The origins of the University of Padova date back to 1222, consecrated as its year of foundation "in the sense that a regular and stable, publicly-acknowledged university organisation is recorded". An important contribution came at that time from an exodus of professors and students from Bologna to Padova. The University grew rapidly and the original studies in law and theology were soon joined by a lively outcrop of other doctrines: medicine, philosophy, astronomy, grammar and rhetoric. At present the University of Padova consists of thirteen Faculties (Agriculture, Economics, Law, Pharmacology, Engineering, Arts, Teacher Training, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Political Sciences, Psychology, Statistical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine), 60 Departments and 7 Institutes.

“The University of Padova promotes the furthering of culture founded on universal values such as human rights, peace, respect for the environment and international solidarity (Article 1 of its Statutes)”. In this very spirit the University developed its links with the surrounding territory and its transnational relationships, which were always active and relevant across the (almost) eight centuries of its own history.

The University of Padova also fosters and sustains an environment which facilitates the highest quality scholarship and research, providing leadership in setting research and teaching goals for the University, developing and implementing strategies to pursue such goals, capitalizing on the interdisciplinary strength of University research centres and ensuring that research and teaching are responsive to expanding and ever changing needs.

The role of the University in the civil society and in the international context is witnessed today by its many activities, such as countless research co-operation projects promoted individually and/or institutionally by teachers and researchers and the teaching opportunities offered to as many as 65000 regularly enrolled students (about 1450 being foreign students, i.e. 2.4% of the total). The offer includes the three mainstream cycles (bachelor and master level, doctoral studies) plus several off-mainstream degree-courses and activities.

Research commitment and teaching initiatives often occur in cooperation with several Italian and foreign institutions, agencies and companies. Indeed, the University profile is strengthened by its large participation in European Programmes regarding education and research (LLp, Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, Alfa, Edulink, AsiaLink, Framework Programmes etc.), by several bilateral agreements of a “traditional” type, by co-operation activities with developing countries and – last, but not least – by a convinced participation in the project activities of the Coimbra Group (the network of the European historical universities) and other International Networks (T.I.M.E., Triangulum, Socrates TNPs).