The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens was founded on 3rd May 1837. As it was the first university in the newly established modern Greek state, as well as in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean region, its socio-historically significant role has been decisive for the production of knowledge and culture in the country. Today the University of Athens is the largest public institution of higher education in Greece, and among the largest universities in Europe. It is a legal entity of public law with 32 Faculties and 111 Postgraduate programmes of all disciplines, 158 Laboratories, 69 Clinics (included in 4 University Hospitals), 6 Central Libraries, a Modern Greek Language Teaching Center, a Center of Foreign Languages etc. The University of Athens is a member of International Associations (EUA, IAU, EAIE) and University networks (UNICA, UNEECC etc.) and is also a member of the International Network “Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie”.During the last 20 years, under the framework of the LLP/ERASMUS programme the University of Athens has sent about 8000 students to partner Universities and has received more than 3800 incoming students. For the current academic year the University has established 576 Erasmus bilateral agreements with 310 Institutions from 30 European countries and about 480 outgoing and 300 incoming students are expected to be exchanged.The University also participates in a number of Erasmus Networks, Intensive Programmes and Curriculum Development projects. It also participates in other programmes of the LLP such as Comenius, Grundtvig, Jean Monnet as well as in other European educational programmes (e.g. Tempus, Alfa).There is also cooperation with many European Universities for the creation of International Joint Masters and Doctorates as well as for the elaboration of doctoral theses under co-supervision (cotutelles).