The University of Alicante (Valencian: Universitat d'Alacant; Spanish: Universidad de Alicante), also known by the acronym UA, was established in 1979 on the basis of the Center for University Studies (CEU), founded in 1968. The main campus is located in Sant Vicent del Raspeig, bordering Alicante to the north. It offers over fifty degrees, more than seventy departments and research groups, and five research institutes. It is a public higher education institution with a strong tradition and significant social-economic impact in the Alicante province.