- Özvar: “Our universities are no longer confined within campus walls; they are reaching out to society, cities, villages, and towns.”     

March 27, 2026

President of the Council of Higher Education Erol Özvar inaugurated the Science Communication Office of Erzurum Technical University (ETÜ).

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Özvar stated that Science Communication Offices serve as an “interface” that enables the qualified knowledge, technology, research outputs, and all other products generated by universities to meet society.

“Our universities are no longer confined within campus walls; they are reaching out to society, cities, villages, and towns. This office will lead and guide such engagement,” said Özvar, adding that Science Communication Offices should especially collect concrete problems and questions from villages and reconnect these with solutions to citizens and society.

Pointing to the necessity of cooperation with local administrators, Özvar said: “Work carried out in coordination with village heads, governors, police chiefs, and, if possible, mayors will strengthen universities’ engagement with society and enhance the reputation of higher education institutions in the eyes of the public.”

- “Directly reaching out to and engaging with our citizens is extremely valuable”

Emphasizing that the full academic and professional capacity of universities must be brought into the field, Özvar highlighted the importance of including experts from different disciplines during visits and continued:

“We need to make the entire capacity of universities across all fields available for service. It is very valuable to have a dentist, a psychiatrist, a specialist physician, a psychologist, a veterinarian, and an agricultural expert among us during our visits. Having tea with them, listening to them, engaging in conversations, and taking note of their problems are among the most important aspects. Recording these problems and creating an inventory of them will also constitute a very important research topic for our universities in the future. Therefore, keeping records of all our visits is one of the most important priorities.”

Özvar also stated that science communication activities are important in demonstrating that universities are open and accessible to society, adding that in this regard, significant responsibilities fall on office staff, students, and academics.

Thanking the rectors of Atatürk University and Erzurum Technical University for their efforts within this scope, Özvar said: “Your direct engagement with the people of Erzurum and your interaction with them are extremely valuable. I wish for the continuation of these efforts.”