University François Rabelais

The University of Tours was founded in 1971, in accordance with the Loi Faure, which - after the events of 1968 - wants to modernize and democratize the structures of higher education. It brings together the higher education institutions that exist at that time5. Before the creation of the Academy of Orleans-Tours (1961), there was no faculty in Tours. There was only a center for Renaissance studies (dependent on the Faculty of Arts of Poitiers), which became the Center for Renaissance Studies and a "School of Medicine". The latter is transformed into a Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy and the Ministry creates a Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences and a University College of Science. Then, in October 1968, a University Institute of Technology opens with its first two experimental courses, "Careers of Information" and "Careers Sociales". A college of law and economics dependent on the University of Orléans. All the premises are either temporary installations in old premises or temporary constructions. The first new building was the I.U.T in Tours-Nord in 1969/1970. It will be completed on the same site of a specific building for biology in 1972. Then comes, on the banks of the Loire, the "Faculty of Letters" in 1971/1972 which hosts the three Units of teaching and research ) (English, Letters, Humanities), born on the occasion of the creation of the University.