For first time ever, Iraqi University has been listed among best universities in world. The University of Baghdad has made it onto Times Higher Education World University Rankings. This is annual list of world's top 1,250 universities for research and development. The University of Baghdad has been ranked in range from 801 to thousand on the list of best universities. Phil Baty, editorial director of the Times, stated that the university had "distinguished" itself for having "very strong international cooperation". He said the University of Baghdad had played integral role in the reconstruction of Iraq after its recent conflicts and internal strife.
University of Baghdad (also called Baghdad University) is largest university in Iraq and second largest in the Arab world, behind the University of Cairo. Its roots go as far back as year 1067, when it was known as Abu Haneefa. The first of university's modern departments was founded in 1908. It was formally established as University of Baghdad in 1956. It managed to stay open throughout invasions and occupations of Iraq during this century. The ranking on Times list is seen as prestigious accolade by many of its academics and students. One student said: "I am so proud of Baghdad University. It means world to us to be held in such high esteem."
