Omar Al-Mukhtar University (Arabic: جامعة عمر المختار), located in Bayda, started as Islamic university. It was founded in 1835 by the religious group Kzawip Senussi. It has grown to be a moderately religious institute to teach Principles of readings, and then to the University of Mohammed bin Ali al-Sanusi in 1961 or aspiring Bayda Islamic University. It educated students from all parts of Libya and the world, including Malta, Cyprus, Egypt, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sudan and Chad.