The University of Alicante was established in 1979 on the basis of the Center for University Studies (CEU), which was founded in 1968. The University main campus is located in San Vicente del Raspeig/Sant Vicent del Raspeig, bordering the city of Alicante to the north. As of 2011/12 academic year, there are approximately 27,500 students studying there.
The University inherits the legacy of the University of Orihuela that was established in 1545 and remained open for two centuries (1610-1808).
The University of Alicante offers courses in more than fifty degrees. It comprises over seventy departments and research groups in areas of Social Science and Law, Experimental science, Technology, Liberal Arts, Education and Health Sciences, and five research institutes.
The University of Alicante has an efficient system of innovation including units such as Technology Transfer & Research Management Service, where all staff is guided in terms of innovation, technology transfer, entrepreneurship. The University is a dynamic HEI that provides a full spectrum of services for students: facilitating connections to potential employers, building bridges to enterprises & promoting entrepreneurship culture. The University has been focused on expanding its actions in entrepreneurship, assuming a new role as Enterprising University. With this idea the ua:emprende program has been launched to foster the entrepreneurial culture.
The University of Alicante has very strong expertise in field of social innovation. FUTURLAB is a special research unit created to help public institutions & private companies in a way to become more competitive, proactive, innovative & future-oriented, based on knowledge transfer. Alicante Science Park stimulates & manages the flow of knowledge & technology between the UA, research institutions, companies & markets and to promote the creation and growth of innovative companies through incubation mechanisms and provides other value-added services as well as high-quality infrastructure and facilities to contribute to the economic development of the Region of Valencia by improving business competitiveness, technological development & innovation.