There are several universities around the world with extensive histories, with the University of al-Qarawiyyin in Fez, Morocco, recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest higher learning institution. Founded in 859 AD by Fatima al-Fihri, it was later added to Morocco’s university system in 1963. The complex where the school is located consists of a mosque, university, and library, focusing on education in Arabic language, Islamic literature, science, mathematics, and foreign language. Another school often cited for its long history is the University of Bologna in Italy, established in 1088 and remains operational to this day, with 96,984 students enrolled in the 2022-23 school year, including 8,526 international students.
The Great Basin Bristlecone Pine, dating back almost 5,000 years, is considered the world’s oldest tree. The University of Oxford, founded a few years after the University of Bologna, is also known for its long history, with teaching dating back to around 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Oxford’s popularity began to increase in 1167 when Henry II banned English students from studying at the University of Paris. The title of the oldest university in the United States goes to Harvard University, founded on October 28, 1636, with an acceptance rate of 3%.
The Al-Karaouine Mosque and University complex in Fez, Morocco, founded by Fatima al-Fihri and her sister Mariam, used their inheritance to establish the institution. The school offers education in Arabic language, Islamic literature, science, mathematics, and foreign language. The University of Bologna in Italy, established in 1088, is the oldest continually operating university in Europe, with famous alumni like astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus. The University of Oxford in England is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, with teaching dating back to around 1096.
The University of Oxford’s early origins can be traced back to 1096, but its popularity increased in 1167 when Henry II banned English students from studying at the University of Paris. Harvard University, founded in 1636 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the oldest university in the United States, with an acceptance rate of 3%. The university has various departments, including architecture, engineering, economics, legal studies, mathematics, pharmacy, and veterinary medical sciences. The institution has a long history of academic excellence, attracting students from around the world.
