The 'University of Damascus' (, ''Jāmi‘atu Dimashq'') is the largest
university in
Syria, located in the capital
Damascus. It was founded in 1923 through the merger of the School of Medicine (established 1903) and the Institute of Law (established 1913), also making it the oldest university in the country. Until 1958, it was named the 'Syrian University', but the name changed after the founding of the University of
Aleppo. Today there are also universities in the Syrian cities of
Homs,
Lattakia and
Deir ez-Zor.
The University of Damascus consists of several faculties and the Higher Institute of Administrative Development. Also affiliated with the university are seven intermediate institutes and a School of Nursing. There is an institution specialized in teaching the
Arabic language to foreigners, which is among the largest such institutions in the
Arab world.
[ A new 'Mecca of Arabic studies'? Spender, Tom ]
Syrian universities take great pride in the fact that most courses are taught in Arabic, which is something unique in the
Arab World. For most courses in the first years, there are text books written in Arabic and authored by the university professors. Damascus University is considered by many the best university in Syria in spite of the fact there are more than 5 new private universities that opened since 2003 for the first time in decades.
Organization
These are the 15 faculties in which the university is divided into:
★
Faculty of Medicine
★ Faculty of
Law
★ Faculty of
Arts
★ Faculty of
Sciences
★ Faculty of
Education
★ Faculty of
Shari'a (
Islamic Studies and
Jurisprudence)
★ Faculty of
Economics
★ Faculty of
Dentistry
★ Faculty of
Civil Engineering
★ Faculty of
Pharmacy
★ Faculty of
Agriculture
★ Faculty of
Fine Arts
★ Faculty of
Mechanical and
Electrical Engineering
★ Faculty of
Architecture
★
Faculty of Informatics
Arabic Language Institute
The
Arabic Language Institute at the University of Damascus is regularly recognized as one of the best centers to study Arabic in the world. The
Center for Arabic Study abroad, the premier institution for
Arabic study, is now opening a second branch at the University. The Arabic Language Institute at the University of Damascus is known for instruction purely in Arabic, along with homestays with Syrian families.
References