<story><title>Nalanda University flourished for more than seven centuries</title><url>https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230222-nalanda-the-university-that-changed-the-world</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>mettamage</author><text>Wait, so is this the oldest university then?&lt;p&gt;Because a quick Google says &amp;quot;The Jagiellonian University is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in continuous operation in the world. It is regarded as Poland&amp;#x27;s most prestigious academic institution.&amp;quot;&lt;p&gt;Ugh...&lt;p&gt;ChatGPT says &amp;quot;The University of Bologna, located in Bologna, Italy, is considered the oldest university in the world, founded in 1088. It was initially established as a law school, but over time, it grew to include faculties of medicine, philosophy, and theology. The university played a significant role in the development of European higher education, and its model of organization and academic freedom has been emulated by other universities around the world.&amp;quot;&lt;p&gt;This seems to be a contentious topic.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>jltsiren</author><text>It depends on how you define a university.&lt;p&gt;Medieval European universities are often considered the first true universities, because they are direct ancestors of modern universities, and their traditions have survived and evolved into what we see today. There were earlier institutes of higher education all around the world (including Europe), but those traditions have not survived.</text></comment>
<story><title>Nalanda University flourished for more than seven centuries</title><url>https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230222-nalanda-the-university-that-changed-the-world</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>mettamage</author><text>Wait, so is this the oldest university then?&lt;p&gt;Because a quick Google says &amp;quot;The Jagiellonian University is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in continuous operation in the world. It is regarded as Poland&amp;#x27;s most prestigious academic institution.&amp;quot;&lt;p&gt;Ugh...&lt;p&gt;ChatGPT says &amp;quot;The University of Bologna, located in Bologna, Italy, is considered the oldest university in the world, founded in 1088. It was initially established as a law school, but over time, it grew to include faculties of medicine, philosophy, and theology. The university played a significant role in the development of European higher education, and its model of organization and academic freedom has been emulated by other universities around the world.&amp;quot;&lt;p&gt;This seems to be a contentious topic.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>ghaff</author><text>Continuous operation is a key word--which indeed apparently applies the the University of Bologna--and according to Wikipedia it is the oldest continuously operating university. (It&amp;#x27;s apparently either 1088 or 1180-90 depending on your criteria--just a few years earlier than Oxford with the same criteria).&lt;p&gt;ADDED: As others note &amp;quot;university&amp;quot; is also a key word though college would probably also serve.</text></comment>