The university as a center where the hungry receive higher education, exists for hundreds, and somewhere for thousands of years. Not every such institution stands the test of time, some dissolve into oblivion, split, are divided into several autonomous institutions or, on the contrary, merge into larger structures.
The institutions presented in this material are important not only for their modern contribution to science, but also for their historical heritage, and at the same time – adaptability to the realities of today, the ability to remain relevant in the world of globalization, despite serious rivalry. Most of the educational organizations represented here are included in the QS listings and are mainly concentrated in Europe.
University of Bologna (Italy)
It was founded in 1088 and bears the nickname "Nursing Mother of Science". Over the years, he has never closed and therefore bears the title of the oldest in the world. Until recently, it produced only doctoral students, but now offers a wide range of programs at various levels.
It is located in the city of the same name. Now there are 87 762 students studying there, of which 6400 are foreigners. Among those released from here are several popes, including Borgia and Farnese, hundreds of politicians and businessmen. In the QS World University Ranking-2021, it ranks 160th.
Oxford (United Kingdom)
The exact date of foundation is unknown, but reliable evidence of teaching dates back to 1096, although a number of researchers believe that the university was founded even earlier.
The alumni list includes 28 prime ministers, 20 Archbishops of Canterbury, 12 saints, 27 Nobel Prize winners, 50 Nobel Prize winners and one Sir Stephen Hawking. An ancient and venerable place.
In 2021, Oxford University is in fifth place in the world ranking. Within the walls of its dozens of colleges, 25 thousand students study, at the university there is the largest network of university press on the planet.
University of Salamanca (Spain)
It was founded in 1134, and 80 years later received a charter from the King of Castile, which with the year of foundation 1218 makes it the oldest such institution in Spain (even earlier the now defunct University of Palencia was opened).
It stands west of Madrid. Its walls in the late fifteenth century saw Christopher Columbus ask for the support of Catholic monarchs for his Indian expeditions.
It is on the 601-650 positions in the ranking of 2021, and 27 thousand students study in 9 campuses.
Sorbonne University
It was founded between 1160 and 1250 and is considered one of the oldest in Europe, despite a break in studies between 1793 and 1896.
Now campuses are scattered throughout the city, and in 1970 it was divided into 13 independent institutions; today, each of them enjoys considerable authority, while the largest – the Sorbonne – holds the 83rd place in the world. It was formed by the reunification of the universities of Paris-Sorbonne and Pierre and Marie Curie.
Cambridge (United Kingdom)
It was founded in 1209 by a group of learned monks who left Oxford due to disagreements over the chosen course of development. Now it occupies the 7th place of world leaders.
Among the many traditions is a healthy sense of rivalry between the two oldest educational institutions in the country, Oxford and Cambridge universities. It reaches its climax during the summer rowing competitions. 23 thousand people study here, every fifth among them is a foreign student.
University of Padua (Italy)
The University of Padua was founded in 1222 and is considered the second oldest in Italy among the active. In 2021, he moved to the 216th line, improving the result by 18 positions. He is known for his revolutionary research in the fields of jurisprudence, medicine, philosophy and astronomy.
Now more than 63 thousand students study here. In 1545, a botanical garden was laid out at the higher educational institution, now considered the oldest on the planet. Also under the management of the University - 9 best city museums.
University of Naples Federico II (Italy)
It was discovered in 1224 by the Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation Frederick II, famous as the man who liberated Jerusalem and tried to end the internecine wars on the Apennine Peninsula.
The 3rd highest honor and seniority in Italy, is located in Naples. It holds the 392nd place in the world ranking. 80 thousand students study here, and the most famous graduate was the learned theologian Thomas (Thomas) Aquinas.
University of Siena
Another Tuscan university (along with Bologna) now occupies the 651-700 line in the world ranking. The campus of the institution founded in 1240 currently has more than 20 thousand people, which is more than half of the city's population.
The central part is a World Heritage Site from the UNESCO list. Every year, almost 200 thousand people come here for various purposes.
University of Coimbra (Portugal)
Originally founded in the ancient capital of the Portuguese county, and then in the kingdom, the university constantly changed location in order to eventually settle in Coimbra , the third largest city in the country, founded by the Romans.
The student community exceeds 24 thousand people; during the eighteenth century, this university was the only one operating in Portugal. In 2013, he joined the UNESCO Heritage List; this was done in recognition of the value of the university's buildings and facilities, its contribution to national traditions, and not least because of the outstanding views of the city and the surrounding area.
Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar received formal university status only in 1961, but in fact it was founded in 970 in Cairo as a madrasah, the center of Islamic theology.
In the XII century, during the change of dynasties, it experienced a period of instability and twice faced the threat of destruction (almost 120 thousand texts from the library were destroyed). Today, it occupies the 51st position in the ranking of universities in the Arab region QS according to the 2021 version. In addition to traditional religious classes, the graduate school in the Egyptian capital also offers programs in business, economics, natural science, medicine, engineering, and agriculture.
