Ovidius University is a public higher education institution, established in 1961 in Constanța, on the Black Sea coast of Romania. In 1990 it became a comprehensive university, with study programs ranging from medicine and life sciences to socio-economic sciences and law, from humanities and arts to applied sciences and engineering. It has a triple mission, to create, maintain and disseminate knowledge integrating education and research at European standards with engagement in solving regional problems in the Black Sea area and beyond. Ovidius is the largest university in the EU at the Black Sea and it aspires to be recognized as the regional academic leader.
The newly established Black Sea Institute for Development and Security Studies (BSIDSS) is an entity dedicated to promoting security, democracy and prosperity in the Black Sea region. Its mission is the generation, dissemination, and practical application of knowledge to: i) improve security in all its aspects (political, economic, societal, environmental, military) in the Black Sea region and beyond, ii) promote sustainable economic development as a means of achieving security and stability of the region, and iii) facilitate nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, as a priority for achieving long-term peace and security.