The Union of Faculties Francanas or the University of Franca (UNIFRAN) is a plural and multidisciplinary higher education institution (HEI), with its headquarters in the city of Franca, in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
It was established in 1970 by Professors Abib Salim Cury and Clovis Eduardo Pinto Ludovice as just a Faculty of Drawing and Plastic. It was accredited as a university in 1994, and is known for excellent teaching, regional development and assistance services.
The city of Franca is the largest producer of footwear in Brazil and Latin America and although largely regarded as a university city, it works to positively impact and increase the economic and social indices of Franca. The largest element of this being Franca’s Museum of Footwear, which is managed by UNIFRAN.
In 2013, the Cruzeiro do Sul Educational Group, which owns the Cruzeiro do Sul University and the University of Sao Paulo, the Centro Universitario Modulo in Caraguatatuba and the UDF University Center in Brasilia, bought UNIFRAN, becoming the fifth largest educational group in Brazil, with 75,000 students.
UNIFRAN has 237,000m² of built area within a university campus that is seen to be one of the most modern in the country, structured as a "University City". Within it, there are houses, apartments, supermarkets, pharmacies and sports facilities. It has distance learning centres in other cities such as Guarulhos, Osasco, Piracicaba and Sao Jose do Rio Preto. With a population of 305, 041, Franca is the 22nd biggest city in Sao Paulo.
