Autonomous University of Baja California - History

History

The Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) was officially formed on February 28, 1957 by organic law declaration as the result of a movement initiated by a group of professionals, businesspersons, scholars, and students.

This law establishes the principles in which the university was conceived: as a public service institution, separating it from the state's administration but with full judicial capacity. It assigns the goal of promoting high school and higher education to create professionals, promote scientific research and extend the benefits of culture enrichment. The law also establishes that in order to achieve such goals, the university is inspired under the principles of freedom of religion and freedom to explore, with the purposes of gathering the flowing scientific and social minds, without engaging in political, pro-militant activities.

On August 2 of the same year, the Pro University State Committee was formed and in 1959, the first university president was elected. A year later, the schools of Pedagogy, Marine Science, and a high school were formed in Tijuana.

Between 1961 and 1962, the Schools of Economics and Commerce and Administration were incorporated in Tijuana, as well as a high school in Tecate. In 1969, the School of Tourism was created. Between 1971 and 1979, the School of Medicine, Odontology and Chemical Sciences were formed. In 1986, the School of Humanities was born and in 1989, the School of Engineering was built in Tecate.

Between October 1980 and January 1981, UABC was the stage of a strike movement carried out by faculty, staff and students in an effort to improve the democratic academic process and labor conditions within the university and the region. The movement had mixed results where protests turned to riots eventually leading to the involvement of the government and police forces. Some students, staff, and faculty were forced to leave the university.