The Beştepe National Congress and Culture Centre hosted the 2024-2025 Higher Education Academic Year Opening Ceremony, which was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The ceremony was also attended by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hacımüftüoğlu, the President of Atatürk University.

At the mass academic year opening ceremony, which was presided over by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, state officials, ministers, YÖK members, relevant institution presidents, ambassadors, and all university rectors and students was in attendance.

President Erdoğan highlighted the significance of education for Turkey's future and drew attention to the thousand-year-old educational tradition of Anatolia in his inaugural address. Erdoğan cited Nizamiye Madrasahs as an example of educational institutions that our progenitors established, which he claimed illuminated every era of history. Additionally, he asserted that the future of a nation is contingent upon the importance placed on science and knowledge.

President Erdoğan: "Universities are the lifeblood of science."

"Universities are institutions that contribute to the common heritage of humanity and produce knowledge," President Erdoğan stated. Erdoğan claimed that Turkey has made substantial strides in the scientific publication rankings and articulated the objective of "achieving the top 10 in scientific publications in the near future" for Turkish universities. He also stated that initiatives like TEKNOFEST, which orient youthful individuals towards technology, are promising.

The International Role of Universities and the Contribution of Foreign Students

Erdoğan claimed that the number of international students studying in Turkey has surpassed 340 thousand from 16 thousand in 2002, and that these students contribute $3 billion to the Turkish economy annually. President Erdoğan expressed his belief that universities will continue to advance in this field and that there is a need for increased international collaboration in the field of education.

Özvar, President of YÖK, stated, "Our objective is to establish Turkey as a global research hub."

In his address at the 2024-2025 Higher Education Academic Year Opening Ceremony, YÖK President Erol Özvar expressed his hope that the academic year would be advantageous for all students, academicians, and administrative personnel. He expressed his condemnation of the carnage in Gaza and declared that Turkey opened its doors to international academicians and students who were subjugated.

President Özvar underscored that Turkey is a leader in Europe in the disciplines of artificial intelligence and informatics, and that their objective is to attract 500,000 international students. Prof. Dr. Özvar stated that they are dedicating their efforts to enhancing the quality of higher education in order to establish Turkey as a global research centre with research and innovation-oriented programs.

Özvar also stated that the Turkey-Azerbaijan University has commenced operations. He also mentioned that the university has developed new programs that are consistent with the university's objectives of promoting digital and ecological skills, as well as strategic objectives to further Turkey's ascent in international rankings.

Hacımüftüoğlu, the Rector, stated, "The reforms in education present a significant opportunity for the country's higher education."

The educational reforms that President Erdoğan has prioritised are a significant opportunity for Turkey's higher education system, according to Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hacımüftüoğlu, the Rector of Atatürk University, who spoke at the ceremony. Rector Hacımüftüoğlu highlighted that universities are not merely institutions that generate knowledge; they also play a critical role in the advancement of society. He further stated that Atatürk University is cognisant of this obligation: "Our university is committed to the advancement of science in Turkey through the expansion of scientific publications and the initiatives that propel our students to success on a national and international scale." The objective of our universities achieving the top 10 in the world in scientific publications in the short term is both achievable and motivating, in accordance with the roadmap established by our President.

Intercultural interaction is a critical factor in enhancing academic success.

"The increase in the number of our foreign students is an indicator of the importance our university attaches to scientific quality on a global scale and its structure open to international collaborations," Rector Hacımüftüoğlu stated. Atatürk University has also taken significant steps in the international arena. Intercultural interaction and academic success are significantly enhanced by international students. Our President's emphasis on the mobility of foreign students is of particular significance to us for this reason.

Hacımüftüoğlu also expressed his pride in the university's efforts to train young individuals who have achieved significant success in organisations like TEKNOFEST as a result of the investments the university has made in science and technology. He stated, "The success of our young people in technological and scientific developments will further strengthen the role of our universities in the future." He also emphasised that Atatürk University's work in this field will continue.

Corporate Communications Directorate - October 8, 2024