- “A university approach detached from the public and indifferent to the needs of the society it is part of has no place in today’s Türkiye.”

- “Turkish universities must be integrated with society, share their knowledge and experience with the public, and place all their resources at the service of society.”

March 27, 2026

President of the Council of Higher Education Erol Özvar attended the 8th Term Meeting of the Eastern Anatolia Project (DAP) Region Universities Association (UNIDAP), held as part of his visit to Erzurum.

In his speech at the meeting, hosted by Erzurum Technical University (ETÜ), Özvar stated that he considers this gathering valuable in terms of evaluating the role of universities in regional development.

Emphasizing expectations from universities, Özvar noted that they are expected to accurately analyze the needs of their regions, develop solution-oriented projects to address these needs, and directly contribute to regional development. He stated:          “The true value and success of a university are closely related not only to academic performance indicators but also to the extent to which it can generate solutions to the problems of the city and region in which it is located. In this respect, it is no longer a choice but a necessity for our universities to take an active role in many areas such as agriculture, livestock, industry, energy, culture, and social life.”

- “University resources must be open to the entire society”

Highlighting that a university model disconnected from society and indifferent to its needs has no relevance in today’s Türkiye or the world, Özvar said: “Our universities must be integrated with society, share their knowledge and experience with the public, and place all their resources at the service of society. The laboratories, research centers, accumulated knowledge, and human resources of universities must not remain limited to academic circles. These opportunities should be open to producers, entrepreneurs, industrialists, and the entire society in the region.”

- “50 projects developed in cooperation with DAP”

Stating that the collaborations developed by universities with the Eastern Anatolia Project (DAP) are commendable, Özvar continued: “Between 2013 and 2025, a total of 50 projects were implemented within the scope of cooperation with universities, and approximately 514 million Turkish lira in support was provided for these projects. This clearly demonstrates the role of our universities in regional development. The fact that these projects were carried out by 16 universities is also particularly valuable in terms of showing their active participation in this process. However, we certainly cannot consider this number sufficient. We must increase both the number of projects and the amount of support in close cooperation with our government and the DAP administration.”

Özvar added that the discussions to be held on the occasion of this meeting would pave the way for new collaborations, contribute to the further development of existing projects, and accelerate regional development.

Following the UNIDAP Meeting, Özvar examined the inventories depicting the history of Erzurum at the Erzurum City Archive Center (ERŞA) at Erzurum Technical University, and met with academics, engaging in conversation.