The
University Of Crete
General Description
The University of Crete,
a public University, is situated in the city of Rethymno and
Heraklio, was established in 1973 and
started functioning during the academic year 1977-78. The University’s
central office is in Rethymno. The University consists of five
Faculties/Schools and 17 Departments and has 10,628 students
(8,962 at the undergraduate level and 1,666 at the postgraduate
level) and 614 teaching and research staff members (412 permanent
and 202 temporary). It is a University known, both nationally
and internationally, for its innovative approach to education,
considerable research activity and dynamic character in international
cooperation.
The University Campus in Rethymno is 150 hectares in size, located about 4
km from the city of Rethymno is the area of Gallos. Three of the Faculties
of the University - the Faculties of Philosophy, Education and Social Sciences
- are located at this Campus, along with many of the University’s Administrative
Services and the Central Library.
Faculty of Philosophy
Department of Philology
Department of History and Archaeology
Department of Philosophy and Social Studies
Faculty of Education
Department of Primary Education
Department of Preschool Education
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Sociology
Department of Economics
Department of Psychology
Department of Political Science
The University has two campuses in Heraklio, about 80 km east
of Rethymno. At the Knossos Avenue Campus are four of the seven
Departments of the Faculty of Sciences and Engineering. Specifically,
these are the Departments of Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer
Science, and Applied Mathematics. A number of Administrative
Services and a branch of the Library are also housed at the Knossos
Campus, which is 4 km south of Heraklio, very close to the archaeological
site of Knossos. Over the next several years, the Departments
at the Knossos Campus will gradually relocate to the Campus at
Voutes.
The University Campus at Voutes, some 10 km southwest of the city of Heraklio,
houses the other three Departments of the Faculty of Sciences and Engineering,
which are the Departments of Physics, Biology, and Materials Science and Technology.
Also located at Voutes are the Faculty of Medicine complex and the University
Hospital. Two branches of the University Library, with services for the relevant
disciplines, operate at Voutes. The Foundation for Research and Technology
Hellas (FORTH), with which the University collaborates closely, is located
close by.
Faculty of Sciences and Engineering
Department of Mathematics
Department of Physics
Department of Computer Science
Department of Biology
Department of Chemistry
Department of Applied Mathematics
Department of Materials Science and Technology
Faculty of Medicine
Department of Medicine
Although still very young, the University of Crete has already
shown its commitment in the evolving European process. It is
currently coordinating and participating in various European
Union Programs such as SOCRATES/ERASMUS, TEMPUS, LINGUA, COMETT
etc.
The Town of Rethymno
Rethymno, a small city of about 25,000 inhabitants, is located on the northern
coast of Crete, almost midway between the two larger cities of Chania and
Heraklio. Rethymno is a charming blend of old and new. At the western edge
of the city’s Old Town, there is a large fortress – the Fortezza – dating
from the Venetian rule during the 16th century. It has strong walls reinforced
by four bastions, and many buildings preserved within its premises. Just
outside the Fortezza is the Archaeological Museum whose exhibits include
finds from the Neolithic, Minoan, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Also within
the Old Town there are the intricately-decorated Rimondi Fountain, the Venetian
Loggia, Turkish houses with enclosed gardens and sheltered balconies, minarets,
and many other buildings of historical significance.
At the same time, Rethymno offers all the modern conveniences and activities
to satisfy every interest. For those who want to relax and enjoy the warm weather,
there is a long sea front sandy beach, which stretches for 12 km. There is
usually fresh fish to be found in the tavernas around the picturesque Venetian
harbour; there are many other restaurants and tavernas in the city offering
traditional Cretan cuisine and many other types of food. There are three cinemas
in the city; music clubs, pubs and cafes are also widely spread throughout
the city. There are many small shops with attractive merchandise and souvenirs
in the Old Town as well as stores with traditional Cretan handicrafts. During
the summer months, the city sponsors a Renaissance Festival, which is the highlight
of the city's cultural activities. The Festival hosts a variety of theatrical,
musical and dance performances in the ancient amphitheatre within the Fortezza.
Despite its rapid growth and development, Rethymno has retained its traditional
character. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the town of Rethymno developed a
reputation as a centre of Arts and Letters and has preserved it to the present
day.
