Present at the meeting entitled "Artificial Intelligence, Digitalization, and Big Data" was Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklıı, the rector of Atatürk University. The proceedings were presided over by Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, the president of the Council of Higher Education (YOK).

It was determined at the İstanbul Technical University-hosted meeting that Atatürk University would establish programs in artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as data science and analytics. President Özvar of the YOK stated that fifty associate degree programs and twenty-one new undergraduate programs will be established in collaboration with other universities; these programs will be included in the OSYM guide this year.

"We Consider These Departments a Strategic Issue," stated President Özvar.

Özvar, in his address at the meeting attended by members of the Higher Education Executive Board and rectors, declared that they consider artificial intelligence, digitalization, and big data to be crucial components of the Higher Education Council's future vision. Moreover, he stated that these fields coincide with the swift advancements in digital technologies and are therefore of the utmost importance to the nation. He stated that they have decided to launch new undergraduate and associate degree programs to meet the demand for qualified personnel in the fields of artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence solutions, digitalization, and big data, as the demand for such personnel increases across all relevant industries.

Özvar: "The newly introduced programs serve as an embodiment of the Council of Higher Education's strategic focus on employment in the forthcoming era." While we implement programs that are focused on fostering employment, we persist in deactivating programs that have ceased to function effectively. "In the next period, this trend will become even stronger," according to him.

Rector Çomaklı: "The University is fully prepared to assume any responsibility that may be entrusted to it."

Çomaklı emphasized that Atatürk University, a longtime innovator, is also a stakeholder in the advancements undertaken in higher education within the nation as a consequence of the research conducted under the New Generation Design and Transformation Project. In his statement regarding the matter, he specified that the forthcoming departments will house programs that provide insight into the university's modern educational framework.

According to Rector Çomaklı, Atatürk University, a renowned institution in the engineering sector, places significant emphasis on artificial intelligence and big data. Consequently, the selection process for new departments is guided by these technologies. Since assuming office, Çomaklı administration has prioritized asset management, which entails detecting the university's presence at each stage and implementing data-driven decision-making procedures. He stated that the Big Data Management Office was established for this reason. "The Big Data Management Office, which is responsible for determining and collecting the data required at the national level, classifying and collecting the data necessary for New Generation University, and conducting preliminary studies on data management systems, continues to design the digital system pertaining to the data-driven decision-making mechanism," stated Rector Çomaklı. Moreover, nearly every department within our organization conducts integrated research in the domain of artificial intelligence. "We will make the new departments that will be opened with our university's scientific infrastructure and expert human resources ready for our students to receive the best education," he indicated.

Rector Çomaklı declared that their primary objective is to educate university-aged youth in a manner that equips them with contemporary competencies and activities. Adding that, as a Research University, they take great pride in contributing to the scientific advancement of the nation across all disciplines. He further conveyed their profound admiration and interest in the research conducted by Atatürk University. He extended his gratitude to YOK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar and the Higher Education Executive Board members, wishing success to the newly established departments.

Directorate of Corporate Communications – April 26, 2024