Fırat University: A Legacy of Education and Innovation
Fırat University, with its long-established history, began offering educational services in the culturally rich city of Elazığ. Over time, it has evolved into a prominent higher education institution, significantly contributing to the advancement of higher education in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia. The university expanded its reach by establishing institutions in the provinces of Bingöl, Muş, Tunceli, and Erzincan’s Kemaliye district, as well as within Elazığ’s districts, and through its postgraduate programs, it has trained academic staff for universities across the region.
Higher education in Elazığ began with the opening of the Higher Technical School in 1967. That same year, the Ankara University Senate's decision to establish the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Elazığ was approved by the Ministry of National Education. In 1969, the Higher Technical School was transformed into the Elazığ State Academy of Engineering and Architecture (EDMMA), and in 1970, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine began operating as part of Ankara University.
On April 11, 1975, the various higher education institutions in Elazığ were united under the name "Fırat University." The university's structure initially included the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Faculty of Science, and the Faculty of Literature. In 1982, EDMMA was restructured as the Faculty of Engineering, and the newly established Faculty of Medicine was integrated into the university.
The timeline of the establishment of faculties, graduate schools, applied schools, and vocational schools affiliated with Fırat University is as follows:
- 1967: Higher Technical School
- 1967: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- 1969: Elazığ State Academy of Engineering and Architecture (EDMMA, replacing the Higher Technical School)
- 1975: Faculty of Science
- 1975: Faculty of Literature
- 1975: Establishment of Fırat University (with the Faculties of Veterinary Medicine, Science, and Literature)
- 1982: Faculty of Engineering (replacing EDMMA)
- 1982: Faculty of Medicine
- 1982: Faculty of Technical Education
- 1982: School of Fisheries (converted to the Faculty of Fisheries in 1992)
- 1983: Graduate Institute of Science
- 1983: Graduate Institute of Health Sciences
- 1983: Graduate Institute of Social Sciences
- 1983: Bingöl Vocational School
- 1983: Tunceli Vocational School
- 1983: Elazığ Vocational School
- 1987: Bingöl School of Animal Health
- 1987: Muş Vocational School
- 1990: Vocational School of Health Services
- 1990: Vocational School of Social Sciences
- 1992: Vocational School of Technical Sciences (replacing Elazığ Vocational School)
- 1992: Keban Süleyman Demirel Vocational School
- 1993: Faculty of Theology
- 1995: Maden Vocational School (relocated to Elazığ Organized Industrial Zone)
- 1995: Sivrice Vocational School
- 1996: Elazığ School of Health
- 1996: Kemaliye Hacı Ali Akın Vocational School
- 1997: School of Physical Education and Sports
- 1997: State Conservatory
- 1997: Faculty of Education
- 1997: Faculty of Communication
- 1998: Muş Faculty of Education
- 2001: Muş Malazgirt Vocational School
- 2006: Bingöl Faculty of Agriculture
- 2006: Tunceli Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
- 2008: Transfer of Bingöl Vocational School, Bingöl Faculty of Agriculture, and Bingöl School of Animal Health to Bingöl University
- 2008: Transfer of Kemaliye Hacı Ali Akın Vocational School to Erzincan University
- 2008: Transfer of Muş Vocational School, Muş Faculty of Education, and Malazgirt Vocational School to Muş University
- 2008: Transfer of Tunceli Vocational School and Tunceli Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences to Tunceli University
- 2009: Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
- 2009: Faculty of Technology (replacing Faculty of Technical Education)
- 2011: Faculty of Science and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (replacing Faculty of Arts and Sciences)
- 2010: Karakoçan Vocational School
- 2010: Kovancılar Vocational School
- 2011: Graduate Institute of Educational Sciences
- 2011: Faculty of Architecture
- 2011: Baskil Vocational School
- 2011: School of Foreign Languages
- 2013: Faculty of Dentistry
- 2014: Faculty of Sports Sciences (replacing the School of Physical Education and Sports)
- 2014: School of Civil Aviation
- 2015: Faculty of Health Sciences (replacing Elazığ School of Health)
As of the 2017-2018 academic year, Fırat University comprises:
- 16 Faculties
- 2 Schools
- 1 State Conservatory
- 9 Vocational Schools
- 4 Graduate Schools
- 24 Research Centers
The university continues to provide educational services to 45,665 students (9,523 associate degree, 30,803 undergraduate, and 5,339 graduate students), supported by 1,862 academic and 1,511 administrative staff members.