# Université de Kinshasa > public university in Kinshasa, DRC **Wikidata**: [Q774520](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q774520) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Kinshasa) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/universite-de-kinshasa ## Summary Université de Kinshasa (UNIKIN) is a public university located in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Founded on January 15, 1954, it is the largest university in the country with over 29,000 students and serves as a major center for higher education in Central Africa. ## Key Facts - Founded on January 15, 1954, as the University of Kinshasa - Located in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo - Has over 29,554 students enrolled - Member of the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, Association of African Universities, and African Research Universities Alliance - Official motto is "Scientia Splendet et Conscientia" (Knowledge Shines and Conscience) - Coordinates: -4.41944° latitude, 15.30972° longitude - Website: http://www.unikin.ac.cd/ - Also known as UNIKIN, University of Kinshasa, and IAU-019594 ### Q: What is the full name and common abbreviation of Université de Kinshasa? A: The full name is Université de Kinshasa, commonly abbreviated as UNIKIN. ### Q: When was Université de Kinshasa founded? A: Université de Kinshasa was founded on January 15, 1954. ### Q: How many students attend Université de Kinshasa? A: Université de Kinshasa has over 29,554 students enrolled. ### Q: What is the motto of Université de Kinshasa? A: The motto of Université de Kinshasa is "Scientia Splendet et Conscientia" which means "Knowledge Shines and Conscience." ### Q: What organizations is Université de Kinshasa a member of? A: Université de Kinshasa is a member of the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, Association of African Universities, and African Research Universities Alliance. ## Why It Matters Université de Kinshasa plays a crucial role in higher education and research in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central Africa. As the largest university in the country, it serves as a primary institution for training professionals, researchers, and leaders across various disciplines. The university's membership in major international academic organizations like the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie and Association of African Universities demonstrates its significance in the global academic community. Its long history since 1954 has made it a cornerstone of educational development in the region, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and the development of human capital in the DRC. The university's research output and academic programs help address local challenges while participating in international scholarly discourse. ## Notable For - Largest university in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with over 29,000 students - One of the oldest universities in Central Africa, founded in 1954 - Member of prestigious international academic networks including ARUA and AUF - Serves as a major center for French-language higher education in Africa - Has produced numerous influential alumni in Congolese politics, science, and culture ## Body ### History and Foundation Université de Kinshasa was established on January 15, 1954, during the colonial period in what was then Belgian Congo. The institution has evolved significantly since its founding, growing from a smaller colonial-era institution to become the largest university in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. ### Academic Structure and Programs As a comprehensive public university, UNIKIN offers a wide range of academic programs across multiple faculties and institutes. The university serves as a major center for higher education in Kinshasa and the surrounding region, providing both undergraduate and graduate level education. ### International Affiliations The university maintains active membership in several important international academic organizations: - Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) - Association of African Universities (AAU) - African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) These memberships facilitate international collaboration, research partnerships, and student exchange programs. ### Research and Publications UNIKIN functions as an open-access publisher and maintains various research initiatives across different academic disciplines. The university contributes to both local and international scholarly discourse through its research output and academic publications. ### Location and Campus Located in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the university's main campus is situated at coordinates -4.41944° latitude and 15.30972° longitude. The campus serves as a major educational and cultural center in the city. ### Notable Alumni and Faculty The university has produced numerous prominent alumni who have gone on to serve in various capacities in Congolese society, including government, academia, and the private sector. Faculty members include distinguished scholars and researchers in their respective fields. ### Digital Presence and Resources UNIKIN maintains an official website at http://www.unikin.ac.cd/ and is recognized in various academic databases and directories including ROR (Research Organization Registry), GRID, and VIAF. The university also has a presence on Wikimedia projects and is categorized in the Library of Congress authority files. ## References 1. Directory of Open Access Journals 2. [Source](https://www.unirank.org/cd/uni/universite-de-kinshasa/) 3. GRID Release 2017-01-10 4. BnF authorities 5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20221123144401/https://www.auf.org/les_membres/nos-membres/) 6. [Source](https://www.aau.org/subs/membership/) 7. [Source](https://arua.org/member-universities/) 8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 9. GeoNames 10. [Source](http://www.sarua.org/?q=uni_Universit%C3%A9%20de%20Kinshasa) 11. GRID Release 2015-12-14 12. GRID Release 2016-12-06 13. Quora 14. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph 15. [Source](https://ror.org/05rrz2q74) 16. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format) 17. [Source](https://iatiregistry.org/publisher/dspd_unikin)