European University Association (EUA) Visits CoHE
Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education, received EUA
President Garrell and EUA Secretary General Crowfoot at the Council of
Higher Education.
EUA delegation met with the representatives of member universities in
Türkiye at the meeting held at CoHE.
The Council of Higher Education and the EUA have reached an agreement
to increase cooperation between European universities and Turkish
higher education institutions in the fields of scientific and
technological research in the European Higher Education Area.
CoHE President Özvar: "Türkiye is one of the most represented countries
in the EUA with more than 50 universities. Other Turkish universities
also have the intention of joining EUA.
This is a remarkable progress of the Turkish academic institutions
towards new partnerships in the European academic area.”
“As the Council of Higher Education, we do support and encourage our
universities in their efforts to cooperate with European universities
in every field of education and research.”
November 8, 2023
Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education, received Prof.
Josep M. Garrell, President of the European University Association (EUA),
and Amanda Crowfoot, EUA Secretary General, at the Council of Higher
Education.
The EUA delegation, who came to Türkiye upon the invitation of CoHE
President Erol Özvar, came together with the representatives of the member
universities in Türkiye in an evaluation meeting held at CoHE.
The Council of Higher Education and the EUA have reached an agreement to
increase cooperation between European universities and Turkish higher
education institutions in the fields of scientific and technological
research in the European Higher Education Area.
In his opening speech, CoHE President Erol Özvar gave information about the
structure of Turkish higher education. He emphasized that Türkiye had one
of the largest capacities in Europe in terms of the number of universities
and students, and noted that around 7 million students were studying at 208
Turkish higher education institutions.
Özvar stated that ensuring access to university and participation of more
women in higher education were among the priorities of the Council of
Higher Education and said, “Today, Türkiye has the highest ratio of female
faculty members recruited in universities compared to males.”
He commented on the international character of Turkish higher education. He
said that Türkiye was an active member of the European Higher Education
Area and that it had been actively implementing the Bologna Process. He
recalled that the Turkish Higher Education Qualifications Framework, which
was developed with reference to the European Higher Education Area
Qualifications Framework and the European Qualifications Framework for
Lifelong Learning, was adopted by the Council of Higher Education in 2010.
"Türkiye is in a leading position in the European Higher Education
Area"
Özvar said that Turkish universities that had received the European Credit
Transfer System Label had been in a leading position among the countries in
the European Higher Education Area since 2009, and that 31 higher education
institutions had received this label. He also noted that 73 institutions
received the Diploma Supplement Label. He stressed that the mobility of
students and academics was encouraged through the Erasmus Exchange Program
and that Turkish universities had joint diploma programs with 288
universities abroad.
Erol Özvar referred to the Turkish universities included in the lists of
prestigious international ranking organizations and said, "We are pleased
to witness that both the Council of Higher Education and universities have
started to reap the fruits of their quality-oriented approach and efforts."
"We want to create situational awareness"
He noted that Türkiye was one of the most represented countries in the EUA
with more than 50 members.
“In our country, there are 208 higher education institutions and more and
more universities have the intention to join the EUA. This is a remarkable
progress of the Turkish academic institutions towards new partnerships in
the European academic area. As the Council of Higher Education, we do
support and encourage our universities in their efforts to cooperate with
European universities in every field of education and research. Your visit
is significant in terms of coming together with a number of stakeholders in
the field of higher education. We would like to create a situational
awareness.”
Özvar said that they would discuss specific projects for cooperation
between the EUA and Turkish universities and expressed their desire to
welcome EUA members in Türkiye the following year. He stated that they
would discuss the issue of Turkish universities taking more part in EUA
committees and participating more actively in the works of the association
during their meetings with the EUA delegation.
EUA President Garrell: "We will support Turkish universities to take
part in the EUA working groups and committees"
In his speech, EUA President Prof. Josep M. Garrell stated that EUA was
present not only in Brussels but also in many other countries. He stated
that cooperation between the member universities of the association was
important and that they encouraged universities in many areas.
He noted that they wanted more Turkish universities to become members of
the EUA, adding that they would support Turkish universities to take part
in the EUA working groups and committees.
Garrell stated that promoting research and innovation strategy was an
important topic that the EUA supported and said, "As EUA, we aim for higher
education institutions to serve their communities more. We cannot solve all
the problems in the world, but we can work together to find solutions to
these problems." He noted that doctoral education in particular was an
integral area of the EUA and made a presentation on EUA's structure,
strategy and activities.
EUA Secretary General Amanda Crowfoot emphasized that they attached great
importance to cooperation with Türkiye and stated that the EUA General
Assembly and Conference could be held in Türkiye in 2025 or 2026.
Following the presentation, Josep Garrell answered the questions of the
representatives of EUA member universities in Türkiye about the works and
collaborations to be carried out with the other EUA member universities and
how higher education would be shaped in the coming period.
During their visit to Ankara, the EUA delegation also visited METU
Teknokent and the Nation's Library.