UNIT 3

THE FIRST UNIVERSITY

A. Discussion
1. Why do you study at University? because I want to study psychology at university
2. What advantages do universities bring to society? There are many advantages that exist at
the university, one of which is studying and socializing with the community

B. Reading

The World’s First University was Founded By a Muslim Woman

Fatima bint Muhammad Al-Fihriya Al-Qurashiya (‫)فاطم""ة بنت محم""د الفهري""ة القرش""ية‬
founded the world’s first university in 895 CE in Fez, which is now in Morocco. She was more
usually known simply as Fatima al-Fihri and when she and her sister inherited their father’s
wealth she used her share to establish The University of Al Qarawiynn.

The university started as a large mosque and later grew into a place of education. The
Madrasa (Islamic School) Al-Fihri founded is still in operation today as the University of Al
Quaraouiyine. It is the oldest continually operating educational institution in the world and was
the first institution to award degrees according to different levels of study, in Islamic studies,
mathematics, grammar, and medicine.

The University of Al Quaraouiyine became a state university in 1963 and now awards
degrees in Islamic, religious and legal sciences with an emphasis on classical Arabic grammar
and linguistics and law. Interestingly, teaching is still delivered in a very traditional manner,
whereby students are seated in a semi-circle around a Sheikh (Islamic scholar), who prompts
them to read sections of particular texts, asks them questions on aspects of grammar, law, or
interpretation, and explains difficult points.

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 Adjacent to Al Quaraouiyine mosque and university is the world’s oldest library. The
library will hopefully soon to be reopened after a massive restoration overseen by another
woman; this time the architect Aziza Chaouni.
Chaouni grew up in Fez and recalled seeing the great locked doors of the library as a
young child. Her vision was for the library to once more become a second home for the people
of Fez, a living functional library, not just a tourist attraction. They partially re-opened, historic
9th century (CE) library now includes an isolated drainage system to avoid future damage, and a
lab to treat, preserve and digitise the oldest texts. It also houses, with the greatest possible
security, temperature and humidity controls ‘a precious ninth-century copy of the Qur’an,
written in ornate Kufic script on camel skin vellum (parchment).

A survey by Al Fanar Media in 2018 showed that women earn the majority of
undergraduate degrees in many Arab countries, and make up a growing proportion of teachers
at the primary and secondary levels of education. However, they are often missing from the
upper ranks of higher-education leadership.

(https://blog.globalacademyjobs.com/the-worlds-first-university-was-founded-by-a-woman/)

Discussion
1. Who’s Fatima Al-fihri? founded the world’s first university in 895 CE in
Fez, which is now in Morocco
2. What is the name of the first university in the world? University of Al
Qarawiynn
3. When was the University of Al Quaraouiyine became a state university? The
University of Al Quaraouiyine became a state university in 1963

4. How do the lecturers deliver teaching and learning activities? the activities are
very good and the teaching is very understandable

5. Who’s Aziza Chaouni? He is an architect who oversees the restoration of

the library

C. Listening

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 Listen the speaker carefully and fill in the gap.

University is one of of our life, if you go to university, that is. I

my university days. I also loved my university. I of being a student. It was the
first time I , without my parents. I cook, wash and clean for myself.
I loved it. I had complete . I also loved the studying. It was much more interesting
than studying at school. It was nice to just , do the reading and then do the assignments. I
like I was learning something. I also loved the social life at university. It’s
almost 24/7. There are always parties and things to do. You have to get

1. place to seek knowledge

2.

D. Speaking
Discussion: How is your study in University? Do you enjoy it? Why/Why not?

E. Grammar

1. Past simple
We use the past simple to talk about actions or situations in the past. An

English verb in past simple can be regular or irregular. Regular verbs form their past and
past participle forms by adding –ed.

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 Subject Past form

(+) Fatima founded the world’s first university in 895

The University started as a large mosque

Irregular verbs form their past and past participle forms in different ways

Subject Past form

(+) The University became a state university in 1963

Chaouni grew up in Fez

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