The University of Hanover, officially the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover or LUH, is a university located in Hanover, Germany. It was founded in 1831 and is one of the oldest universities focussing on science and technology in Germany. Leibniz Universität Hannover is part of Niedersachsen Institutes of Technology (NTH) and a member of TU9, an association of the nine leading Institutes of Technology in Germany. The heart of Leibniz Universität Hannover beats in the idyllic Welfenschloss, the Guelph Palace. The year 1879 saw the Higher Vocational School, originally founded in 1831, move into the palace. Later, the Higher Vocational School became the Königliche Technische Hochschule, the Royal College of Technology. While 64 pupils first attended the Vocational School, the university now has around 21.000 students. More than 2.300 academics and scientists work at the university in 9 faculties with around 160 departments and institutes. The university's profile, from its beginning, centered on science and technology.