CoHE President Erol Özvar's Remarks in Syria: “A Joint University is
Being Established between Türkiye and Syria”
May 16, 2025 / Syria
CoHE President Erol Özvar and the accompanying delegation will pay an
official visit to Syria on May 15-17 upon the invitation of Syrian Minister
of Higher Education Marwan Halabi.
The visit of Özvar signals academic cooperation in the field of higher
education in Syria in the new period. They will discuss the contributions
to be made in the field of higher education in the reconstruction of Syria.
Within this framework, the first cooperation protocol in the field of
higher education was signed between the two countries after the fall of the
Assad regime in Syria. The protocol was signed by the President of the
Council of Higher Education Özvar and Syrian Minister of Higher Education
Marwan Halabi. Within the framework of the protocol, a series of works will
be carried out and the issues mentioned in the protocol will be completed
within three months.
The protocol also envisages the development of the infrastructure of Syrian
universities and the provision of a suitable environment for scientific
research; sharing academic expertise and participation in scientific
conferences; mutual recognition of educational institutions and programs
between the two countries; and making some decisions and legislative
arrangements to facilitate the adaptation of Syrian students to education
life after their return from Türkiye.
Both countries will mutually recognize academic qualifications and higher
education institutions granted by each country's higher education
institutions, subject to and in accordance with the applicable domestic
laws of their countries.
Students who complete their education in Türkiye and return to Syria will
have their diplomas/documents/transcripts from Turkish universities
automatically recognized.
The Council of Higher Education and the Syrian Ministry of Higher Education
have agreed to work together on a higher education digital information
system. An internet-based service will be prepared to enable queries to be
made for mutual verification of documents received from Turkish and Syrian
universities.
Türkiye will provide support to improve the IT infrastructure of Syrian
universities. In this framework, a system similar to YÖKSİS will be
established for Syria.
Necessary facilities will be provided for the students who are currently
not studying in their first and last year in Türkiye if they wish to get
transferred to higher education institutions in Syria.
Joint diploma programs in bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees will be
launched between Turkish and Syrian universities.
To date, more than 40 thousand Syrian students have graduated from higher
education institutions in Türkiye. Another 60 thousand students are
currently continuing their education at Turkish universities. The return of
these graduates is a fundamental pillar of Syria's reconstruction process.
As a sign of the brotherhood and historical ties between the two countries,
Türkiye and Syria will establish a joint university called “Türkiye-Syria
University”, which will be one of the most distinguished universities in
the region, to train the human resources needed for the reconstruction of
Syria.
The possibilities of including the Turkish language among the languages of
instruction in higher education institutions in Syria will be explored.
“Türkiye-Syria Universities Forum” will be organized alternately every
year.
Cooperation will be established on the employment of Syrian graduates from
Türkiye who have completed their doctoral studies in Türkiye as academics
in Syrian universities.
During Özvar's visit, efforts were made to provide the greatest support for
a real educational renaissance in Syrian education based on partnership and
openness, focusing on academic quality and accreditation.
Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education, stated that
during their visit, they discussed the relations between Türkiye and Syria
on higher education in detail and agreed to carry these relations even
further.
Expressing his satisfaction with the lifting of sanctions against Syria,
Özvar noted that Syria will develop much faster. Özvar said, “We will bring
the relations between Türkiye and Syria in the field of higher education to
a very high level very rapidly.”
Özvar and the accompanying delegation visited Damascus University Rector
Prof. Muhammad Osama Aljabban and held a delegation meeting.
Özvar said, “As Türkiye, we will resolutely continue to take all necessary
steps academically as we do whatever needs to be done in humanitarian and
moral terms. Damascus and Anatolia's journey of knowledge will march
together today as it did in the past, and we will carry the legacy of our
common history to the future through the cooperation to be established
between our universities.”
Özvar visited Burhan Köroğlu, Temporary Charge d'Affaires of the Republic
of Türkiye in Damascus.
Continuing his contacts in Syria, Özvar and the accompanying delegation
visited Homs University and attended the senate meeting.
Özvar will also meet with the governors of Hama and Homs and university
administrators.