The University of Patras was founded in the city of
Patras in 1964 and it began functioning in the academic year
1966-67. It was established primarily with the intention to
concentrate on science, technology, economics, business
administration and social sciences. In the proposal for a
new University, which was the result of an International
Conference in August 1964, it is stated that the role of the
University of Patras is to set an example of a highly
qualified Institution of higher learning, serve as a
stimulus for the modernization of the entire Greek higher
education system, with priority given to the fields where
highly trained personnel will be needed for the realization
of the economic development of the country. The above
objectives had, in the course of time, to be adapted to new
prospects arising from the recognition of the role of
knowledge and technology in social and cultural growth and
the contribution the University is expected to make towards
solving major regional, national and even international
problems.
The University of Patras is the third largest university in
the country and the fastest growing one, with about 13,000
undergraduate students, almost 1000 post-graduate students ,
about 600 teaching staff, 200 teaching and research
assistants and about 300 administrative personnel. The
initial emphasis on science and technology has been extended
to other academic areas such as health sciences and
humanities. Today, its four schools and eighteen departments
with a large number of sectors and consequently a great
range of disciplines, reflect a balanced academic
environment and has established a reputation for innovation
and excellence. The strengthening of the existing
departments and the creation of new ones constitute the
basis of the administration’s policy. Four new Departments -
Architecture, Business Administration and Philosophy - will
start functioning from the next academic year and the
Department of Material Sciences from the academic year 2000
- 2001. The University of Patras is renowned for research of
the highest caliber and for a high quality academic
environment. The University of Patras has been recognized
internationally as a major centre for higher education and
as an excellent centre of scholarly inquiry and critical
thinking along with the creation and transmission of new
knowledge, enabling its students to pursue the greatest
development and highest achievement both for their own
benefit and for that of society.
The University campus is located in the north-western part of Peloponnese, 200 kilometers west of Athens and 7 kilometers east of the city of Patras, near the national motor-way. It is a self-contained campus in a beautiful location at the foot of mount Panachaico with a view over the Gulf of Corinth to the mountains of Central Greece across the water. The University was initially housed in a building in the centre of Patras. Very soon it became clear that there was need for a new campus to meet the demands of a fast growing University. The wooded campus area of about 600 acres was selected in 1968 and was appropriated on behalf of the University. The first buildings of the new University campus were a unit of twenty small ground-level pre-fabricated buildings, still housing some academic and administrative offices. In 1972 the construction of buildings «A» and «B» started. Building «A» houses the administrative services, the Rectorship, the Senate’s Conference Hall, the University’s Ceremonial Hall and seminar halls. In 1972, the designing of the campus was entrusted to an internationally known architectural firm. Following the master plan, 24 buildings were eventually built, and many more are under construction for the housing of most of the Departments, along with a new Library, a Conference Centre, a Museum of Science and Technology, a Botanical Garden, a new Student Centre. Within the campus are also found the Students’ Residence Hall, a Refreshment Room-Restaurant, a Bank, a Book store, a Stationery, the Publishing House, cafeterias and kiosks. The University Guest Hall is the only building of the University outside the campus. It is located three kilometers west of the campus. Today, buildings of a total area of 234.675 M2 have been fully completed and are functioning. New buildings with a total area of 50.800 M2 are under construction. Under design are other buildings with a total area of 25.500 M2. The campus has not been completed yet, although the rate of completion is the highest in the country. The total number of lecture halls in the different building units is 115. Within the campus there is also the Regional University Teaching Hospital which functions both as the major regional medical centre and as a teaching facility for the Faculty (Department) of Medicine. Concurrently there is a continuous effort to upgrade and improve the landscape within the campus, although extensive infrastructure projects, landscaping and athletic facilities have been completed. Several other facilities are available on campus including a gymnasium and a swimming pool, a nursery school, a primary and secondary school for the children of faculty and staff, a post-office. In addition to constructing new buildings, new sites at the surroundings have been appropriated on behalf of the University. There are free car parks located all over the campus. The campus has a lot of openspaces, green shady areas and characteristically Mediterranean olive groves.
