Baku state university: the foundation adventure of the first european-style higher education institution of the east

The Republic of Azerbaijan, which was founded on May 28, 1918 and lived for only twenty three months, took important steps in public education. Among these steps, nationalization of schools, the use of Azerbaijani Turkish in official correspondence, the invitation of instructors from the Ottoman Empire and the writing of new curriculum were the most significant. Apart from these, the decisive move of the government was opening of a European-style public university for the first time among Muslim states in the Eastern world. The intellectuals of the period who succeeded in opening a State University in Baku in November 1919 showed that they had a broad vision for education and development of the country. Therefore, the university was considered as an important gift to the people of Azerbaijan. In this study, the establishment process of Baku University is discussed. The historical adventure related to the process was explained by the fact that despite scarcity in financial resources, the lack of scientists and students, debates and controversies occurred. This paper deals with the nature of these debates regarding the university project in the Azerbaijan Parliament. The archival sources, articles in the press and research works were examined and the subject was discussed in an original and objective manner.