Yıldız Technical University has a distinguished history that dates to 1911. YTU was founded as Kondüktör Mekteb-i Âlisi (Conductors School of Higher Education) in order to meet the "science officer" (known previously as conductors, and today as technicians) needs of the Municipality Public Works Section. The school was modeled on the syllabus of the "Ecole de Conducteur" and was affiliated with the Ministry of Public Works. The school's name was changed to Nafia Fen Mektebi (School of Public Works) in 1922. The duration of education was increased to two and a half years in 1926 and three years in 1931.