Corporation refers to different kinds of student organizations worldwide.
Generally, universities in the various European countries have student organizations called corporations. The name is derived from the Latin corporatio meaning a body or group. There was an earlier type of student organization, called a nation from the Middle Ages, where students from all over Europe at a particular university would unite according to national, (actually regional), lines. Today, student organizations at Sweden, Finland, and to a lesser degree, Scotland, are still termed nations, while most of the rest of European universities, the organizations are considered corporations.
Below are short entries on the organizations found at universities on a country by country basis. There are also redirects to longer articles.
Corporations in Austria
Sharing common roots, Austrian corporations are quite similar to their German counterparts. While Catholic corporations generally are associated with the Christian conservative Austrian Peoples Party (ÖVP) and are generally pro Austrian, especially Burschenschaften are involved with the right wing Freedom Party (FPÖ) and can be characterized as German national.
Corporations in Canada
For Canada, see Fraternities and sororities
Corporations in England
There are very few corporations in London, all of which were founded by foreign students from the continent.
Corporations in Estonia
Corporations in Estonia are very much like those in Germany, but foxes (first year members) don't wear colours, but a black cap instead. Estonian corporations usually have a Circinus stitched to their caps. It is the combination of letters V C F C (Latin sentence Vivat, craascat, floreat corporatio ...) and the initials of the name of the Corporation. Corporations are incredibly popular in Estonia. Similar student organisations with a strong historical background, but without the name "corporation", are also commonly referred to as corporations (these mainly include student societies).
Corporations in Finland
Corporations in Finland are called in Finnish osakunta, in English, "nations". The name refers to the historical custom of the continental universities where students usually formed corporations by their home nations. In Swedish universities the same practice was followed by the provinces but the name remained. The Finnish version of the name actually is an archaic form of department and is taken during the 19th century when the government tried to diminish the importance of Nations as a political arena.
It was traditional for students to belong to the nations of their provinces but the requirement was abolished in 1930s. Now Nations are a feature peculiar to the University of Helsinki, the oldest Finnish university. Their membership is, since 1937, voluntary and they concentrate on the student culture. There is also a Swedish-speaking Nation (Teknologföreningen) in Helsinki University of Technology.
In most universities, the primary form of corporations is the association of the students of particular subject. In the universities of technology, these are called guilds.
In addition to the voluntary corporations, every Finnish university student is also required to be a member of the general student corporation of the university, the Student Union (ylioppilaskunta, studentkår) which has a power to levy a membership fee. This corporation also has the legal power to represent the students in the university administration and in all other matters. It also organizes the health care of the students.
- See also: Nation (university)
Corporations in France
Corporations in France are mostly called "bureau des élèves" or "corpo".
Corporations in Germany
For Germany, see Studentenverbindung
Corporations in Italy
Corporations in Italy are called ordine goliardico.
Corporations in Latvia
Corporations in Latvia follow traditions similar to those in Germany. The first Latvian corporation, Lettonia was founded in 1870 at University of Tartu (then Dorpat). It combined beer, commercium songs and academic fencing traditions of German corporations with Latvian nationalism and a strong emphasis on Latvian culture. The first women corporation, Daugaviete, was founded in 1921 at University of Latvia. As of 2004, Latvia has 23 men and 13 women corporations, with about 10,000 members.
Corporations in Poland
The first Polish corporation (Konwent Polonia) was established in 1828 by the Polish students of the University of Dorpat. The second and third oldest corporations were established by the Polish students of the Riga Technical University: Arkonia (1879) and Welecja (1883). There were more than 100 corporations existing and established in Poland between 1918 and 1939. During communism in Poland (1944-1989) corporations were forbidden. Today about 15 corporations continue to be active in Poland, among them all three of the oldest: Konwent Polonia (in Gdańsk), Arkonia and Welecja (in Warsaw).
Corporations in the Netherlands
The first Dutch Corporation Vindicat atque Polit was established in the Dutch city of Groningen, on 4 February 1815 by Dutch students. More corporations were established soon in the cities of Utrecht, Leiden, Delft, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Wageningen.
During the first half of the 19th century, it was very common for every student to join such a student corps (pl. corpora). At the beginning of the 20th century, more types of corporations were established, and many had religious grounds.
During World War II all corpora not willing to suscribe to the new German law that Jewish students no longer could become member of non-commercial unions, the corpora closed down and went into clandestine existence. During the 1970s most of the corporations started to accept women as fully accepted members. Now student corporations in the Netherlands are widespread. Although the corpora are still the major corporations, other corporations are gaining ground.
Corporations in Scotland
For Scotland, see Nation (university)#Scotland
Corporations in Spain
The corporations in Spain are called tuna.
Corporations in Sweden
For Sweden, see Nations at Swedish universities
Corporations in the United States
For the United States, see Fraternities and sororities
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