Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, President of the Higher Education Council (YÖK), visited Atatürk University as part of his engagements in Erzurum. The visit was attended by the rectors of 16 institutions, in addition to HEC President Özvar, HEC Deputy Prof Dr H Haldun Göktaş, and YÖK Executive Board Members Prof. Dr Naci Gündoğan and Prof Dr Erol Arcaklıoğlu. Regional cooperation, the future of higher education, and the synergy between universities were the subjects of productive discussions during the meeting.

The visit hosted by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hacımüftüoğlu, Rector of Atatürk University was attended by Prof. Dr. Bülent Çakmak, Rector of Erzurum Technical University, Prof. Dr. Hüsnü Kapu, Rector of Kars Kafkas University, Prof. Dr. Akın Levent, Rector of Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hakkı Turabi, Rector of Amasya University, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sıtkı Bilgin, Rector of Artvin Çoruh University, Prof. Dr. Abdulhalik Karabulut, Rector of Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, Prof. Dr. Necmettin Elmastaş, Rector of Bitlis Eren University, Prof. Dr. Prof. Dr. Necmettin Elmastaş, Bingöl University Rector Prof. Dr. Erdal Çelik, Ardahan University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Biber, Iğdır University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Hakkı Alma, Tunceli Munzur University Rector Prof. Dr. Kenan Peker, Muş Alparslan University Rector Prof. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Alıcan, Bayburt University Rector Prof. Dr. Mutlu Türkmen, Gumushane University Rector Prof. Dr. Halil İbrahim Zeybek, Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University Rector Prof. Dr. Şehmus Demir attended the Coordination Meeting of Higher Education Council Regional Universities.

From Airport to Senate Meeting

After the welcoming ceremony at Erzurum Airport, YÖK President Özvar attended the Senate Meeting of Atatürk University and made a speech emphasising the importance of the university in the region and in Turkey. Providing detailed information about the development of the university and the strategic plans of YÖK, Özvar drew attention to the strong infrastructure of Atatürk University in the field of education and research, the meaning it carries for the higher education of the country and the mission it undertakes.

Youth Meeting Event

In the second stage of the visit, Higher Education Council President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, Erzurum Governor Mustafa Çiftçi, Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mehmet Sekmen, Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hacımüftüoğlu met with Atatürk University students. In the Youth Meeting event held in the historical Müceldili Mansion, President Özvar, who had fruitful conversations with the students, listened to the thoughts of the young people and gave them encouraging messages for the future. Sharing the same table with the students in the sahur programme, Özvar expressed that he experienced the spiritual peace of this moment.

Visit to Science Communication Office and High Technology Centres

On the next day of the visit, YÖK President Özvar closely followed the scientific development process of the universities. Firstly, he visited the Science Communication Office established at Atatürk University. Coordinator of the Office Dr. Lecturer. He received detailed information about the projects initiated to bring scientific studies to the public, accompanied by the presentation made by Yusuf Bayraktar, Coordinator of the Office. HEC President Özvar stated that such an application coincides with the vision of HEC and said that these projects will set an example for other universities. Özvar said, ‘It is very valuable to bring science together with the public and to enable children to meet science at an early age. Atatürk University is taking pioneering steps in this field.’

Later, YÖK President Özvar visited Ata Ice Museum and Eastern Anatolia High Technology Application and Research Centre (DAYTAM) and examined the studies carried out in high technology laboratories in these centres. Özvar visited the Works of Ice exhibition at Ata Ice Museum and received information from Prof. Dr. Mustafa Bulat, the unit coordinator, about the artistic and scientific studies carried out here. At DAYTAM, he came together with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bilal Nişancı and his team and exchanged views on the working areas of the laboratories that contain high technology.

Joint Studies with Regional Universities

At the end of the visit, YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar came together with the rectors of the regional universities. At the meeting held in Atatürk University Senate Room, he made important statements about regional development and cooperation between universities. Özvar said, ‘By establishing a strong cooperation between our universities, we can ensure that our higher education system works more efficiently. Stating that universities should develop joint projects by combining their strengths, Özvar stated that this will contribute to regional development and a stronger structure of universities.

Collaborations with Regional Universities

At the end of the visit, YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar came together with the rectors of the regional universities. At the meeting held in Atatürk University Senate Room, he made important statements about regional development and cooperation between universities. Özvar said, ‘By establishing a strong cooperation between our universities, we can ensure that our higher education system works more efficiently. Stating that universities should develop joint projects by combining their strengths, Özvar stated that this will contribute to regional development and a stronger structure of universities.

Vision Meetings and Higher Education System

Referring to the 2030 Vision Meetings, which were initiated last year and completed in Istanbul in February, President Özvar said that these meetings constitute an important basis for the future of the higher education system. Özvar stated that as YÖK, they aim to make higher education policies more efficient by listening to the needs and suggestions of universities. He also emphasised that the regional development-oriented mission differentiation programme will enable universities to contribute more to the regions where they are located.

Rector Hacımüftüoğlu: ‘This visit of the President of the Council of Higher Education has once again reinforced the scientific and technological vision of our university’

After the visit, Atatürk University Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hacımüftüoğlu emphasised that the visit of Higher Education Council President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar to their university has a great meaning for both the university and the universities in the region. Rector Hacımüftüoğlu: ‘This visit of the President of the Council of Higher Education has once again reinforced the scientific and technological vision of our university. With the valuable support and leadership of YÖK, it has reinforced our belief that our university will take much stronger steps on a regional and national scale in the coming years. The positive approach of our President has been a source of motivation that will accelerate the development of both our university and the universities in the region. We believe that this visit will pave the way for more efficient competition in our higher education system and the emergence of new collaborative projects. With the strong support of the President of the Council of Higher Education, we will take our university one step further in the fields of science, education and technology by accelerating our efforts to carry the power of our university even further.’

At the end of the visit, the opening of the Department of Basic Dentistry was realised

At the last stage of the visit of Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Atatürk University Department of Basic Dental Sciences was inaugurated. This opening was recorded as an important step in the field of dentistry, a first in Turkish higher education. Appreciating Atatürk University's innovative approach in this field, Özvar said: ‘By establishing this department, Atatürk University has filled an important gap in the field of health sciences. I congratulate those who contributed once again and wish all our students a successful education life.’

Visiting Erzurum Technical University (ETU), YÖK President Özvar and the accompanying delegation came together with the students in the university library. After talking to the students for a while, President Özvar completed his visit to Erzurum.

CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE - 07.03.2025