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University of Crete

Coordinates: 35°18′25″N 25°04′55″E / 35.3070°N 25.0820°E / 35.3070; 25.0820
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University of Crete
Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης
Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Crete main entrance
Established1973
RectorGeorgios Kontakis
Academic staff
548
Administrative staff
420
Undergraduates20,000
Postgraduates2,500
Location
Rethymno
,
Crete
,
Greece
CampusGalos-Rethymnon & Voutes-Heraklion
AffiliationsFORTH[2]
Websiteen.uoc.gr

The University of Crete (UoC; Greek: Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης) is a multi-disciplinary, research-oriented institution in Crete, Greece, located in the cities of Rethymno (official seat) and Heraklion.

There are 16 main undergraduate degree programmes corresponding to the university's departments and more than 30 master's programmes.[1][2]

As of 2017, there is a student population of 16.000 registered undergraduates and 2.500 registered postgraduates, more than 500 Faculty members as well as approximately 420 administrative staff.[3][4]

Overview

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The University of Crete was established in 1973 and started functioning in the academic year 1977–78.[5]

As with all universities in Greece, the University of Crete is a public university and as such it operates under the supervision of the state and all its educational activities, as well as a part of its research activities, rely upon government funding. The supreme administrative body of the university is the Senate, which is presided over by the rector of the university. The head of the university is the rector, who is assisted by three vice-rectors in the exercise of his duties; all four together form the institution's high authority. They are elected for a period of four years by the teaching staff and representatives of the student body.

Although still very young, the University of Crete has already shown its commitment in the evolving process of European integration, and it operates as an integral member of the European Research and Education Areas. It is currently coordinating and participating in European Union programs and activities such as ERASMUS, LINGUA, and TEMPUS and has important links and cooperations with other Mediterranean and Eastern European countries as well as with many American universities and colleges, through international programmes.

The university encourages active participation in cultural and athletic activities. The student union also operates a radio station.[6][7][8]

Emblem

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The emblem of the University of Crete is based on a Hellenistic coin found in Gortyn (430–300 BC) and depicts Europa in reflective stance while sitting on olive tree branches. The emblem was designed in a medal by the sculptor Aspasia Papadoperaki.[9]

Faculties and departments

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The university has sixteen departments organised in five schools according to related disciplines.[10]

Its two campuses are located near two towns on the north coast of the island, Galos in Rethymno and Voutes in Heraklion.[11][12]

School Department Founded References/Website
School of Philosophy (Founded 1977)[13]
(Rethymno)
(https://www.phl.uoc.gr/) (in Greek) 		Philology 1983 [14](https://www.philology.uoc.gr/en/)
History and Archaeology 1983 [15](https://www.history-archaeology.uoc.gr/en/start/)
Philosophy 1983 [16](https://www.fks.uoc.gr/index.php/en)
School of Social Sciences (Founded 1987)[17]
(Rethymno)
(https://www.soc.uoc.gr/en/home-english/) 		Sociology 1987 [18](https://sociology.soc.uoc.gr/en/front-page-new/)
Economics 1987 [19](https://economics.soc.uoc.gr/en)
Political Science 1999 [20](https://political.soc.uoc.gr/en/home/)
Psychology 1987 [21](https://www.psychology.uoc.gr/en/home/)
School of Education (Founded 1995)[22]
(Rethymno)
(https://school.edc.uoc.gr/el/) (in Greek) 		Primary Education 1984 [23](https://ptde.edc.uoc.gr/en/)
Preschool Education 1987 [24](https://ptpe.edc.uoc.gr/en/homepage)
School of Sciences and Engineering (Founded 1976)[25]
(Heraklion)
(https://www.sse.uoc.gr/) (in Greek) 		Mathematics and Applied Mathematics 2013 [26][27](http://www.math.uoc.gr/en/index.html)
Physics 1978 [28](https://www.physics.uoc.gr/en)
Computer Science 1984 [29](https://www.csd.uoc.gr/CSD/index.jsp?lang=en)
Biology 1981 [30](https://www.biology.uoc.gr/index.php/en/)
Chemistry 1985 [31](https://www.chemistry.uoc.gr/wordpress/en/home-2/)
Materials Science and Engineering 2001 [32](https://www.materials.uoc.gr/en/department-of-materials-science-and-technology-uoc/)
School of Medicine (Founded 1984)[33]

(Heraklion) (http://www.english.med.uoc.gr/)

School of Medicine 1984 [34](http://www.english.med.uoc.gr/)

Research

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Skinakas Observatory on the Mount Ida: research facility of the University of Crete and the Foundation for Research & Technology – Hellas

The University of Crete is well known both nationally and internationally for its state-of-the-art research and graduate programmes.[35][36][37]

Research and research training in Crete benefits from an academic and technological environment of international standards, built up over the last 40 years through the cluster of research-oriented institutions in the region. These provide a critical mass of expertise in AHSS as well as STEM disciplines and access to excellent complementary facilities for research and research training in highly competitive fields and interaction with industry partners.

It is considered one of the best universities in Greece mainly due to its research influence: it ranks in the top 400 Universities of the World by the Times Higher Education (THE) list,[38] and also in the top 100 universities under 50 years by the QS World University Rankings.[39][40]

On several research topics the University of Crete collaborates closely with FO.R.T.H.

The Natural History Museum of Crete, established in 1981 at Heraklion, is also part of the University of Crete.[41]

Academic evaluation

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University rankings
Global – Overall
ARWU World[42]701–800 (2023)
QS World[43]534 (2024)
THE World[44]501–600 (2024)
USNWR Global[45]605 (2023)
National – Overall
THE National[46]1 (2024)

An external evaluation of all academic departments in Greek universities was conducted by the Hellenic Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency (HQAA) in the years 2008–2014 and, according to these results, the University of Crete, was characterised as a "Center of Excellence".[47]

In 2016 the external evaluation of the institution cited University of Crete as Worthy of merit.[47]

The reports are publicly available.[48][49]

According to the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings,[38] University of Crete has held the top position nationally since 2023, ranking first in the fields of Medicine and Dentistry, Psychology, Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy, General engineering, Geology, Environmental, Earth & Marine sciences, Education, Language, Literature & Linguistics, Sociology, Politics & International studies, Archaeology, History, Philosophy & Theology, and ranking only second in Mathematics & Statistics, Biological sciences, Computer science, Economics & Econometrics, and Business & Management.

At the global level, University of Crete achieved a high rank (94th) on the most recent THE Young University Rankings.[50] It was also 78th on the THE Emerging Economies University Rankings, ranked 36th for research impact.[51] Notably, on the 2024 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings[52] University of Crete was ranked 168th for Citations per Faculty, while on the 2022-2023 Best Global Universities Rankings[53] the University was ranked 145th for International Research Collaboration - relative to country. Equally important, on the 2023 THE Impact Rankings (against United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)),[54] University of Crete was ranked 61st on SDG4 "Quality Education".

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "University of Crete – Internal Evaluation Report 2016" (PDF) (in Greek). modip.uoc.gr. 2016.
  2. ^ "University of Crete – Internal Evaluation Report 2015" (PDF) (in Greek). modip.uoc.gr. 2015.
  3. ^ Hellenic Statistical Authority (EL.STAT.), Report on Higher Education – Students, Institutes and Faculty Staff (2013/2014), press release, November 2015 (greek)
  4. ^ "University of Crete – Facts and Figures". University of Crete. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  5. ^ "History of the University of Crete". www.uoc.gr. 2016-08-28.
  6. ^ "University of Crete – Culture" (in Greek). www.uoc.gr. 2017-08-28.
  7. ^ "University of Crete – Athletics" (in Greek). www.uoc.gr. 2017-08-28.
  8. ^ "UOC Radio – 96.7" (in Greek). www.uoc.gr. 2017-08-28.
  9. ^ "University of Crete Emblem – Europa" (in Greek). www.uoc.gr. 2017-08-28.
  10. ^ "Schools and Departments". University of Crete. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  11. ^ "UoC Campus in Rethymno". University of Crete. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  12. ^ "UoC Campus in Rethymno". University of Crete. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  13. ^ "University of Crete, School of Philosophy". University of Crete. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  14. ^ "Department of Philology – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2011.
  15. ^ "Department of History and Archaeology – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2010.
  16. ^ "Department of Philosophy and Social Studies – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2013.
  17. ^ "University of Crete, School of Social, Economic & Political Sciences". University of Crete. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  18. ^ "Department of Sociology – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2013.
  19. ^ "Department of Economics – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2014.
  20. ^ "Department of Political Science – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2014.
  21. ^ "Department of Psychology – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2013.
  22. ^ "University of Crete, School of Education". University of Crete. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  23. ^ "Department of Primary Education – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2013.
  24. ^ "Department of Preschool Education – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2013.
  25. ^ "University of Crete, School of Sciences and Engineering". University of Crete. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  26. ^ "Department of Mathematics – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2011.
  27. ^ "Department of Applied Mathematics – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2011.
  28. ^ "Department of Physics – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2008.
  29. ^ "Department of Computer Science – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2011.
  30. ^ "Department of Biology – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2010.
  31. ^ "Department of Chemistry – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2011.
  32. ^ "Department of Materials Science and Technology – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2011.
  33. ^ "University of Crete, School of Medicine". University of Crete. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  34. ^ "Department of Medicine – HQA Final Report" (PDF). 2010.
  35. ^ "University of Crete – Research Activities". www.uoc.gr. 2016-08-28.
  36. ^ "Τα Νέα" article, 12 Feb 2009
  37. ^ "Οι πρώτοι αξιολογητές στο Πανεπιστήμιο" Newspaper "Πατρίς", 20 Jan 2009 [1]
  38. ^ a b "World University Rankings". Times Higher Education (THE). 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  39. ^ "University of Crete – University Rankings" (in Greek). www.uoc.gr. 2017-09-01.
  40. ^ "QS World University Rankings – University of Crete". QS World University Rankings. 2017-09-01.
  41. ^ The Natural History Museum of Crete, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, The Biodiversity of Crete at the Yale Peabody Museum
  42. ^ "ARWU World University Rankings 2034". www.shanghairanking.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  43. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2024". topuniversities.com. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  44. ^ "World University Rankings". timeshighereducation.com. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  45. ^ "U.S. News Education: Best Global Universities 2022-23". Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  46. ^ "Times Higher Education Rankings". timeshighereducation.com. 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  47. ^ a b "University of Crete – External Evaluation Report of Institution". www.adip.gr. 2015."Overall, the external evaluation committee was impressed by the commitment to excellence permeating all levels of the institution. For a relatively new university, UoC has made remarkable achievements in the Greek academic world and beyond."
  48. ^ "University of Crete – External Evaluation Reports 2008–2014" (in Greek). UoC Internal Quality Assurance Unit. 2014-07-05.
  49. ^ "University of Crete – External Evaluation Institutional Report". UoC Internal Quality Assurance Unit. 2014-07-05.
  50. ^ "Young University Rankings". Times Higher Education (THE). 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  51. ^ "Emerging Economies". Times Higher Education (THE). 2021-10-15. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  52. ^ "Rankings released! QS World University Rankings 2024". QS. 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  53. ^ "2022-2023 Best Global Universities Rankings". Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  54. ^ "Impact Ranking". Times Higher Education (THE). 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
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35°18′25″N 25°04′55″E / 35.3070°N 25.0820°E / 35.3070; 25.0820

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