Nature & quality of world higher education in reference to Nalanda, Gundishapur, Al-Qarawiyyin and Al-Azhar: 415 A.D.-1200 A.D Bhattacharyya Shilpa1, Guha Debjani2 1Asst. Professor (CWTT), Panskura Banamali College, W.B. 2Professor, Dept.of Education, University of Kalyani, West Bengal Online published on 2 September, 2019. Abstract The World education is highly indebted to the four ancient pioneer Universities-Nalanda University in India, Gundishapur University in Iran, Al-Qarawiyyin University in Morocco and Al-Azhar University in Egypt. During the period in between 415 A.D. to 1200 A.D., India achieved a remarkable position in respect of education and culture, with the emergence of a number of higher learning Institutions. Nalanda was one of the most popular names among them where systematic ways of higher education prevailed. Similarly Gundishapur of Iran and Al-Qarawiyyin & Al-Azhar of Africa are the icons of Islamic tradition, culture and quality education by achieving incredible stands in their territorial spaces. The questions are like that-what were the pattern, structure and other related factors of Global higher educational institutions prevailed in the period of 415 A.D. to 1200 A.D.? Which University was scholastically brilliant in comparison to one another of that period? This paper solely wishes to seek the answers of these questions. The chief objective of this paper is to trace the systems of higher education prevailed in the above mentioned four Universities like Nalanda, Gundishapur, Al-Qarawiyyin & Al-Azhar and to make a comparative study. The present study is historical and analytical in nature. Historical and sociological approaches have been adopted for this analysis. It has been found that Nalanda, Gundishapur, Al-Qarawiyyin and Al-Azhar-all had significant role in the history of World higher education but in respect of academic brilliance, Nalanda was truly unique and exceptional Top Keywords World education, Quality, Higher learning institute, Academic brilliance. Top |