Ankara University Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar visited Near East University with the delegation accompanying him. After the visit, during which a scientific cooperation protocol was signed between the two universities, the delegation also tested the TRNC's domestic car GÜNSEL.

Ankara University Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar and the accompanying delegation, who came to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to make contacts, visited Near East University and held a series of meetings. After the visit, during which a scientific cooperation protocol was signed between the two universities, the Ankara University delegation also tested the TRNC's domestic car GÜNSEL.

Ankara University delegation consisting of Ankara University Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar, Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Serdar Öztürk, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Prof. Dr. Kaan Orhan, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Prof. Dr. Ender Yarsan, Rector Advisor Ümmet Artuç and Protocol Manager Neriman Kantarcı was hosted by Near East University Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Vice-Rector Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Tüzünkan and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul.

The cooperation protocol, which entered into force with the signature of Ankara University Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar and Near East University Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, covers a broad framework from the exchange of researchers between the two universities to joint scientific publications and research.

In the meeting where the cooperation protocol was signed, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ and Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar gave a speech each.

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “We have always have had the support of our mainland Turkey and of our universities, and we shall continue to do so.”
Commenting on the academic and scientific productivity of Near East University in his speech, Near East University Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “As a university, we set a new vision for research and scientific publications 5 years ago. In 5 years, we increased the number of scientific articles from 143 to 1,500. The number of international scientific articles per faculty member increased to 2.3”. Stating that the scientific productivity created by this vision has resulted in being included in the world university rankings announced in 2021, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “We were among the top 250 universities in the world in the fields of Computer Science and Engineering in Times Higer Education's 'World's Best Universities' ranking. In addition, we are in the top 500 in the world in Education, and in the top 600 in Physical Sciences; We were in the top 800 in Social Sciences, Clinical and Health and Social Sciences. In the 'Best Universities Ranking' published by AD Scientific Index in the first week of December, our Near East University was ranked 488th in 2022 and was shown among the top 500 universities in the world.

Stating that the Near East University also trains the scientists of the future, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “We carry out our trainings in medicine at the Near East University and University of Kyrenia. Currently, we have many assistants who receive specialization training in the branches of pediatrics, otolaryngology and cardiology. More than 150 of our assistants carry out the Faculty Member Training Program. We implement the trainings with our own resources. At the same time, we are one of the universities that give the most support to its researchers with our Scientific Research Projects Coordination unit. In this context, we have supported more than 100 projects with our own resources.”

Reminding that they closed 2021 with many important achievements, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “We are continuing the mass production preparations of our domestic electric car GÜNSEL. On the other hand, we continue to stand by our state resolutely in the fight against COVID-19. We have done and continue to do a significant part of the COVID-19 vaccinations in our country free of charge at our hospitals. The success of our Native PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit we developed has been accredited by the Molecular Diagnosis Quality Control Program-MOTAKK. We launched our PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, which can detect all variants of SarsCov-2 virus simultaneously, including Omicron, all over the world, especially in Turkey, after our country. Again in 2021, together with SarsCov-2, we produced our nasal spray, which is protective against many respiratory tract infections, and put it into use of public in the TRNC, Turkey and the Turkic Republics under the Olirin brand.

Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ thanked the Ankara University delegation, especially Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar for their visit.

Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar: “I believe that the cooperation protocol we have signed is very precious.”
Starting his speech by thanking the administrative staff of Near East University for their hospitality, Ankara University Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar said that they had very productive meetings during their 2-day visit to the TRNC. Prof. Dr. Ünüvar said, “We were received by Mr. President Ersin Tatar and the distinguished ministers of the Ministry of National Education and Culture and the Ministry of Finance. We had very productive meetings with universities, as well.”

Emphasizing that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is an indispensable country for Turkey, Prof. Dr. Ünüvar said, “TRNC is the country where we act in line with the people, the land we share the same language, the same religion and the same ideal, and our hearts beat with the same rhythm. We consider every step taken in the TRNC valuable as if we took it ourselves. In this regard, we want to work closely with Near East University, University of Kyrenia and other universities.”

Stating that Ankara University, as one of the oldest and most precious universities of Turkey, is celebrating its 76th anniversary this year, Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar said, “We are an institution that provides high-level education in the fields of social sciences, engineering and health. We have very esteemed scientists and faculties. We consider it an honorable duty to mutually share our experience with the TRNC universities, especially with Near East University and University of Kyrenia. At this point, I believe that the cooperation protocol we have signed is very precious and important.”

After the signing ceremony, Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar, who also tested the TRNC's domestic car GÜNSEL at the GÜNSEL Production Facilities Test Drive Area located on the Near East University campus, said after his test drive, “After driving GÜNSEL B9, I understood why its motto was 'drive the silence'. Its comfort, power, ride quality and silence are very nice. It is a source of pride for the TRNC and Turkey to make a name for themselves in the world with their two electric car brands in the same period.”