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The University of the Aegean (Aegean) was founded in 1984, aiming to introduce new higher education approaches in Greece and worldwide and promote regional development. Situated in 6 picturesque islands in the Aegean Archipelago, the Aegean offers a unique natural, cultural and human environment for modern studies in the ancient cradle of knowledge. From its earliest days, the Aegean challenged the prevailing limitations of the academic endeavor in Greece, both in terms of educational approach and organizational structure. In less than thirty years, the Aegean has evolved into an international research-oriented University offering 18 undergraduate (BA or BSc) and 40 postgraduate (MA or MSc) programs in modern interdisciplinary thematic areas such as environment, communication systems, cultural informatics, product design, food and nutritional sciences, education design and Mediterranean studies. Besides, the Aegean has established joined international postgraduate programs (i.e., in Biodiversity, Environmental Policy and Management, European Integration) and joined Ph.D. degree programs in a wide range of thematic areas. The early and full incorporation of Information and Communication Technologies in all aspects of academic and administrative operations and the critical research outputs in specific fields of excellence and innovation have transformed this unique network of "academic ports of studies and research" into a dynamic and competitive institution at national and international level and a vital social and economic stakeholder in the region. The Aegean has created a strong international academic and research profile, having been an active member of the European Universities Association (EUA), a founding partner of the Cremo network, member of the EMUNI Senate, a partner in many academic and research networks, and participant in more than 210 bilateral and LLP Erasmus academic agreements. The University Units (Schools and Departments) are located on six different islands in the Aegean Archipelago (Lesvos, Lemnos, Chios, Samos, Syros, Rhodes ), thus making the University of the Aegean a pioneering network university. The beautiful Aegean islands provide a unique natural, cultural, and human environment in which high-quality research and education can thrive. After the Peace Treaty of Moudros had been signed (17/30 October 1918), Greece was assigned by the allies to control the Smyrna area in order to maintain stability and peace in the wider area. In the socio-political context, Professor Constantine Caratheodory - being a Professor at the University of Berlin - proposed establishing a new University. While Greece was negotiating the normalization of its authority over the "Smyrna zone", the internationally known mathematician turned in a "plan for the creation of a new University in Greece," named "Ionian University" on 20 October 1919. While Greece was extending its borders, Hellenism stood as a mediator between the Slavic and Turkish-Arabic world and the Western world. Caratheodory argued that Athens, being the only educational center in the area, could not deal adequately with the growing needs of the eastern part of the country. He proposed three possible administration centers for the new University: Smyrna, Thessaloniki, and Chios. The Government decided upon establishing the Ionian University, based in Smyrna, Asia Minor (in today's city of Ismir, Turkey) on 1 December 1920. Constantine Caratheodory undertook the task of coordinating the initial efforts. The first plans included establishing schools that would promote the area's development as a critical spot for the overseas Hellenism. Simultaneously, when it was almost ready to operate, the University was considered just as good as other well-known European Universities. However, the Ionian University never opened its doors to students due to the Asia Minor Disaster in 1922. The University of the Aegean is the continuity of Constantine Caratheodory's initial vision. Re-established in 1984, it is one of the newest Universities in Greece. Today, 21 years later, the University has 17 departments and has become one of the largest Universities in the country. The University's central administration is located in Mytilene (the capital of the island of Lesvos). Simultaneously, various departments have been established in Chios, Karlovassi (on the island of Samos), Rhodes, Syros, and Mytilene. Because the University is set up on different islands, it constitutes a University-network covering all the Aegean Sea prefectures. One of the principal features of the Departments of the University of the Aegean is that they develop new scientific domains, usually interdisciplinary, which adhere both to the needs of the contemporary Greek society and global community as well as to students' requirements and expectations for high-quality studies combined with excellent career prospects. The University of the Aegean has been developing slowly but steadily and indeed, according to the Strategic Plans and the Five-Year Development Plans. In these plans, the experiences gained from academic departments' operation on border islands and the communication within a University-Network are incorporated. View full university