​ ​​CoHE Includes Three More Universities in Mission Differentiation and Specialization Aimed at Regional Development Program

CoHE President Özvar announced that Bitlis Eren University was included for tourism, Çankırı Karatekin University for sectoral salt and salt-based strategic products and Osmaniye Korkut Ata University for renewable energy and battery technologies in the Mission Differentiation and Specialization Aimed at Regional Development Program.

Özvar presented certificates to the rectors of these universities at a ceremony held at CoHE.

Erol Özvar: "It is a collaborative project. The harmonious collaboration among the MPs, governors, mayors, rectors, faculty members, regional and local development agencies, and non-governmental organizations will play an important role in the success of the project."

October 13, 2023

CoHE President Erol Özvar announced that Bitlis Eren University was included for tourism, Çankırı Karatekin University for sectoral salt and salt-based strategic products and Osmaniye Korkut Ata University for renewable energy and battery technologies in the Mission Differentiation and Specialization Aimed at Regional Development Program and presented the certificates to the rectors of these universities. With the inclusion of these three universities in the program, the total number of universities increased to 25.

A ceremony was held at CoHE for the inclusion of Bitlis Eren University, Çankırı Karatekin University and Osmaniye Korkut Ata University in the program. The governors and MPs of these three provinces also attended the ceremony.

Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education, Erol Karaömeroğlu, Governor of Bitlis, Mustafa Fırat Taşolar, Governor of Çankırı, Erdinç Yılmaz, Governor of Osmaniye, Muhammet Emin Akbaşoğlu, Group Deputy Chairman from AK Party and Çankırı MP, Turan Bedirhanoğlu, Bitlis MP from AK Party, Derya Yanık, AK Party Osmaniye MP, Seydi Gülsoy, Osmaniye MP from AK Party, Naci Gündoğan, Erol Arcaklıoğlu, Kemal Şenocak and Mahmut Ak, CoHE Executive Board Members, Ahmet Şimşek, Director General of Development Agencies at the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Tolga Balcı, Deputy Director General at the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, Prof. Necmettin Elmastaş, Rector of Bitlis Eren University, Prof. Harun Çiftçi, Rector of Çankırı Karatekin University, and Prof. Turgut Uzun, Rector of Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, and the representatives of ministries attended the event.

In his speech, Erol Özvar stated that CoHE attached importance to a planning approach that focused on diversity, differentiation and regional development in all processes of higher education, in line with the goal of "increasing diversity in higher education".

He said that they evaluated the efforts for the mission differentiation-oriented specialization of universities, which was considered as one of the most important initiatives of structural change, and emphasized that they would continue to strengthen the activities in this field together with universities and all stakeholders.

He noted that the project was currently being carried out with 22 universities, adding that three more universities, which were chosen from among the 15 universities that applied in the 5th Call Period, were included in the project.

Özvar announced that Bitlis Eren University was included for tourism, Çankırı Karatekin University for sectoral salt and salt-based strategic products and Osmaniye Korkut Ata University for renewable energy and battery technologies in the Mission Differentiation and Specialization Aimed at Regional Development Program.

"We expect them to play a leading, guiding and active role"

Özvar stated that CoHE increased the number of universities in the project to 25.

"In addition to the primary activities of our universities such as education, training, research and development, this project aims to allow universities to effectively use the natural, economic, commercial, industrial and social potential of their provinces, contribute to the development of local economic life and train the human resources needed by their regions. It is aimed to ensure that universities play a pioneering, guiding and active role in regional development by taking into account the needs of their regions, their potential and capacity. Universities are expected to redefine their goals and strategies in line with their regions to ensure regional development, and to differentiate their visions and missions within the scope of the needs of their regions. Differentiation among universities is the main strategy of the Council of Higher Education."

- "Support and contribution are extremely important for the success of the project"

He emphasized that the support and contributions of the ministries, the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, the Council of Higher Education, governor's offices, municipalities, development agencies and non-governmental organizations to universities were of great importance to run the project smoothly and to attain the targeted regional outputs.

"For this reason, the harmonious work of the esteemed MPs, governors, mayors, rectors, faculty members, regional and local development agencies and non-governmental organizations will be extremely important for the success of the project. In short, this project is a collaborative project."

He congratulated the rectors of the three universities that were recently included in the program and wished them success.

Following his speech, Özvar presented certificates to Prof. Necmettin Elmastaş, Rector of Bitlis Eren University, Prof. Harun Çiftçi, Rector of Çankırı Karatekin University, and Prof. Turgay Uzun, Rector of Osmaniye Korkut Ata University.

The rectors made speeches, and governors, MPs and representatives of institutions expressed that they would be pleased to contribute and support the universities.

-25 Universities in the Project

The names of the universities and their specialization areas are as follows:

• Bingöl University in the field of agriculture and basin-based development

• Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University in the field of husbandry

• Düzce University in the field of health and environment,
  

• Kırşehir Ahi Evran University in the field of agriculture and geothermal energy

• Uşak University in the field of textile, leathermaking and ceramics

• Aksaray University in the field of health and sports

• Kastamonu University in the field of agriculture and basin-based development

• Muş Alpaslan University in the field of husbandry

• Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University in the field of tea

• Siirt University in the field of agriculture and husbandry

• Artvin Çoruh University in the field of medical and aromatic plants

• Bartın University in the field of smart logistics and integrated regional practices

• Hitit University in the field of machine and manufacturing technologies

• Kırklareli University in the field of food

• Yozgat Bozok University in the field of industrial hemps

• Giresun University in the field of Hazelnut

• Iğdır University in the field of agricultural products with high added value

• Munzur University in the field of strategic raw materials and advanced technological applications

• Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University in the field of natural and cultural heritage tourism

• Batman University in the field of energy

• Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University in the field of precision agriculture applications and ınnovative processing technologies

• Gümüşhane University in the field of mining

• Bitlis Eren University in the field of tourism

• Çankırı Karatekin University in the field of sectoral salt and salt-based strategic products

• Osmaniye Korkut Ata University in the field of renewable energy and battery technologies