The Ala-Too International University , formerly known as the International Atatürk-Alatoo University, is a private university located in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. It was established in 1996. The university offers graduate, master's, and doctoral programs. It is often ranked as one of Kyrgyzstan's most prestigious universities. English is the primary medium of instruction at the university. However, some classes are taught in Russian and a few other classes are taught in Turkish. The Ala-Too International University is funded and run by the global Islamic education. Following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt, which the Turkish government blames on Gülen, the university changed its name from the International Atatürk-Alatoo University to the Ala-Too International University, appointed a Kyrgyz rector, and generally started to position itself more as a local institution.
History
The Ala-Too International University was established as the International Atatürk-Alatoo University in 1996 by the Sebat Educational Foundation which promotes and follows the tenets of Islam espoused by Fethullah Gülen. In the wake of the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt, which the Turkish government blames on Gülen, the administration of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan demanded that Kyrgyzstan close down institutions affiliated with the Gülen movement. However, the Kyrgyz government refused to comply with Ankara's demands. In February 2017, the Turkish government announced that diplomas issued by the Ala-Too International University would no longer be valid in Turkey. Subsequently, the name of the university was changed from the International Atatürk-Alatoo University to the Ala-Too International University. The name of the organization that runs the Ala-Too International University along with 35 other schools and colleges was also changed from the Sebat Educational Foundation to the Sapat Educational Foundation.
Academics
The Ala-Too International University has the following departments and programs:
