- Under a memorandum of understanding, four academic units affiliated with Gaziantep University will be transferred to Aleppo University. Students enrolled in two units affiliated with the University of Health Sciences will continue their studies in Syria.

- CoHE President Erol Özvar: “We will continue to stand by the people of our brotherly nation, Syria, as they rebuild and develop their country.”

- “We are determined to build strong ties between our universities.”

October 14, 2026

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Council of Higher Education (CoHE) and Syria’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research concerning the future of academic units operating in Syria under Gaziantep University and the University of Health Sciences.

The memorandum was signed by CoHE President Erol Özvar and Syrian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Marwan Al-Halabi.

Speaking at the signing ceremony held in the Senate Hall of Gaziantep University, Özvar assessed the current state and future prospects of higher education cooperation between Türkiye and Syria.

Stating that Türkiye and Syria are two friendly and brotherly countries closely connected by shared historical, cultural and civilizational ties, Özvar expressed Türkiye’s desire to further strengthen the longstanding bonds between their peoples. Emphasizing that Türkiye would continue to stand by the Syrian people throughout the country’s reconstruction and development process, he noted that cooperation in higher education was an important part of this commitment.

Özvar recalled that key issues concerning the development of cooperation in higher education had been discussed during meetings held in Ankara on August 5, 2026. He noted that the future of academic units operating in northern Syria under Gaziantep University and the University of Health Sciences had been a primary focus of those discussions. Another important item on the agenda was the establishment of a Syria–Türkiye University in Damascus.

Stating that significant progress had been made toward establishing a new university that would bring together the academic expertise of the two countries, Özvar added that the discussions had also covered meeting the academic staffing needs of Syrian universities, developing sister-university relationships and supporting cooperation through institutional mechanisms.

Özvar expressed his satisfaction that the matters agreed upon in August were being translated into concrete steps and that cooperation was steadily strengthening. He noted that the parties had also addressed issues of importance to the future of higher education cooperation during their latest meeting.

Emphasizing that Türkiye had assumed significant responsibilities to ensure the continuity of education and maintain young people’s access to higher education during Syria’s difficult years, Özvar stated that the academic units operating in Syria under Gaziantep University and the University of Health Sciences had served this purpose, enabling large numbers of young people to continue their higher education.

Noting that the current phase in Syria involved normalization and reconstruction, Özvar said it had been deemed appropriate for the academic units concerned to continue their activities within the Syrian higher education system.

Under the memorandum of understanding, it was agreed that the educational activities of four units affiliated with Gaziantep University—the Afrin Faculty of Education, the Azaz Faculty of Islamic Sciences, the Al-Bab Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, and the Jarabulus Vocational School—would continue under Aleppo University.

Students enrolled at the Çobanbey Faculty of Medicine and the Çobanbey Vocational School of Health Services, both affiliated with the University of Health Sciences, are expected to continue their studies at the same or equivalent higher education institutions in Syria.

Protecting Students’ Education and Graduates’ Rights

Özvar emphasized that the foremost priority throughout the process was to ensure that students’ education continued without interruption and that they did not suffer any disadvantage. He also stressed the importance of protecting the rights of graduates of the institutions concerned. He noted that the memorandum also provides for academic and administrative staff working at the units affiliated with Gaziantep University to continue in their positions under the same status, in accordance with the relevant legislation.

Özvar stated that the entire process would be conducted through mutual consultation and cooperation, with due regard for protecting Türkiye’s physical, academic and human-resource investments in Syria and making the best possible use of existing capacity. He thanked the university administrators, and academic and administrative staff who had served in Syria with great dedication.

Özvar noted that the work carried out under difficult circumstances had made a significant contribution both to the education of young Syrians and to the friendship and brotherhood between the two countries. He reaffirmed CoHE’s determination to strengthen cooperation with Syria in higher education, share knowledge and experience, and establish strong ties between universities.

Wishing the memorandum success for both countries, their higher education institutions, academics and students, Özvar thanked everyone who had contributed to the process, particularly Syrian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Marwan Al-Halabi.

Syrian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Al-Halabi: “They Have Done a Great Deal”

Syrian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Marwan Al-Halabi thanked Türkiye, CoHE and the relevant institutions and organizations for their support in sustaining higher education in Syria.

He stated that the academic units had “done a great deal” through the services they provided during the war, noting that significant achievements had been made in maintaining higher education in Syria.

“We are moving into a new phase today. This should be seen not as the end of cooperation, but as the building of the future,” Al-Halabi said.

Before the signing ceremony, Özvar visited the Rector’s Office of Gaziantep University, where he received information about the university’s activities from Rector Prof. Sait Mesut Doğan. He also visited Gaziantep Islam, Science and Technology University and met with its Rector, Prof. Şehmus Demir.

Özvar was accompanied during his visits by CoHE Deputy President Prof. Naci Gündoğan.