The "Politehnica" University of Timişoara (Romanian: Universitatea „Politehnica” din Timişoara) was founded on November 11, 1920. It is one of the largest technical universities in Central and Eastern Europe. The university has 10 faculties and several independent departments. In the recent years, the University through its Regional Centre for Open and Distance Learning has begun to offer open and distance education in different areas and in different languages, supported by new technologies. The university's research and scientific training is based on the strategy of promoting multidisciplinary research and the priority given to new technology. The University offers a wide range of facilities (the "Politehnica" University Library, Teleuniversity TV, Politehnica Publishing House, Politehnica Hotel, Hostels, Canteen, sport bases). Each faculty has its own Students' Union that provides support, activities and entertainment (student organizations: LigaAC, LSFEE, LSFETc, LSFMT, LSCT, LSFMPT, OSH, OSTL and the professional student organization BEST - Board of European Students of Technology).