The Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta, often simply abbreviated as "LUMSA" is a private university founded in 1939 in Rome, Italy. The LUMSA University was privately founded but belongs to the national Italian network of universities and is therefore able to confer recognised degree and diploma titles which have full legal force. The principal aspects of LUMSA are to be found in its humanist vocation and Catholic orientation. It has a humanist vocation because in a society which is scientifically and technologically advanced there is a growing awareness of the need for ‘wise knowledge’ which is rooted in an authentic idea of man and is able to promote progress for the real good of man and the human community. It has a Catholic orientation because it is a free academic community which sees Christian inspiration of the Catholic heritage as a specific feature of its identity.