7th Hellenic Forum on Bioactive Peptides

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 modernisation of the entire Greek higher education system, with priority given to the fields where highly trained personnel will be needed for the realisation 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.

It is the third largest University in the country and the fastest growing one, with about 22,000 undergraduate students, almost 3000 post-graduate students, about 700 teaching staff, 300 administrative personnel and about 250 teaching and research assistants.

The initial emphasis on science and technology has been extended to other academic areas such as health sciences and humanities. Today, its five Schools and twenty-two 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 University of Patras is renowned for research of the highest calibre and for a high quality academic environment. The University of Patras has been recognised internationally as a major centre of higher education and as an excellent centre of scholarly inquiry and critical thinking. The above, along with the creation and transmission of new knowledge, enables its students to pursue the greatest development and highest achievement both for their own benefit and for that of society.

The University campus is 7 kilometres East of the city of Patras, in the area of Rion. 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, a teaching amphitheatre and seminar halls. The designing of the campus was entrusted to an internationally known architectural firm. Following the master plan, 25 buildings were eventually built, and many more are under construction for the housing of most of the Departments, along with a Museum of Science and Technology, a Botanical Garden, a new Student Centre. Within the campus are also found the Students Residence Hall, the Conference and Cultural Centre, a Restaurant, a Bank, a Bookstore, a Stationery, the Publishing House, the Library, cafeterias and kiosks.

The University Guest Hall is the only building of the University outside the campus. It is located three kilometres west of the campus. Today, buildings of a total area of 210,100 m2 have been fully completed and are functioning. New buildings are under construction. 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 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 many open-spaces, green shady areas covered with characteristically Mediterranean olive groves.