Selçuk University (Turkish: Selçuk Üniversitesi) is a state-owned higher educational institution which was founded 1975 in Konya, Turkey. It is one of the largest universities in Turkey with a student body of 63,000 of which 2,200 are foreign students from 105 countries.
Selçuk University began education in the academic year of 1976–1977 with two faculties: the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Literature. It has significantly grown since to become one of the largest and highest-ranked universities in Turkey.
In 1962, the Selçuk Education Institute (Turkish: Selçuk Eğitim Enstitüsü) and the Higher Islamic Institute (Turkish: Yüksek İslâm Enstitüsü) were opened under the MEB. This was the first significant step towards founding a university in Konya, and was furthered with the creation of the Association for the Founding and Sustenance of the University (Turkish: Üniversiteyi Kurma ve Yaşatma Derneği) in 1968. The efforts of this association created the core of the present Engineering-Architecture faculty: the Engineering-Architecture college. The college lacked its own building, classes and funding but began teaching in the 1970–1971 academic year in a building belonging to the General Directorate of Child Services. It was titled the Konya State Academy of Architecture and Engineering as per Article 9 of Law No. 1418.[7]
Selçuk university along with four others were founded in 1975 with the passing of the law entitled Law pertaining to the founding of 4 universities, numbered 1873 (Turkish: 4 Üniversitenin Kurulması ile İlgili 1873 Sayılı Kanun) which was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Turkey. The university began operating in the 1976–1977 academic year, with two faculties (Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Literature), 7 subjects, 327 students and 2 permanent lecturers.[7]
Present Day
A historical photograph of the Konya State Academy of Architecture and Engineering
"Selçuk university opens in our city", 28 February 1955
In 2018, a law was passed for the founding of 20 new universities in Turkey. As part of this, 13 existing universities were to have some of their faculties split to create new universities.[8]Konya Technical University (previously Konya University) was established through this, from the Engineering, Architecture, faculties and the Technical Sciences Vocational College that belonged to Selçuk University.[9][10]
Student life
Social activities
At the beginning of each academic year, the university arranges a Welcome Festival (Hoş Geldiniz Şenliği). Every May, the university hosts a six-day Spring Festival (Bahar Şenliği) that is arranged to coincide with the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day. A sports festival is also organized in May (Spor Şenlikleri). A new year concert is held at the end of December (Yeni Yıl Konseri).
The Gökkuşağı shopping center within the campus hosts restaurants, bookstores, supermarkets among other amenities.
Student societies
The university hosts 22 sports teams and 148 student communities & clubs.[11]
Sports
The university has an Olympic-size swimming pool, a football field with roofed bleachers, 3 gymnasiums, 2 basketball courts, and 2 tennis courts.
Accommodation
The university's Alaaddin Keykubat campus hosts a six block Ataturk dormitory along with KYK-affiliated Alaaddin and Cumhuriyet student dormitories. The university also has a guesthouse and ERASMUS student dormitory.
Organization
Selçuk University consists of 23 faculties,[7] 1 State Conservatory,[12] 22 vocational schools[13] and Application Centers. Former faculties in Niğde, Karaman and Aksaray were separated from it in the 2000s.
Selçuk University has nearly 63,000 students[2] and a population of approximately 2,700 academicians and lecturers.[14] Of the student population, 2186 are international students from 105 countries.[15]