Yunus Emre Beyhan

Yüzüncü Yıl University was established with the Decree Law Numbered 41 in 20 July 1982. However, the attempt to establish a university in the eastern regions of Turkey began a long time ago. The idea of establishing a university in Van is very old and dates back before Republic. It is understood from the order of Ottoman Sultan Il. Abdulhamit dated in 03 October 1905 for giving permission to Taha Efendi who was representative of Chief of Van for constructing a madrasah and lodge on an empty land in Van known as the old hospital". In addition, it is understood from 3 letters dated 03 July 1913 sent from Grand Viziership to General Directorate of Councils and Ministry of Internal Affairs for the recollection of the cost of construction of the darülfunun (university) desired to be opened in Van and being mentioned with the name of sultan and it is also understood that a special importance is given to the University desired to be opened in Van. In 1927, President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk sent Mustafa Necati Bey, the Minister of National Education, to Van to conduct investigations; Mustafa Necati thought that it was necessary to establish a university in Van. In 1928, the teacher Ferit Nur (Kuran) Bey was sent to Van and he was asked to convert the current secondary school into high school and he was asked to form the core of the university which was planned to be constructed. On November 1, 1937, in his opening speech at Turkish Grand National Assembly, Atatürk said "in order to create a modern cultural city with a primary school and finally a university in the best part of the Van Lake shores for the eastern region, the activities must already start For this purpose, he sent Saffet Arıkan who was the Minister of National Education to Van for the land determination. At the beginning of November 1938, in the opening speech of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Atatürk mentioned about the development of Istanbul University, the completion of Ankara University and the establishment of East University around Van Lake within the principles determined with the studies concluded, continues rapidly and significantly. On June 11, 1951, the Ministry of National Education formed a delegation consisting of 15 persons including Prof. Dr. Afet İnan, this delegation made detailed investigations for the determination of the location of East University. To establish an East University with the head quarter in Van, to open some faculties and institutions in Elazığ, Erzurum and Diyarbakir as auxiliary branches of East University was deemed as appropriate by the delegation. In this period, the number of universities in Ankara and Istanbul has been increased; faculties, colleges and academies were established in İzmir, Erzurum, Trabzon, Elazığ, Diyarbakır, Sivas, Samsun, Malatya, Kayseri, Eskişehir, Bursa and Edirne that shall create new universities or their cores. However, during these times Van was not among these happy provinces. In 1968, 'Association for establishing and maintaining Van University and Higher Schools was established and this association made efforts to open a faculty affiliated to Erzurum Atatürk University in Van and then to convert it into a separate university. For this purpose, a delegation formed in 1981 went to Ankara and President Kenan Evren gave the good news of establishing a university in Van to the members of the association. Approximately 8,5 months after the enactment of the Higher Education Law No. 2547, which brought a new order to our universities in November 6, 1981, a decree law was issued on July 20, 1982, about the Institution of Higher Education Institutions numbered 41. Through this decree, new universities were opened. Yüzüncü Yıl University was among these universities. There were various local initiatives to establish a university in Van. Our university is grateful and thanks all who have efforts in the form of material and spiritual contributions and teaching. The name of our university which continues its academic activities in 15 km distance to city center and is located around Van Lake with its 17 faculties, 5 institutes, 4 vocational schools, 9 vocational schools, 1 conservatory, 43 application and research centers, has been changed as Van Yüzüncü Yıl University in accordance with the Law No. 7033 dated 18.06.2017 and it has become effective by being published in Official Gazette dated 1 July 2017 and numbered 30111.