in 1968) – generated pressure for expansion. The completely revised University Act of 1996 transformed the University of Bern from an administrative division of the Department of Education of the Canton of Bern into an autonomous institution. a legal entity in its own right. The Act clearly defined the competencies of the university and of the state. The university passed another milestone in 1992, when its enrolment reached 10,000. The university today: Bologna Reform and restructuring (since 2000) The Bologna Declaration ushered in the era of ECTS credits and the bachelor's and master's degree structure. The university set strategic research priorities, such as climate research, and promoted inter-university cooperation. At the same time, the university reorganized its faculties. With the amendment to the University Act in summer 2010, the University Board of Directors acquired the right to choose its own ordinary professors and keep its own accounts separate from the state. The University Board of Directors formulated a strategy in 2013, that builds on the previous strategy of 2006, the 2012 mission statement and the performance mandate for the university from the Cantonal Government. Structure Faculties The University of Bern has eight faculties: Theology Law Business, Economics and Social Sciences Medicine Veterinary Medicine (Vetsuisse) Humanities Science Human Sciences The medical faculties of the Universities of Bern and Basel have formed a strategic alliance in the fields of cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, pathology and microbiology. The Vetsuisse Faculty was created in 2006 through the merger of the Faculties of veterinary medicine of the Universities of Bern and Zurich. The Humanities Faculty is comparable to the arts and sciences departments of American universities and offers majors in the three areas of art and culture, archaeology and history, and languages and literature. The Faculty of Science focuses on the natural and life sciences. The Human Sciences Faculty was founded in 2005 and offers study programmes in education, sports and psychology. General university institutions There are six centres with specialized roles and interfaculty units maintained by the University of Bern: Collegium generale (CG) Walter Benjamin Kolleg (WBKolleg) Interdisciplinary Centre for Gender Studies (ICFG) Microscopy Imaging Center (MIC) Experimental Animal Center (EAC) Centre for Continuing University Education (Zentrum für universitäre Weiterbildung, ZUW) The function of these general university institutions is to promote dialogue between students in different disciplines and faculties through interdisciplinary events for academic staff and students. The Centre for Continuing University Education (ZUW) focuses