Near East University and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University have signed a protocol to develop comprehensive academic collaborations ranging from education to research.
Inter-university academic collaborations create significant opportunities for sharing knowledge and experience, strengthening joint scientific production, developing research capacity, and opening new fields of study for students and academics. Near East University, which further strengthens the strong ties between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus through new partnerships in the academic field, continues to expand its cooperation network in this direction. The academic cooperation agreement signed between Near East University and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (ÇOMÜ) aims for the two universities to develop joint studies in education, research, and scientific activities.
The protocol, which came into effect with a ceremony held at Near East University, was signed by Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Rector Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Erenoğlu, who is also the Chairman of the Interuniversity Council (ÜAK).
With this protocol, the two universities aim to create a broad area of cooperation ranging from academic staff and student exchange to joint research projects, scientific events, and academic sharing. Through jointly conducted research, conferences, seminars, and workshops, the more active participation of academics and students in scientific production processes will be encouraged.
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “I see this collaboration as the beginning of future collaborations in the fields of science, innovation, and health.”
Emphasizing that Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University is one of Turkey’s important higher education institutions with its long-standing academic tradition, strong scientific background, and research capacity spanning different disciplines, the Rector of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, said, “I regard the combination of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University’s academic experience and research culture with Near East University’s international scientific production capacity extremely important. I hereby do believe that this partnership will create new and high-quality areas of work for both universities.”
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ stated that the implemented cooperation will also contribute to further strengthening relations between universities in Turkey and the TRNC. Expressing his belief that existing relations between Turkish universities should be taken to a higher level, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ underlined that the work to be carried out together with the Higher Education Council will play an important role in this process. Emphasizing that the signed bilateral cooperation protocol will not be limited only to strengthening existing relations, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ further stated that they aim to add science, innovation, and health to the long-standing collaborations in the fields of art and sports. Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “I see our cooperation protocol as the beginning of collaborations that will develop in the fields of science and innovation and health.”
Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Erenoğlu: “We do not separate Turkey and the TRNC in any way.”
Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Erenoğlu, Rector of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University and Chairman of the Interuniversity Council Cüneyt Erenoğlu stated that they closely follow Near East University and drew attention to the university’s international standing. Prof. Dr. Erenoğlu noted that Near East University’s ranking among the top 500 universities in the world according to Times Higher Education (THE) is a significant achievement, and emphasized the university’s position among universities in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Prof. Dr. Erenoğlu also stated that visiting Near East University in person was particularly important for them, adding that the university conducts significant work not only in higher education but also in research and development and community contribution activities. He pointed out that the university’s capacity in education extends from pre-school to various educational levels, saying, “Significant progress has been made, especially in education, research and development, and social and community contribution activities.”
Expressing the importance they place on developing academic relations between Turkey and the TRNC, Prof. Dr. Erenoğlu stated that this cooperation should also be strengthened at the university level. Saying, “We do not separate Turkey and the TRNC in any way”, Prof. Dr. Erenoğlu noted that they will continue to develop bilateral collaborations in line with the vision of the President of the Council of Higher Education. Stating that they will continue to contribute to the academic development of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Erenoğlu said, “Both as a university and as the Interuniversity Council, we will continue to contribute to our bilateral collaborations and to Near East University reaching even better levels.”