- Özvar proposes making a portion of the Scientific Research Projects (BAP) budgets of Western and Eastern Black Sea universities available for joint use to strengthen scientific research collaboration:

  “Cooperation among universities is just as important as competition”

October 16, 2026

The periodic meetings of the Western Black Sea Universities Association (BKÜB) and the Eastern Black Sea Universities Association (ÜNİ-DOKAP) were held jointly at the Ahmet Muhip Dranas Practice Hotel at Sinop University.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Council of Higher Education (CoHE) President Erol Özvar emphasized the importance of sharing academic and administrative experience, disseminating good practices, and developing concrete forms of cooperation among universities. Noting that university associations provide an important platform for rectors to come together and exchange experiences, Özvar said that academic mobility and scientific research collaboration should be among these associations’ key priorities.

Emphasizing the importance of competition based on ethical principles, Özvar stated that cooperation among universities was just as important as competition.

Özvar noted that as universities improve their performance, productivity, social impact, and the quality of education and training, they should also support one another through joint initiatives.

Highlighting the importance of turning scientific research collaboration into concrete projects, Özvar recalled that a model had been introduced among technical universities under which a portion of their Scientific Research Projects (BAP) budgets could be made available for joint use. He said the model had been in place for approximately two to two and a half years and that CoHE wanted to extend it to other university associations. Özvar stated that allowing Western and Eastern Black Sea universities to make a portion of their BAP budgets available for joint use, in compliance with applicable legislation and legal requirements, would be an important step toward strengthening scientific collaboration.

- Aiming to Increase Joint Research and Publications

Özvar said that studies conducted through research universities had identified joint research and publications as an area in which Turkish universities could improve their performance in national and international rankings. He noted that considerable potential remained for collaborative publications, even at universities with high levels of scientific output.

Joint initiatives among universities would help make more effective use of this potential, Özvar said. He added that, alongside the two associations, a model could also be considered to bring universities across the Black Sea region together within a broader framework for cooperation.

Özvar noted that a joint fund could also enable universities that struggle to conduct research on a sufficient scale using their own resources to benefit from shared funding. He emphasized the importance of translating scientific research collaborations into tangible outcomes.

- Meets with Students

Before the meeting, Özvar met and spoke with students at Sinop University.

He also visited Sinop University’s Karakum Diving Training Center. During the visit, students gave a diving demonstration and unfurled the Turkish flag and the university pennant at sea. The students presented the Turkish flag to Özvar as a gift.

Özvar also addressed a request raised during his conversation with students to establish a Subsea Resource Technology program. He stated that the necessary infrastructure and conditions for opening the program were in place. He added that an application to be submitted to CoHE would be evaluated and considered for inclusion in the planning process.

A Sinop University Senate meeting was also held under Özvar’s chairmanship.