National University of Central Buenos Aires Province

The National University of Central Buenos Aires Province (UNICEN; Spanish: Universidad Nacional del Centro de Buenos Aires) is a public institution of higher learning located in Tandil, a city in the central region of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.

The history of the National University of Central Buenos Aires Province (UNICEN) dates back to the early 1960s, when the idea of establishing a university in the central region of Buenos Aires Province began to gain momentum. In 1964, the University Institute of Tandil (IUT) was founded as a private institution. In 1969, the University Institute of Olavarría (IUO) was founded, with the support of the Fortabat Foundation and the municipal government.

In 1973, in the framework of the creation of new national universities, the city of Azul also joined the effort, creating the Department of Agronomy within the IUO. In 1974, through Law 20,753, the National University of the Center of the Province of Buenos Aires was created, unifying the IUT, IUO, and the Department of Agronomy of Azul.

The new university began its activities with a relatively small enrollment and a limited number of academic programs. However, it quickly grew and expanded its offerings. Today, UNICEN is a leading public university in Argentina, with a strong focus on research and social justice.

Today, UNICEN is a thriving university with a strong reputation in Argentina and abroad. It offers a wide range of academic programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels. The university is also a major center for research and innovation, with its faculty and students working on a variety of projects to solve complex problems and improve the lives of people in Argentina and around the world.

National University of Central Buenos Aires Province is ranked as the #10 top university in Argentina during 2025.