History & heritage / Learning · Fez
Al-Qarawiyyin: learning since 859
Founded in Fez in 859, al-Qarawiyyin is listed by Guinness World Records as the oldest existing, continually operating educational institution.
The full picture
Beyond the number
Founded in Fez in 859, al-Qarawiyyin is listed by Guinness World Records as the oldest existing, continually operating educational institution.
A centre of learning took root in Fez in 859, centuries before the modern university model emerged in Europe.
Guinness World Records lists al-Qarawiyyin as the oldest existing and continually operating educational institution. UNESCO describes Fez as home to the oldest university; definitions of “university” can differ across historical traditions.
Then / Now
How the story unfolded
Al-Qarawiyyin was founded in Fez.
UNESCO inscribed the Medina of Fez, home to al-Qarawiyyin, on the World Heritage List.
Guinness lists al-Qarawiyyin as the oldest existing, continually operating educational institution.
Verify it
Sources & further reading
Image credits
- The Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fez, photographed in 2025: RACHID BAYA · CC BY-SA 4.0
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