As the New CoHE, we have stated that we attached importance to innovative changes, effective communication, delegation of authority to universities and authority sharing in our work processes based on quality education, digital transformation, and data management, and got the opinions of students and academics on the online education offered during the global pandemic last week.
This survey became “one of the largest surveys conducted in our country” in terms of the number of participants. There is no doubt that the results of the survey, which has such a broad participation, have, and should have, an importance in our decision-making processes.
We also convey the opinions of our academics and students to relevant institutions, especially the Ministry of Health. Only 11% of the students and only 3% of the academics do not find it appropriate to get the opinion of the Ministry of Health. In other words, our policy of getting the opinion of the Ministry of Health is strongly supported by our students and academic staff. As is known, CoHE asked the opinion of the Ministry of Health on education in the spring term. We hope that the Minister of Health will clarify their opinion this week. It is important to eliminate uncertainty. Necessary decisions will be taken without delay in line with the opinion of the Ministry of Health.
As a matter of fact, it is evident how important the gradual vaccination of academics and administrative staff at universities is for the smooth administration of higher education. We conveyed our proposal regarding this issue to the Ministry of Health in recent months.
I would like to thank 1,255,000 students and 29,000 academics who participated in our survey voluntarily, and those who contributed to the survey, especially the rectors of Turkish universities.
We want the academics and students who shared their views to know that we take their opinions into account. We try to reflect them in our decision-making processes that fall within our jurisdiction, and share those outside our jurisdiction with those concerned.
55% of the students who answered the survey are female students. I would like to point out that the higher participation of women in the survey compared to men is an important and promising detail.
The complete survey results are planned to be shared with the public this week.
Prof. M. A. Yekta SARAÇ
CoHE President