Chadian President Receives “Honorary Doctorate”
February 28, 2019 / Ankara
Idriss Déby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad, received an honorary
doctorate in a ceremony held at CoHE during his official visit to Turkey.
Karabük University awarded the honorary degree to President Itno for his
contributions to the development of international cooperation in higher
education. Vice President Fuat Oktay, CoHE President Prof. Dr. M. A. Yekta
Saraç, and Youth and Sports Minister Dr. Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu attended
the presentation ceremony held at CoHE Conference Hall.
Chad’s Higher Education Minister David Houdeingar, CoHE members, Karabük
University Rector Prof. Dr. Refik Polat, academics and Chadian students
receiving education in Turkey attended the ceremony.
Before the ceremony, CoHE President Saraç met with Chad's President Idriss
Déby Itno, Vice President Fuat Oktay, and Youth and Sports Minister Dr.
Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu in his office. After the meeting, Chad’s
President Idriss Déby Itno signed the Book of Honor of CoHE.
The ceremony began with the screening of a video on the international
students studying at Karabük University. Karabük University Rector Prof.
Dr. Refik Polat, CoHE President Saraç, Vice President Fuat Oktay, and
Chad’s President Idriss Déby Itno made a speech.
CoHE President Prof. Dr. M. A. Yekta Saraç began his speech by stating that
internationalization in higher education was considered as a dimension that
strengthens the higher education systems of all countries in the world and
gives momentum to higher education systems. He noted that important works
had been carried out in this field in Turkey and underlined the fact that
the “New CoHE” prioritized the target-oriented internationalization in its
works.
He drew attention to the fact that the number of international students,
which was around 48 thousand four years before, exceeded 148 thousand with
the initiatives that took place within this scope. He also talked about the
projects and works such as Strategy Document for Internationalization,
Project-Based International Exchange Program, Qualifications Framework,
ECTS System, Diploma Supplement and academic recognition. He added that
Turkey had also opened the huge investments made for the Turkish higher
education system to the international arena.
“5.7% of all international students in Turkey are studying in associate
degree programs, 69.5% of them are studying in undergraduate programs,
17.7% of them are studying in master’s degree programs and 7% of them are
studying in doctoral programs. In other words, approximately 25% of
international students are enrolled in graduate programs. Our aim is to
increase this figure to 30% in the first three years. There are
international students from 180 countries in Turkey. Most of them come from
Syria, followed by Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Afghanistan. In
addition, 3,203 international academics work at Turkish universities,” he
said.
He said that Karabük University, with its 5.700 students, was the fourth
university in terms of international students in Turkey and noted that
Turkey offered state scholarships to Chadian students in undergraduate,
masters and doctoral degree every year.
Click here to read the full transcript of the speech made by CoHE President
Prof. M. A. Yekta Saraç. (In Turkish)
Vice President Fuat Oktay emphasized that Turkey is a country that rushes
to help its African brothers not only for economic partnership but also in
times of need. Oktay added that they were determined to take their
cooperation with Chad and African countries a step further and said, “Just
like our African brothers and sisters, we also follow Africa's awakening
and the steps it takes towards the level it deserves with hope and
excitement.”
Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno recalled the visit of President Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan to Chad in 2017 and underlined that the relations had been
truly strengthened after the visit. He said that the number of Chadian
students in Turkey, which was four in 2010, had risen to about 900 students
and said, "Today, you are the representatives of Chad in Turkey. You will
become the ambassadors of Turkey in Chad in the future.”
After the speeches, Chadian President Itno was awarded the honorary
doctorate for his significant contributions to the development of
international cooperation in higher education between the Republic of Chad
and Karabük University.