The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts is one of seven publically funded and administered universities of applied sciences in Switzerland. It was founded in 1997 under an International Council agreed to by the six Central Swiss cantons. As an institution dedicated to education and research, the university bears great social responsibility. Comprising schools in engineering, business, IT, social work, design, film, art, and music, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts is the largest university-level institution in Central Switzerland.