From the University President

Out of history, out of the ancient civilizations in Syria and in the oldest continuously inhabited capital city in the world, Damascus University emerged to raise the banner of science and knowledge since its establishment. It was the mother that gave life to all the other Syria universities.
Damascus University has taken after the nine-thousand-year-old city whose name it shares, Damascus- a city of great civilization, profoundculture and outstanding leadership. Throughout centuries Damascus, the pride of architecture and engineering, has inspired architects around the world, poets, scholars, historians, orientalists of Arab and foreign nationalities.
For over a century, Damascus University has set an example of generosity, advancement and scientific excellence. It has been a guiding beacon of science and afountain of knowledge in different specialties. Thousands of students, leading scholars and intellectuals in Syria, the Arab countries and the world have graduated from this university. Due to its good reputation, solid curricula, keen interest to use Arabic as a means of instruction, academics in different specialties, scholars of the Arabic and Islamic worlds flocked to it. 
The university dates back to 1903 when the Medical School, which formed the core of the university, was founded in Damascus to be followed by other various colleges, like the Faculty of Law and that of Letters.In 1925 it was formally named “The Syrian University”.
In 1958, the first regulatory law for universities was issued both in the southern and northern regions of the United Arab Republic giving birth to Damascus University and Aleppo University accordingly. Within one year after that, Damascus University comprised the faculties of Law, Medicine, Literature, Commerce, Science, Dentistry, Engineering, Sharia and Education.All these faculties offeredundergraduate degrees as well as postgraduatedegrees.
Since 1973, Damascus University has made significantadvancement on many levels, like founding faculties, increasing the number of teachers, infrastructure, student housing, educational programs, scientific research, provision ofstate-of-the-artequipment and finally linking the university tosociety and the labor market. The University has also been committed to cooperation and exchange agreements with dozens of prestigious Arab and foreign universities.
Currently, the university has eighteen colleges in Damascus, six in Daraa, six in Sweidaand five in Quneitra, in addition to fourteen technical institutes distributed among Damascus, Daraa, Sweida, Quneitra and Nabek, six higher institutes, seven open-learning programs and nine specialized scientific centers. Furthermore, the university has three programs for distinguished students in the fields of biomedical sciences, laser and information technology.
In addition to the afore-mentioned, Damascus University has nine general and specialized hospitals to provide scientific training for its students and treatment for the public. Moreover, Damascus University has given special attention to university books. It has also made important progress in scientific research and publishing. Twelve academic journals are published by the university in various specialties, ten out of which are refereed. Another university publication is a newspaper that coversthe different scientific, cultural and educational activities of the university.

The university is looking forward to setting more future plans and initiatives in support of what has been achieved so far to enhance the quality of education and improve scientific research. The university also hopes this will contribute to developing scientific research, achieving the scientific and national missions of higher education, supplying the youth with profound knowledge making themstronger and more capable of facing the future and contributing to the accomplishments of civilization, culture and humanity.
The university strives to qualify students to be productive participants in society. Thus, the university encourages volunteering and student initiatives which contribute to helping create well-educated decision-makers. For this purpose, Damascus University seeks to network with various sectors of the state to cope with the rapid changes in the labor market in connection with social needs and requirements. Cooperation agreements have been concluded with many public and private sector organizations; and the university has developedthe appropriate curricula to meettheir requirements.
Students are obviously at the heart of every university and are the reason for establishing universities in the first place. Therefore, Damascus University is keen to provide an integrated learning environment through which students can acquire the skills and knowledge for a good academic achievement on the one hand and enhance the spirit of taking initiatives, participation and sense of belonging to their homeland and their own university on the other hand.
In conclusion, Damascus University has been and will always remain loyal to its students. It will always remain the destination for the Syrians and the Arabs who seek knowledge and science. The university is also fully aware that excellence in education stems from its well-established vision that education and seeking more knowledge is the basis for the advancement of nations, in line with its motto: “Say, oh my lord, advance me in knowledge.”