The opportunity to get a higher education appeared in the eighth century in Tunisia. The oldest university in the world is the highest institution of al-Zaitoon. Having traveled an extremely long way, the university is still operating today. The list of oldest universities also includes higher education institutions that originated in Italy, Morocco, Cairo.
The oldest universities that appeared in the period from 732 to 1088
The oldest universities in the world can be called dozens of educational institutions that originated before the fifteenth century. The five very first of them include:
- University of al-Zaitoon. This educational institution appeared in 732. Thus, it can be safely called the first in the world. There is to this day in Tunisia.
- University of Constantinople. Appeared in 855 or 856. The basis for its creation was an earlier school, formed back in the time of Theodosius II. Most often, in historical sources, it is called the Magnavra Higher School.
- Al-Karaouin Institute. Moroccan institution of higher education, originated in 859 by the forces of the rich merchant merchant Fatima al-Fihri.
- Al-Azhar University is a university that is distinguished not only by a long period of existence, but also by its prestige. It was founded by representatives of the Fatimid clan in 970.
- Bologna University is the oldest university in Europe, working continuously since its inception. It was founded in 1088 and is the main competitor of Islamic Al-Karaouin.
Higher education institution az-Zaytun
The oldest university in the world, operating at the present time. For a long period of time, he worked in the format of a religious school belonging to the mosque of al-Zaytun. After some time, the school took center stage in the Islamic religion.
The emergence of a modern format university happened not so long ago - in 1956. The prerequisite for this event was the complete independence of Tunisia. Five years later, the University of al-Zaitoon has undergone yet another change. He was turned into the theological faculty of the University of Tunisia. As a result, the metropolitan university and completely absorbed the oldest university. The revival and actualization of the former university of al-Zaytun occurred in 2012. Now it successfully exists along with other universities in Tunisia.
Over the entire period of its existence, this educational institution has released many famous personalities. Among them are the Arab philosopher Ibn Khaldun and the Tunisian poet Abul al-Qasim al-Shabbi.
University of Constantinople
Before the formation of this higher school, they taught medicine, law, rhetoric and philosophy. The first rector of the higher school was one of the founders and the famous scientist Leo the Mathematician. The university was located on the territory of the Mangavra Palace, hence its second name appeared. The main goal of the Mangavra Higher School was to train officials, military leaders and diplomats in arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music, rhetoric, grammar and philosophy.
The period of the school ended with the fall of Constantinople. It was the teachers of this school who studied the ancient manuscripts of Aristotle and Plato, and it was their forces that restored and found the evidence base for the sphericity of the Earth. As a result, the education model of the University of Constantinople created a good base for higher education institutions in Western Europe.
Al-Karaouin Institute
Currently, this university is considered the most important center for all Islamic spiritual and educational institutions. It was here that people who made a huge contribution to the development of Muslim culture on a global level received their education. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Al-Qarauin Institute is the oldest university in the world, still carrying out educational practice. Until 1947, education was provided here, slightly different from the current view. There was a system of mentoring and individual training. Upon completion of the training course, a document was not issued on behalf of the university. And only after 1947, this university began to work according to the generally recognized European system. The main directions of the institute are:
- religious Islamic sciences;
- legal field;
- traditional linguistics and grammar of the Arabic language;
- Malikite madhhab;
- Foreign languages - French and English.
Sheikh lectures. Students sit in front of him in a semicircle shape. After reading the material, he explains the difficult points and answers the questions that have arisen.
Higher education institution Al-Azhar
In the early stages, mainly lectures were given on the characteristics of Shiism. In 988, Al-Azhar University underwent major changes. Through the efforts of the Minister, a curriculum was introduced for the university, as well as a staff of teachers and a group of students. Since the university was located in Cairo, foreign students often entered it.
At first, the learning process was carried out in the courtyard of a nearby mosque, but a huge number of visiting students forced them to attach living quarters to this matter. Already in those days, students for excellent success could apply for a scholarship. Also, management often invited eminent professors to transfer experience.
Since 1961, there are nine faculties at Al Azhar University. Among them are agriculture, medicine, pedagogy and others. A separate faculty stands out for women. Women are taught humanities, medicine, trade, as well as features of Islamic culture and the local language. Teachers for them are also taken only female.
The university holds the rarest collections of Arabic manuscripts. Both Egyptians and foreigners have the opportunity to get education in this prestigious educational institution for free. It is enough to provide a referral from the imam and successfully pass all entrance exams.
University of Bologna
From the first days of its existence, the University of Bologna was an association of students. That is, it was the students who made the decision which subjects to study and which teacher to work with. The main area of study here has always been jurisprudence. It was here that in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries such famous glossators as Placentin, Burgundio, Roger and others gave lectures.
Today it is believed that it was the University of Bologna that created the basis of European education. Here and now you can get education in various areas. The university is part of a number of university associations, including the Coimbra Group and the Utrecht Network.