the university of al-karaouine (or al-qarawiyyin, ) is a university in fes, morocco. the mosque was founded by fatima al-fihri in 859. it had a school, or madrasa, that taught students about islam. it later became one of the most important centres of learning in the muslim world. it was made a part of morocco's modern university system in 1963. it is the continually operating school in the world. it is sometimes also called the oldest university