CoHE President Visits Samsun
May 13, 2025 / Samsun
Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education, visited Samsun to
attend the 50th anniversary events of Ondokuz Mayıs University.
In his speech at Ondokuz Mayıs University's 50th Foundation Anniversary and
Academic Award Ceremony, Özvar stated that the Turkish higher education
system has become more competitive in global higher education with its
institutional transformation, qualified human resources investments and
international visibility goals, especially in recent years. He noted that
it is among the prioritized goals of Turkish universities to rank higher in
the world scale and to have global academic brand values.
He stated that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's regional and global vision
also sheds light on the direction of the higher education system: “With the
will and support of the President, Turkish universities today develop a
different competitive advantage by establishing strategic collaborations in
Asia, Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East. In particular, academic
units and joint university projects opened in the Turkic world, the Balkans
and Africa give Turkish higher education a serious impetus in terms of
international student mobility and academic interaction.” Following the
speeches, the Academic Award Ceremony was held. Özvar presented awards to
the winners.
Before the ceremony, Özvar received information from Rector Prof. Fatma
Aydın about the academic activities carried out at the university and
chaired the senate meeting. In his speech, she emphasized that universities
are one of the main instruments of economic development. Stating that
Ondokuz Mayıs University is of great importance not only for Samsun and the
region but also for Türkiye with its experience of more than half a
century, Özvar expressed his sincere wish for the university, which is
among the candidate research universities, to gain the status of “research
university”. He pointed out that the university should be one of the focal
points in health.
Özvar participated in the celebration activities of Turkish and
international students within the framework of Ondokuz Mayıs University's
50th anniversary celebrations, visited student booths and watched the
performance of the Mehteran Team of Suluova Municipality.
CoHE President Erol Özvar, together with Samsun Governor Orhan Tavlı,
opened the Science Communication Office of Ondokuz Mayıs University. He
visited the office and chatted with students.
After visiting the university, Özvar and the accompanying delegation went
to Samsun University. Özvar, who also opened the Science Communication
Office of Samsun University, stated that the science communication offices
will serve to bring the knowledge and outputs produced in higher education
institutions together with their interlocutors and the society.
Özvar attended the senate meeting with Prof. Mahmut Aydın, Rector of Samsun
University, and visited the Ballıca Campus of the university. He met with
the rectors of the universities in the region for dinner.