entrepreneurial business assistance and seed funding for the development of startup companies. UAlg receives international students from more than 70 countries totaling over 18% of its student population. The quality and diversity of European masters and doctorates, combined with graduate and post-graduate courses open to students from all over the world justify the magnitude of this mobility. It is an important center for cultural, scientific and technological development, with strong regional, national and international ties, offering students the opportunity to explore various careers as they gain transferable skills. The scientific groundwork of the University of Algarve is developed around four main areas (sea, health, food and well-being, arts and heritage and tourism) that aggregate all research work aiming that innovative ideas can be turned into products contributing to the economy of Portugal and the region. Among its faculty and alumni activities, the University of Algarve has well-established research centers in several fields such as molecular and structural biomedicine; marine sciences; electronics, optoelectronics and telecommunications, arts and communication; spatial and organisational dynamics; marine and environmental; and chemistry. The University of Algarve has consolidated the link established with regional business and public and private organizations, encouraging the transfer of knowledge and contributing to sustainable development with an impact across the community. Cultural and sports activities The Student Union of the University of Algarve (Associação Académica da Universidade do Algarve, AAUAlg) is a centralized representative body of the students, founded on 1 October 1997. Before then there were six independent smaller student associations at the university representing each school or college of the University of Algarve. Sports activities are under the auspices of the students' union in collaboration with the university and the Student Support and Welfare Services. UAlg students run a university radio station as well as a theatrical troupe. The Students Union Sports Department promotes sports activities from salsa to hip-hop, from tai chi and yoga to bujinkan, from basketball to football. Sports Department of the Student Union activities such as canoeing, windsurfing and sailing are free of charge for UAlg students at the Nautical Sports Centre at Faro Island (Centro Náutico da Ilha de Faro). Competitive sports include handball, women’s futsal, women and men’s volleyball and men’s rugby. Federated teams (district championships) are active in men and women’s basketball, futsal and football. The AAUAlg has also a competitive esports department. The Student Union also organises: the Semana Académica (Student Academic