Near East University, which closed 2025 as one of the top 500 universities in the world, entered 2026 with an ambitious global vision thanks to its academic achievements, scientific discoveries, art projects, local engineering projects, and community-focused work
In 2025, when it was ranked among the top 500 universities in the world by Times Higher Education (THE), one of the world’s most prestigious higher education ranking organizations, Near East University once again demonstrated that it is a university that builds not only the present but also the future with its multifaceted achievements ranging from scientific production to technological innovations, from engineering to art, from health to sports.

Historic Achievements in Global Rankings

The most significant achievement of Near East University in 2025 was its inclusion among the top 500 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 results. With this result, Near East University has once again solidified its global standing, ranking first in Cyprus and among the top three universities in Turkey. The progress achieved in key indicators such as education, research, international collaborations, and industrial contributions demonstrates that this success is the result of a sustainable academic structure.

This strong academic performance is further supported by Near East University’s commitment to social impact. Ranked 43rd in the world in Times Higher Education’s 2025 World University Impact Rankings, Near East University has attracted global attention with its studies towards sustainable development goals. Also, in the Interdisciplinary Science Rankings, which ranks universities from 92 countries, Near East University ranked 110th globally.

Near East University also ranked among the best in the world in ten different scientific fields in the URAP 2024–2025 World Field Rankings, once again showcasing its multifaceted academic infrastructure. This wide range, from physics and engineering to computer science and medicine and health sciences, makes the university’s interdisciplinary production capacity visible on a global scale.

Strong Performance in Scientific Productivity
Near East University’s academic achievements throughout 2025 were reflected in the numerical data. The number of national and international scientific congresses, symposiums, and academic events hosted or participated in by the university exceeded 1,500. During the same period, the number of scientific articles indexed in Scopus and Web of Science approached 2,000, significantly strengthening the university’s research capacity and international visibility. This research-oriented approach, supported by TÜBİTAK and international projects, demonstrated Near East University’s reliability as a research partner in national and international funding mechanisms.

The Signature of Young People in Science and Technology: Two Championships at TEKNOFEST
The success in scientific production and research was also reflected in the performance of Near East University’s students and academics in technology-focused competitions in 2025. Near East University, participating in the TEKNOFEST TRNC 2025 finals with five projects, won two championships, becoming the university representing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with the most projects and standing out as the only Cypriot university to reach the podium in the history of the competition.

Innovations Shaping the Future

The year 2025 was also etched in memory with a historic discovery made by Near East University to the scientific world. The isolation of Alasiavirus from a natural pond on the university campus and its identification as a completely new type of virus, adding it to the world scientific literature, once again demonstrated the university’s international visibility and scientific depth in biomedical research.

These scientific discoveries were followed by structural steps that will guide the future. Besides, Near East University achieved another important milestone in Turkish higher education with the establishment of the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence and Informatics. The faculty, with a strong educational infrastructure that will train a new generation of experts in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analysis, and software engineering, welcomed its first students. The Synthetic Biology Research and Technology Center, which also commenced operations during the same period, was positioned as a strategically important international scientific center for groundbreaking research in the fields of health, agriculture, environment, and energy. The scientific advisory board of the Near East University Synthetic Biology Research and Technology Center established under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Mehmet Öztürk, includes Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar, Prof. Dr. Gökhan S. Hotamışlıgil, and Prof. Dr. Mehmet Toner.

A Campus Vision Deepened by Culture and Art
Near East University, in addition to hosting the Cyprus Car Museum, the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts, and the Herbarium and Natural History Museum, stands out as a major art center with nearly 500 exhibitions and artworks adorning every corner of the campus. With the opening of the GÜNSEL Art Museum in 2025, the number of museums on campus increased to four. The GÜNSEL Art Museum, showcasing over a thousand works of art, has taken Near East University’s vision of blending academic knowledge with art to a new level.

From Local Engineering to Social Benefit

In 2025, engineering projects developed within Near East University directly transformed academic knowledge and local production power into social benefit. Eight search and rescue vehicle superstructures, designed and manufactured by GÜNSEL engineers, were delivered to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Civil Defence Organization in July 2025.

Designed and commissioned through a collaboration between GÜNSEL and Sancaklı Fire Departments, the highly equipped fire truck was delivered to the TRNC Civil Defence Organization Presidency in December 2025. Named “Koca Yusuf,” the vehicle, designed to provide high effectiveness, especially in forest fires and challenging terrain conditions, maximizes intervention flexibility with its ability to spray water both in a stationary position and while moving.

Safety in Healthcare, Sustainability in Sports

Near East University’s vision of social contribution was demonstrated in 2025 with strong steps taken in the field of healthcare. The Pediatric Emergency Service, opened within the Near East University Hospital, began providing uninterrupted service 24/7 with its specially designed physical infrastructure for children and physicians and healthcare personnel specializing in pediatric emergency medicine. This unit, aiming for rapid, safe, and high-quality access to emergency healthcare services for child patients, became an important indicator of the university’s understanding of social responsibility.

This strong infrastructure in the healthcare field was also extended to the field of sports, with the goal of ensuring the sustainability of sports and protecting the health of athletes. Near East University Hospital has begun offering comprehensive health support to athletes through health sponsorship agreements signed with the Football, Gymnastics, Hunting, Kickboxing, and Muaythai federations, covering everything from preventive health services to diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation processes. Thanks to these collaborations, athletes have been guaranteed access to scientifically based health services to maintain their performance in safe conditions and to address potential health risks.

Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel: “We are acting with the responsibility of being among the top 500 universities in the world, and we continue to work with the same determination for even better results.”
Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Near East Enterprises, emphasized that the achievements they have attained in 2025 are the result of a long-term vision. He said, “Near East University’s ranking among the top 500 universities in the world is not only an important academic milestone for us, it is a strong indication that we are on the right track. At Near East University, we consider it a primary responsibility to ensure that the knowledge produced directly contributes to society, the country, and humanity. The scientific discoveries, engineering projects, health investments, and developments in the field of culture and arts achieved throughout 2025 are concrete outcomes of this approach.”

Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel added, “We continue to build an academic ecosystem that encourages interdisciplinary studies, centers research, and strengthens international collaborations. We also see culture, art, and sports as integral parts of this holistic structure. As we enter 2026, our goal is to elevate Near East University to higher ranks in global academic competition, further expand its scientific production and impact, and continue to create long-term value for our country. We act with the responsibility of being among the top 500 universities in the world, and we continue to work with the same determination for even better results.”