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Ankara University: A Fusion of Moscow State University and MGIMO with a Turkish Twist
We couldn't resist sharing how Türkiye's largest university, which our delegation visited yesterday, is organized. Spoiler:
A Bit of History
So, Ankara University is the first higher education institution established in Turkey after the republic was founded. It hosts about 45,000 students across 14 faculties. In terms of scale and significance, it can be confidently compared to Moscow State University (MSU). Officially founded in 1946, the roots of its Political Science College, which later became a faculty, go back to 1859. Today, this faculty has many similarities with MGIMO: a somewhat parallel history and a primary mission to prepare cadres for public service.
The campus, designed by a German architect, combines educational buildings, green relaxation areas, and art installations. The interiors are as impressive as the exteriors: walls adorned with photos of alumni from years past and preserved historical documents give a sense of the continuity of academic traditions.
And Now, Let's Talk Cows! Yes, Real Cows!
One of the interesting features of the faculty is... a collection of cow statuettes! Surprised? So were we.
It turns out that in Turkish slang, the words for "cow" and "top student" sound the same. This amusing coincidence led to the cow becoming an unofficial symbol of the student body. The collection is continuously expanding with figurines from all over the world—ranging from tiny miniatures to substantial pieces, from classic to avant-garde. Moreover, every summer, the faculty holds a festival where real cows make an appearance! Now, that's a true Turkish celebration of knowledge.
It got us thinking—maybe it's time for us to start collecting something equally symbolic?
#türkiye
