CoHE President Özvar Calls for Peace
“As higher education leaders from all around the world, we must take
responsibility to promote regional and global peace and stability”
“We believe that Israel must immediately stop its attacks, which are a
clear violation of international law”
“We call on the international higher education community to openly and
strongly defend academic freedom and human rights”
“The Zero Waste Project, which sparked the national transformation, is
today a globally recognized environmental project”
“Türkiye's strong capacity in higher education is the product of a
long-term, determined and consistent policy”
The official opening ceremony of the "Global Sustainable Development
Congress" organized by Times Higher Education (THE), an international
higher education ranking agency, was held at the Istanbul Congress Center —
marking the first time the event was hosted by Türkiye.
In his speech titled "Education for a sustainable future: Türkiye's vision
and contribution", Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher
Education, expressed his pleasure to hold such a large organization
bringing together more than 5,000 international representatives from 110
countries. Özvar stated that the congress is an important event in terms of
reflecting Türkiye's growing role in the international academic world,
emphasizing Istanbul's unique location where cultures, ideas and connections
between continents are fused.
Noting that the congress is being organized at a time when Israel has
launched a new attack on the region, Özvar reminded that Türkiye strongly
condemns Israel's airstrike on Iran and said, "This attack is a clear
violation of international law. Türkiye believes that Israel should
immediately stop its aggressive actions that could lead to wider
conflicts."
Stating that Israel is also responsible for the ongoing tragedy in Gaza,
Özvar continued as follows:
"The unfolding humanitarian crisis is also a serious violation of human
rights and human dignity. Tens of thousands have lost their lives, millions
have been displaced and basic needs, including access to education, have
been consistently denied. Schools and universities have been systematically
targeted, depriving young Palestinians of their right to education. This is
a situation that we must all condemn. Unfortunately, expressing sympathy
and support for Gaza has led to dire consequences for academics and
students in some Western schools. Those who have shown solidarity with the
people of Gaza have faced dismissal, censorship and legal prosecution. We
call on the international higher education community to openly and strongly
defend academic freedom and human rights.
Pointing to the importance of cooperation as higher education leaders from
around the world, Özvar said: "We must take responsibility to promote
regional and global peace and stability. It is our shared responsibility to
provide all possible assistance to countries whose higher education
infrastructure has been severely damaged."
“Universities can act as a bridge between borders”
Emphasizing that universities can act as bridges across borders by
developing sustainable policies and technologies that the world urgently
needs, Özvar stated that it is necessary to deepen cooperation between
higher education institutions to ensure that the next generation is ready
to lead a more just, resilient and sustainable future.
Pointing out that higher education is undergoing significant
transformations due to rising technology, changing social expectations and
economic factors, Özvar said, “Universities should not only produce
academic success, but also create social impact, embrace digital innovation
and encourage global cooperation.” He emphasized that Türkiye's strong
capacity in higher education is the product of a long-term, determined and
consistent policy.
“We want to be the center of global cooperation in higher education”
Pointing out that internationalization is one of the primary strategic
goals of the Council of Higher Education, Özvar said, “We aim to make
Turkish higher education a center of global cooperation and academic
mobility.”
He emphasized that the Türkiye-Azerbaijan University established in Baku is
a pioneering model that prepares the ground for future international higher
education partnerships, and stated that the International University of
Turkic States in Tashkent will be realized based on this model:
"Our approach to internationalization goes beyond Europe to include
innovative collaborations in Africa, Asia and beyond. We want to share this
model in the Turkic world, the Islamic world and Africa, using Türkiye's
educational competence to promote global academic collaboration. In
addition, our cooperation with TRNC universities focusing on information
technologies and quality assurance is strengthening, paving the way for the
international visibility of these universities."
Stating that Türkiye wants to share its rich knowledge and experience in
the field of higher education with other countries, Özvar said: "We can
improve academic success through cooperation programs and academic
exchanges. Türkiye is determined to continue such collaborations, which are
critical for academic innovation, cultural dialogue and sustainable
development."
“The Zero Waste Project, which sparked the national transformation, is
today a globally recognized environmental project”
Özvar stated that achieving sustainable development goals requires not only
environmental know-how but also strong and widespread implementation.
Recalling that Türkiye launched the Zero Waste Project in 2017 under the
leadership of Emine Erdoğan, Özvar noted the following:
"The project has sparked a national transformation with its wide scope
ranging from public institutions to educational facilities, from
municipalities to the business world. Today, the Zero Waste Project is not
only a national but also a globally recognized environmental project. The
UN's declaration of March 30 as International Zero Waste Day and the
appointment of Mrs. Emine Erdoğan as Chair of the UN High Level Advisory
Board on Zero Waste underscores the initiative's worldwide impact and
leadership role."
Özvar concluded by stating that he believes that the Global Sustainable
Development Congress will be a vital forum to enhance cooperation and
promote concrete actions in the face of global challenges.
Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, Nazım
Çavuşoğlu, Minister of National Education of TRNC, Dr. Çetin Ali Dönmez,
Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology, and Phil Baty, THE Global
Director, also delivered speeches at the opening of the Congress.