Atatürk, the president of republic of that period, sent Mustafa Necati, of The Ministry of Education, to examine on-site the situation in Van in 1927.

Atatürk said, "We must go into action to constitute a modern city of culture with a primary school and finally a university in the most beautiful places on the coasts of The Lake Van for the east region" and with this aim, he sent Saffet Arıkan, The Ministry of Education of that period, to Van for land determination.

The committee of 15 people, including Prof. Dr. Afet İnan, was formed by The Ministry of Education on June 11, 1951 and attempted to determine the place of the East University.

With this aim, the committee established in 1981 went to Ankara and good news about the foundation of a university in Van was reported to the members of the association who were approved by Kenan Evren, the head of the state.

With the 14 Faculties, 4 Institutes, 11 Graduate Schools and 19 Application and Research Centers, the university carries on the education activities in the campus which is established at the side of Lake Van and which is 15 km away from the city centre.