)
Mariana Gonzalez, (Electrical Engineer, Entrepreneur,
and co-founder of iluMexico, a Mexican social
enterprise, that bring solar electricity to
all Mexican homes)
es:Julián Adem (Professor, researcher and
civil engineer who developed important models
to predict climate conditions.)
es:Miguel Pedro Romo Organista (Civil Engineer,
professor and researcher who innovated in
building structures and materials to overcome
earthquakes.)
== UNAM School of Engineering rankings ==
According to the QS Universities Rankings
(2012) the School of Engineering is positioned
in the following rankings:
Computer and Electrical Engineering: 51-100
Civil Engineering:51-100
Mechanical Engineering:151-200
== Student organizations ==
The school of engineering has several student
organizations, among them a Tuna, a chorus
and a photo club.
Each major has its own student organization,
which is in charge of promoting activities
related to each specialization, such as extracurricular
courses, workshops or congresses.
SAFIR Sociedad Astronómica de la Facultad
de Ingeniería (Astronomical Society of the
Faculty of Engineering )Sitio oficial de SAFIR
en Facebook
=== Presidents of SAFIR ===
== Graduate programs ==
Each division within the school of engineering
organizes graduate programs.
There are also graduate programs in cooperation
with other graduate programs and other higher
education institutions in Mexico
