History
Throughout our history, great importance has been given to the education system. Indeed, one of the primary courses in madrasas, which formed the backbone of this system, was fiqh, namely law. Specialization was common in madrasas. For instance, Inceminareli Madrasa, one of many madrasas in Konya, was established as a dar al-hadith and hadith studies were conducted there. In the Muslihiyye Madrasa, also known as Sircali Madrasa, fiqh education was predominant. In the late Ottoman period, particularly during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II, schools began to be opened for vocational education.
Until 1907, there was only one law school operating in Istanbul, Turkey. However, due to this school's inability to meet the needs, a petition containing reasons such as the necessity to train interrogating judges and judges, and Istanbul's law school's inability to meet demands, was submitted to the Sublime Porte by prominent figures of the period. Upon acceptance of the petition, it was decided to open new law schools in Thessaloniki, Baghdad, and Konya. On September 10, 1907, a directive was sent to these three provinces, which would later form the foundation of our University's Faculty of Law, instructing the establishment of schools providing legal education. Within this framework, as the first phase of planning to establish a university in Konya, the Konya Law School was established on Saturday, March 1, 1908, in a large mansion known as Celebi Mansion, located near the Mevlana dervish lodge in Sedirler District, close to today's Koyunoglu Museum. In this context, Konya Law School was the first higher education institution established in Anatolia during the Darulfunun period. The school had a four-year education period and only high school graduates could enroll. Operating in Konya for 11 years and producing 134 graduates during its operation, the School was essentially opened as the first phase of establishing a fully-fledged university in Konya but had to close its doors on March 15, 1919, due to difficulties experienced during and after World War I. Today, our University, aiming to contribute to society and humanity by training qualified individuals, has begun to revive quickly on these solid foundations that existed in its past.
In 1955, during the Republican period, the issue of opening a university in Konya was brought to the agenda again with a draft law prepared in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, but this draft, signed by more than half of the deputies, unfortunately could not pass the National Education Commission. The first serious step towards having a university was taken with the opening of Selcuk Education Institute and Higher Islamic Institute in 1962, affiliated with the Ministry of National Education. To strengthen and develop this first step, the University Establishment and Maintenance Association was established in Konya in 1968, and as a result of outstanding efforts, the School of Engineering and Architecture was established, which formed the nucleus of our Engineering and Architecture faculties. This school, which started serving in the 1970-1971 Academic Year in a building belonging to the Child Protection Agency (next to Gazi High School) through the efforts of the University Establishment and Maintenance Association despite having no building, classroom, personnel, or budget, received the title of Konya State Academy of Architecture and Engineering based on Article 9 of Law No. 1418 dated July 5, 1971. The transition process from these three schools, which constituted the preparation phase for the university's establishment, to a more effective university took place in 1975. With "Law No. 1873 on the Establishment of 4 Universities" that came into effect on April 11, 1975, the establishment of four universities in our country was envisaged, and Selcuk University was established based on this law. In the 1976-1977 Academic Year, it started operating with 2 faculties, namely the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Letters, 7 departments, 327 students, and 2 tenured faculty members.
1982 became the breakthrough year for Selcuk University. With the Decree Law No. 41 dated July 20, 1982, it was initially decided to merge the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Letters, which formed the university's core, into the Faculty of Science and Letters. Subsequently, Selcuk Higher Teacher School was transformed into the Faculty of Education; Konya State Engineering-Architecture Academy into the Faculty of Engineering-Architecture; and Konya Higher Islamic Institute into the Faculty of Theology. Additionally, the Faculties of Law, Medicine, Agriculture, and Veterinary Medicine, along with the Institutes of Health, Science, and Social Sciences were established; the School of Foreign Languages was abolished and transformed into Konya Vocational School. In Nigde, Nigde Vocational School was established, and the Girls' Art Higher Teacher School was transformed into the Girls' Art Education School; Nigde Education Institute was transformed into the School of Education. Thus, with Decree Law No. 41, Selcuk University suddenly reached the level of 8 faculties, 4 schools, and 3 institutes.
By the end of the 2000s, Selcuk University, which experienced rapid growth in scientific, physical, social, cultural, and sports fields, increased its number of faculties to 24 as of 2011. However, in December 2011, by Cabinet decision and approval of then-President Mr. Abdullah Gul, Meram Medical Faculty, Ahmet Kelesoglu Faculty of Education, and Faculty of Theology located in Selcuk University's Meram campuses were transferred to the second state university in Konya. With the Cabinet decision published in the Official Gazette dated April 26, 2013, Seydisehir Ahmet Cengiz Faculty of Engineering, Seydisehir Vocational School, Seydisehir Health Services Vocational School, Eregli Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Eregli Faculty of Education, and Konya Eregli Kemal Akman Vocational School were also transferred to the same university. In 2018, with Article 7 of Law No. 7141 published in the Official Gazette, the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Architecture, and Technical Sciences Vocational School within our University were transferred to the third state university established in Konya.
Today, Selcuk University, with 23 faculties, 7 institutes, 5 schools, 1 conservatory, 23 vocational schools, 53 research centers, is among Turkey's largest educational institutions with over 70,000 students and more than 7,000 personnel.
SOURCES (*)
- BOYSAL, Yusuf. While Establishing Selcuk University.
- EKINCI, Ekrem Bugra (1999). Konya Law School and Legal Education in the Ottoman Empire. History and Civilization.
- YILMAZ, Yasin (2021). Konya Law School (1908-1919) , YILMAZ Yasin. hukukkitapligi.com
- YILMAZ, Yasin & KIREMITCI, Mehmet (2022). Constitutional Law Courses at Konya Law School . Justice Journal: Issue 68.
Image – 1: Establishment Decision of Konya Law School (Document's Gregorian Date: January 5, 1908)
Grand Vizierate Letter Office
TO THE HONORED PROVINCE OF KONYA –correspondence–
First day of Zilhicce 325
December 23, 1323
By the supreme imperial order of His Majesty the Caliph, it has been ordered to establish one of the law schools, which are to be opened in three Imperial Provinces, in Konya, and as mentioned in document number 63 dated 10 Shaban 325 from the administrative council of your honored province, the Ministry of Education has been notified to commence the necessary procedures.
Image – 2: Konya Law School Graduation Certificate (Document's Gregorian Date: August 30, 1914)
THE SUBLIME OTTOMAN STATE
Ottoman Darulfunun
Graduation Certificate
This graduation certificate is awarded to Mehmed Receb Efendi, age 27, from Konya, son of the deceased Tayyip Efendi from Musevvidzade family, who was a tithe official, having completed his education at the Konya Law Branch of Ottoman Darulfunun and demonstrated competence and eligibility with near-excellent degree through examination.
18 Shawwal 1332/ August 17, 1330
Minister of Public Education (Signature-Seal)
School Director (Seal)
