Venice International University (VIU) is an international center for higher education and research located on the island of San Servolo in Venice, Italy. It is something unique in the academic world: a consortium of 20 universities from all over the world with an autonomous campus. Members of the consortium are prestigious universities such as: Tsinghua University, Duke University and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. The Italian Ministry for University Education and Scientific and Technological Research formally recognizes the Venice International University association as an international centre of higher education and research. Venice International University is well connected to the historical center of Venice by public transportation boats.