In 1898, the University of East London was founded with the aim of serving both its local community and a wider audience. Their belief is that education is a potent tool in decreasing inequality and promoting a brighter future for everyone. UEL was placed second in the UK for teaching quality by Times Higher Education Young University Rankings, and it was also named one of the world's top 200 young institutions. Furthermore, the University was voted the UK's most improved university over the last decade (Times Higher Education). Academic strengths include architecture and visual arts, civil engineering, cultural and media studies, education, psychology, and sports science. Since 2005, the University has been working on Olympic and Paralympic projects that include research, student involvement, and sporting partnerships.