The University of Alicante (Universitat d’Alacant in Valencian) (UA), is a public institution on the Mediterranean coast, in San Vicente del Raspeig, an area in the city of Alicante, Spain. It was established in 1979, inheriting the legacy of the University of Orihuela, established in 1545 by Papal Bull, which existed for two centuries until 1808.
The university classifies itself bilingual, striving to be international. While almost all classes are taught in Spanish, some computer science and business degrees, as well as a graduate programme in economics, and some PhDs, are taught in English, and a few others are taught in Valencian. Many cultural activities are taught in English, French and other languages. Spanish language courses are available throughout the academic year and into the summer.
The 1 km2 modern Campus of San Vicente del Raspeig is situated on the old site of a 1930s aerodrome, and the university has repurposed its pavilions, adding modern buildings through the 1980s and 1990s.
There are also several university buildings throughout the province of Alicante, many of them located in heritage sites, which are used for seminars, conferences, and other activities.
The Science Park of Alicante, built in 2006 next to the main campus, was conceived as a place for innovation, to encourage relations between the university, research institutions, and companies, boosting the transfer of technology.
In its short existence, UA has already produced quite a number of notable alumni, such as Ignacio Fornés Olmo, popularly known as Nach, who is considered one of the best Spanish-speaking rappers in the world. Various students have also become leading politicians, such as José Luis Lassaletta, who was the mayor of Alicante throughout the 1980s.
