The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is Norway’s primary institution for educating the nation's future engineers and scientists. The university also has strong programmes in the social sciences, teacher education, the arts and humanities, medicine, architecture and fine art. As of January 1, 2016 NTNU merged with the University College in Sør-Trøndelag, the University College in Gjøvik and the University College in Ålesund and is now Norway’s largest university. It encompasses 14 faculties and 70 departments and ca 39 000 students (including ca 3 000 international students). About 6 500 bachelor's and master's degrees and 380 doctoral degrees are awarded annually. NTNU has currently 6700 employees, of which 4053 are in academic or scientific positions and 39 per cent are women. There are more than 100 laboratories at NTNU.