University of Benghazi
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2013) |
Former names | Garyounis University |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1955 |
| Students | 79,968 (as of 2013[update]) |
| Location | , |
| Campus | 460 acres (1.9 km2) |
| Website | [1] |
University of Benghazi (Arabic: جامعة بنغازي), formerly known as the Garyounis University, is a public university in Benghazi, Libya and it is one of the most important institutes of higher education in Libya. It is located in Benghazi, the second largest city in the country. It was founded on 1955 as the University of Libya.
History
It was founded on 15 December 1955 as the Libyan University.
In 1973 the University of Libya was split into two independent universities.
In 2011 after the Libyan revolutionary war the name of the university was changed back to University of Benghazi.
The University of Benghazi includes 23 faculties, 230 departments and centers. It has many campuses and scientific institutes inside Benghazi; as its total area is about 500 hectares. The University of Benghazi has approximately 85,000 undergraduate students as well as 3000 graduate students.
On April 17, 2016, the Libyan National Army managed to crush extreme militants in and around the University of Benghazi, where militants had taken it a ground for them to launch rockets at the city and train their followers.[1]