A historical overview of Omar Al-Mukhtar University

Omar Al-Mukhtar University underwent several stages before it became what it is today. The University’s nucleus was founded in 1961 when the University of Sayyid Muhammad bin Ali Al-Senussi was established in the city of Al-Bayda. The University consisted of three faculties: the Faculty of Fundamentals of Religion – the Faculty of Sharia – and the Faculty of Arabic Language. A decree to abolish it was issued in 1970, and its three faculties were merged into the faculty of Arabic Language and Islamic Studies. While remaining within Al-Bayda city, it became affiliated with the Libyan University in the city of Benghazi. In 1973, the Faculty of Education was officially established in Al-Bayda city, followed in 1974 by the opening of the Faculty of Agriculture. Education programs commenced in 1975-1976.

However, its standing state did not continue. The Faculty of Arabic Language and Islamic Studies and the Faculty of Education were eventually closed, and only the Faculty of Agriculture remained, on the basis of which a decision was issued in the year 1985 to establish a university in the city of Al-Bayda named Omar Al-Mukhtar University of Agricultural Sciences. It was not until 1991 that a decision was issued where Omar Al-Mukhtar University named ten new faculties with an independent public administration based in the city of Al-Bayda.

The ten faculties were distributed among four cities, including in Al-Bayda: the Faculty of Agriculture – the Faculty of Science – the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – and the Faculty of Engineering, and among them in Derna: the Faculty of Economics and Accounting – the Faculty of Arts and Architecture – and the Faculty of Medical Technology. The Faculties in Tobruk included: the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, and finally, the Faculty of Education was established in Al-Marj.

At present, the University of Tobruk and the University of Derna have separated, while Al-Marj joined the University of Benghazi. Today, Omar Al-Mukhtar University has one main branch based in Al-Bayda, and the number of its affiliated faculties has extended to seventeen, distributed between the old University headquarters and the Shuhada El-Jabel campus.