The Technical University of Sofia is Bulgaria's largest and foremost academic establishment for higher engineering education. The university is a state-owned entity with academic self-governance. Founded on 15 October 1945 as part of the Higher Technical School (later renamed to State Polytechnic), it has been an independent institution since 1953, when the Polytechnic was divided into four separate technical institutes. It has had its present name and university status since 21 July 1995 and has 14 main faculties based in Sofia, Plovdiv and Sliven, as well as 3 additional ones with education only in foreign languages — German, English and French. The Technical University of Sofia consists of 5 campuses: Sofia, Plovdiv, Sliven, Botevgrad, Kazanlak.The Central Campus in Sofia includes 14 buildings. Since 1991 the Higher Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering was renamed to Technical University of Sofia.