Ba Sing Se University

Ba Sing Se University is a major institution of thought which educates scholars throughout the Earth Kingdom, as well as exchange students from other nations, such as Maliq of the Northern Water Tribe. The university campus is a major landmark in the Middle Ring of Ba Sing Se, and according to its enrollment materials, it is the greatest university in the world.
== History ==
In 296 BG, the zoology department at Ba Sing Se University was headed up by Professor Shaw, who procured a collection of shirshus for the university during an expedition. The professor was written to by Hei-Ran requesting to borrow the animals from the department, ostensibly to be displayed in the Fire Nation as part of a goodwill tour between the two nations, though in reality to track an escaped Avatar Kyoshi. Included with the letter was an expensive painting of the northern lights on vellum owned by Jianzhu, intended to "butter [the professor] up".
Once a great repository of knowledge for the citizens of Ba Sing Se, the university's academic offerings became somewhat tainted after Long Feng's ascent to the post of Grand Secretariat, especially in the areas of current events and political science. Anyone interested in researching the history or relics of the Air Nomads had to keep their interests private, as it was hard to mention the Air Nomads without speaking of their demise, and all mentions of the war were censored by the government. Professor Ko of the university was interested in obtaining Air Nomad relics to preserve the history of the lost nation, but kept such motivations entirely secret.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 59.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 265.
Despite the negative effects of political repression, it continued to be regarded as a major school of engineering, architecture, and science, especially for its famed Kim Astrology Tower and the two-acre Mung-Yi Research Koi Pond. The head zoologists at the university were charged with going out and fetching rare creatures for Earth King Kuei's private menagerie, including a mate for Bosco, although one was never found. During this time, Professor Zei held the position of Head of Anthropology, and taught a class on desert cultures.
Team Avatar visited the university in 100 AG, chaperoned by Joo Dee, while attempting to find a kidnapped Appa. The group questioned a student there, asking him if he had seen any sandbenders or nomads in the city, but the young scholar replied in the negative. However, after Sokka questioned him about the Hundred Year War with the Fire Nation, the student became nervous and, at Joo Dee's subtle direction, dodged the question before claiming he was late for class. With their questions unanswered, the team subsequently left the campus.
After the war, one former university professor came out of retirement to become the first dean of Republic City University. As a result of this, many of Republic City University's policies were partially modeled on Earth Kingdom policies, although they were later adapted to fit the cosmopolitan capital of the United Republic.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Republic City, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 40.
== Degrees ==
The Ba Sing Se University offers many degrees and classes, such as engineering, architecture, science, anthropology, zoology, astrology, and archaeology.HammerOfThor (host), Kaz (interviewee) (April 18, 2023). Interview with the developers of Avatar: Generations. Avatar Wiki. Retrieved on April 18, 2023.
== Notable figures ==
=== Professors ===
* Professor Ko, secretly interested in preserving Air Nomad relics
* Professor Shaw, head of the Zoology Department
* Professor Zei, head of the Anthropology Department
=== Students ===
* Ba Sing Se University student
* JingAvatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 90.
* Malina
* Maliq
* Wen
== References ==
== See also ==
* Ba Sing Se
* Earth Kingdom
* Education in the World of Avatar
* Organizations in the World of Avatar
de:Ba Sing Se Universität
es:Universidad de Ba Sing Se
fr:Université de Ba Sing Se
nl:Ba Sing Se universiteit
pl:Uniwersytet Ba Sing Se
ru:Университет Ба Синг Се
Category:A to Z
Category:Ba Sing Se
Category:Earth Kingdom
Category:Establishments
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Category:Organizations