Şanlıurfa, where Harran University is located, is one of the oldest cities in Anatolia with its history dating back eleven thousand years from today. Located on the region called the Fertile Crescent in archaeological sources, Şanlıurfa has a vast cultural accumulation since it is located at the intersection of rich Anatolian culture and Mesopotamian culture. The historical city of Harran, which gave its name to our university, is 44 km from Şanlıurfa. It is a city center located in the southeast, which has witnessed important events in history. The real importance of Harran, which was also the capital of the Umayyads for a period, stems from its being an important science center since before Islam. Important studies were carried out in the fields of astronomy, medicine, mathematics, philosophy and religion in the Harran School, which was considered the university of its period. Harran continues to attract attention today as a tourism destination. Another feature of Şanlıurfa is that it is located at the center of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), one of the largest integrated regional development projects in the world. Şanlıurfa will obtain significant gains once this project is fully implemented. While aiming to upgrade the standards of higher education and scientific research in Turkey, our university also undertakes an extremely important mission in the success of the GAP. Elements of this mission are; pioneering social and cultural change, supporting regional development through scientific studies, and creating a platform that allows rational evaluation of regional dynamics.
