UNAM commemorates 475 years of the University of Mexico

The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) is commemorating the 475th anniversary of the founding of the University of Mexico. The tradition dates back to September 21, 1551, when Prince Philip issued the Royal Decree that established the original institution.

During an extraordinary session of the University Council held at the Palace of the Old School of Medicine, Rector Leonardo Lomelí Vanegas emphasized the importance of university autonomy, public higher education, and collegiate governance. The university noted that while the current legal entity has undergone various reorganizations, the academic tradition spans nearly five centuries.

In a solemn session at the Chamber of Deputies, legislator Ricardo Monreal Ávila honored the institution’s history, describing it as an ‘epopeya del conocimiento’ (epic of knowledge). He highlighted the university's global prestige and its role in producing notable figures, including Nobel laureates Alfonso García Robles, Mario Molina, and Octavio Paz, as well as Mexico's first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.