The University of Crete (UoC) is a young public education institution, sited in a region rich in ancient and modern Mediterranean cultures. Established in 1973, the university accepted its first students in 1977-78. Currently about 14,000 students study here through the faculties of Philosophy, Education, Social Sciences, Sciences and Technology, and Medicine, taught by an outward looking academic staff committed to excellence in research and teaching. Research activity benefits from close collaboration with the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBCC), and the University General Hospital, and is reflected in collaborations with institutions worldwide.