The Universidad Austral de Chile (Austral University of Chile) was founded on 7 September 1954 in Valdivia. Its academic offerings are available in ten Faculties in Valdivia, the Campo Clínico Osorno, the Sede Puerto Montt and in the Campus Patagonia, including graduate and postgraduate studies.  This University was created in response to the imperative need of having an institution of higher education in the southern area of the country, which promoted decentralization of knowledge, culture, arts and research.