University of Iași

Alexandru Ioan Cuza University

Universitatea „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” din Iași
Former names	University of Iași Mihăileană University Cuza Vodă University
Motto	Per libertatem ad veritatem (Latin)
Motto in English	Through freedom to truth
Type	Public
Established	1860 (1860)
Rector	Tudorel Toader
Academic staff	1,723
Students	25,724 (2013-2014)
Undergraduates	18,594
Postgraduates	7,200
Location	Iași, Romania
Campus	Urban
Colors	Yellow White and Sky Blue
Affiliations	Universitaria Consortium Coimbra Group Utrecht Network EUA IAU AUF RUFAC
Website	www.uaic.ro

The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (Romanian: Universitatea „Alexandru Ioan Cuza”; acronym: UAIC) is a public university located in Iași, Romania. Founded one year after the establishment of the Romanian state, by an 1860 decree of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, under whom the former Academia Mihăileană was converted to a university, the University of Iași, as it was named at first, is the oldest university of Romania, and one of its advanced research and education institutions.

Its coat of arms with the Y shaped heraldic pall simbolizes the three initiatives which led to the foundation of the University: the Trei Ierarhi Collegium, the Academia Mihăileană, the University of Iași. The central element is the Bible, the classic emblem of higher education. The three shiny stars stand for the three faculties of the University at its foundation moment, Philosophy, Law and Theology, on blue and argent background, the same colors used on the Cuza family shield. The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University offers study programmes in Romanian, English, and French, making it a member of University Agency of Francophony.

In 2008, for the third year in a row, the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University was placed first in the national research ranking compiled on the basis of Shanghai criteria. The University is a member of some of the most important university networks and associations: the Coimbra Group (CG), Utrecht Network, European University Association (EUA), International Association of Universities (IAU), University Agency of Francophony (AUF), the Network of Francophone Universities (RUFAC) and also of the Universitaria Consortium (the group of elite Romanian universities).