Akademiya

The Akademiya is Elyrium's primary higher education institute and its center for research and development in all domains. It is located in the Vepar prefecture and is funded and run by the Elyrium government, though its operation, staffing, and research also relies on various private parties.

The Akademiya is open to applications by all high school graduates who meet its minimum academic standards. A tuition is required to attend, but there are many options for government assistance as well. Students of the Akademiya can earn degrees in a large number of majors, which will allow them to pursue specialized jobs whether they be in academics or industry.

## Overview & History

Located at the center of Elyrium is the Vepar prefecture. Within this district is what is commonly known as Elyrium’s brain and lifeblood: the Akademiya. This institution is responsible for the many innovations both magical and secular which make life possible and enjoyable within Elyrium.

The Akademiya in its initial form was created only fifty years into Elyrium’s establishment. Founders at the time recognized the desperate need to innovate, not just to survive but to thrive. At the time of the city’s founding there was a desperate need for the rapid development of infrastructure, defensive tools, and environmental mitigators. Thus, the brightest minds in the community were collected to form the Akadia, a group of scientists, inventors, and intellectuals dedicated to the safety and progression of Elyrium. Together they formulated a plan and advised leadership as the community was brought together to clean up the environment, secure borders, and form organized defenses and laws.

With the Akadia’s guidance, Elyrium quickly became a prominent hub and attracted survivors from across the land. As the city became more well-established the Akadia’s focus shifted from immediate concerns of survival to more forward-looking developments. The team began to adopt apprentices and students. Before long the Akadia had grown and evolved from a small team into a large school offering education and research opportunities.

On the hundredth anniversary of its founding, the Akadia was transformed into the Akademiya, an official learning and research institution. The following centuries saw its growth and expansion; today, it occupies most of the Vepar prefecture and has tens of thousands of members. The Akademiya has been largely responsible for Elyrium’s growth and prosperity: it was pivotal in city planning, infrastructure developments, weapon and defense innovations, and magical research.

The Akademiya today is the shining gem of Elyrium and its most treasured and trusted institution. It receives a large amount of private and government funding and employs the most brilliant minds in Elyrium–including, for a time, The Architect. It is a common misconception that the Akademiya employs only teaching faculty; in fact, it hosts far more dedicated researchers than professors. The Akademiya works alongside the other branches of government to support their function; interestingly, a large amount of research is dedicated to the EPD as the Akademiya assists in the research and development of countermeasures to criminal and Devil activity.

## Attendance & Graduation

The Akademiya is open to application by all qualified individuals, but is restrictive in its admission selection and further requires a tuition fee unless one receives a government sponsorship. These sponsorships are common and are awarded to promising applicants or those who have proposed interesting projects.

A wide range of majors are offered at the Akademiya, spanning just about every possible subject from history to literature to science to magic and more. As a rule, a Bachelor’s Degree requires four years of study and a Master’s Degree an additional two years. Higher degrees vary in their length and requisites. Some programs offer shorter degrees or allow specializing in multiple majors.

Many programs also offer to set up internship opportunities which give students experience in their prospective careers. Upon graduation, an individual will be qualified for full-time, specialized work in their field. Some graduates choose to stay in the Akademiya as a professor or researcher, others choose to contribute to other government branches such as the EPD, and still others move into private industry. Notably, those subject to the Mage Conscription Program can fulfill their public service requirements both at the Akademiya and in a support position at the EPD (as opposed to becoming a combatant).

## Research

As stated above, the Akademiya remains the main hub of research and development for all of Elyrium. There are several research efforts in the private sector, and further research is performed in other branches of the government, but none matches the breadth and depth of that done at the Akademiya. The institute receives government and private funding for research into countless domains.

The Akademiya’s most important research centers on protection and quality of life, much as it did at the time of its founding. This includes countermeasures to Devil and criminal activity, innovations to purify the air and corrupted Outlands, medicine, technology, and infrastructure. Many of the Akademiya’s current projects in the former category were motivated or furthered by the work of The Architect prior to her death.