"Vasile Goldiș" Western University of Arad (Romanian: Universitatea de Vest "Vasile Goldiș") is a private university located in Arad, Romania. The spiritual patron of the university is Vasile Goldiș, a prominent Romanian politician, pedagogue, publicist, member of the Romanian Academy and a key figure of the Union of Transylvania with Romania in 1918. Subsequent to the union he was a member of the Ion I. C. Brătianu, Artur Văitoianu and Alexandru Averescu cabinets and a deputy in the Romanian Parliament. After his withdrawal from politics he dedicated himself to educational and cultural activities. Between 1923 and 1932, he was the president of the ASTRA society.