The University of Sonora (Universidad de Sonora, abbreviated as Unison) is a public university with a strong research program in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. The university was founded in 1942 and is considered the main cultural and educational driver in the state. The university motto is ("The knowledge of my children will be my greatness"). It is the largest university of Sonora with about 30,000 students (about 28,000 for undergraduate studies and 2,000 for postgraduate studies) distributed in five campuses.
Dr. Enrique Velázquez Contreras started his tenure as the University Rector in June 2017 for a period of four years (renewable). Under his leadership the university has prepared its Strategic Initiative putting special emphasis on the Internationalization of its academic and research programs.
Overview According to the (CENEVAL), Sonora has recently ranked fifth in the Mexican university ranking survey. It has six post-graduate subjects accredited in the level of academic excellence for the National Science and Technology Council (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de México, CONACYT). It is currently leader of the National Association of Mexican Higher Education Institutions (ANUIES) in northwestern Mexico.
Academics The University of Sonora has research departments and teaching schools in most academic disciplines. The university provides educational programs in the following colleges: Natural Science Engineering Exact Sciences Biological and Health Sciences Social Sciences Economics and Administration Humanities and Fine Arts
Postgraduate programs At the postgraduate level, Unison tends to be biased towards scientific subjects, but it also has a number of strong humanities and social science schools. There are 6 subjects accredited in the level of academic excellence for CONACYT.
Physics, PhD and Masters Mathematics, PhD and Masters Material Science, PhD and Masters Geology, Masters Engineering, Masters Food Science and Technology, PhD and Masters Inmunohematology, Postgraduate certificate Integral postgraduate of social sciences, PhD and Masters Psychology, PhD and Masters Business Administration, Masters
Admission Admissions processes at Sonora are based on qualifications relevant to their chosen undergraduate course, admission tests given by the university, and, in some subjects, interviews between applicants and faculty members.
Postgraduate admission is first decided by the department or research center relating to the applicant's subject. In recent years, UNISON has made greater efforts to attract overseas students.
Research institutes Physics Department (DIFUS) Research Centre of Physics (CIFUS) DICTUS Research Centre DIPA Research Centre
Campuses There are five campuses. Its main campus is located in the capital of the state of Sonora, Hermosillo. Hermosillo Caborca Navojoa Nogales Santa Ana Cajeme Huatabampo
Mobility of students UNISON intends to increase the access and mobility of its students within the Americas and the European Union area of higher education, contributing to the improvement of their professional skills and their access to better working opportunities in the northwestern region of the country.
Other items of interest The university is part of the UN Regional Coordination of Activities in Basic Space Science for America, an aerospace consortium based in Vienna, Austria, and co-sponsored by the European Space Agency.
Starting in the 2011 season, the university will have a team named "Búhos" (Owls) playing in one league of College Football in Mexico, the CONADEIP premier league.
Rectors Period Rector's name1942–1943 Prof. Aureliano Esquivel Casas1944–1946 Ing. Francisco Antonio Astiazarán1946–1953 Prof. Manuel Quiróz Martínez1953–1956 Ing. Norberto Aguirre Palancares1956–1961 Lic. Luis Encinas Johnson1961–1967 Dr. Moisés Canale Rodríguez1967–1968 Lic. Roberto Reynoso Dávila1968–1972 Dr. Federico Sotelo Ortiz1973–1982 Lic. Alfonso Castellanos Idiáquez1982–1987 Ing. Manuel Rivera Zamudio1987–1989 Ing. Manuel Balcázar Meza1989–1993 Mat. Marco Antonio Valencia Arvizu1993–2001 M.C. Jorge Luis Ibarra Mendívil2001–2009 Dr. Pedro Ortega Romero2009–2017 Dr. Heriberto Grijalva Monteverde2017–2021 Dr. Enrique Fernando Velázquez Contreras2021–presentDr. María Rita Plancarte Martínez
Collaborations with other universities Sonora State University ("Universidad Estatal de Sonora") Universidad Miguel Hernández
See also XHUS-TDT ("Televisión Universitaria", Unison's television station)
References
External links The University of Sonora website Universidad de Sonora Extension University Radio Station University Television Station Regional Coordination of Activities in Basic Space Science for America