261st IUB Meeting Held at CoHE
April 30, 2025
The 261st Interuniversity Council Meeting was held at the Council of Higher
Education. In his opening speech, Erol Özvar, President of the Council of
Higher Education, stated that the Regional Meetings on Turkish Higher
Education's Vision Towards 2030 held in different provinces of Türkiye were
very productive and that they decided to prepare a report in order to
ensure a long-lasting outcome out of these meetings and that they will
share the report and the action plan with universities next month.
Özvar stated that they will increase the number of universities opening
AI-based programs to 80 and said, "There will also be foundation
universities among them. We will increase the number of associate and
undergraduate programs on cyber security, such as informatics and AI-based
programs."
Özvar stated that they aim to transform health education and the
agricultural sector with an understanding focused on digitalization and
information technologies at universities. He noted that they are also
working to transform programs such as machinery, metallurgy and
construction in vocational schools into more specific programs within the
scope of employment-sensitive programs. He stated that they plan to carry
out a similar campaign in the field of green and sustainable technologies,
similar to the program opening and curricula renewal CoHE has initiated in
the fields of digitalization and artificial intelligence.
Özvar stated that as of April, the number of researchers approved for
employment reached 313 under Annex 34 and 166 under Annex 46, and added:
"It should not be forgotten that especially Annex 46 has a critical
importance in terms of encouraging university-industry cooperation. It is
of great importance that the opportunities offered by this regulation are
used more effectively."
He reminded that universities applying to open a doctoral program must have
an accredited program, and said, "Similarly, we will also require
accreditation to establish academic units such as faculties, colleges,
institutes, research and application centers. By 2027, we expect all Turkish
universities to complete their accreditation processes."
Özvar said, "Another issue that we attach importance to like accreditation
is the Turkish Qualifications Framework (TQF) Logo. Programs with the TQF
Logo have started to be included in the Higher Education Programs and
Quotas Guide since last year. Having the TQF Logo on the graduation
certificate brings some advantages to higher education graduates on the
international arena. The diplomas of graduates from programs with this logo
are recognized abroad faster and these graduates have more employment
opportunities."
He told the rectors attending the meeting that they would like their
Science Communication Offices to contribute and stated that the
applications for the Sports Friendly Campus Project, which was announced on
May 19 last year, were taken in February this year. “After the completion
of the process, the evaluation results will be shared with the public
during the week of May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day.”