The first meeting of the Türkiye-Malaysia Higher Education Joint Committee was held in Istanbul, with the participation of the President of the Council of Higher Education, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, and Malaysian Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir.

Following the meeting, memoranda of understanding were signed between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) and İstanbul Gedik University, as well as between Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Kocaeli University and Hacettepe University.

The memorandum of understanding was signed on behalf of Ondokuz Mayıs University by Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın.

Rector Aydın: “We believe this will open doors to qualified scientific collaborations between the two countries”

Evaluating the agreement, Rector Aydın stated: "We are very pleased with the deepening academic cooperation between Türkiye and Malaysia. It was an honor for us to represent our university at the 1st Higher Education Joint Committee Meeting held in Istanbul, marking a strong step toward the future. We believe the memorandum of understanding signed with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) will open doors to qualified scientific collaborations between our countries. This joint initiative highlights once again the value of collaborative production on regional and global scales. I thank Malaysian Minister of Higher Education Zambry Abd Kadir and all cooperating institutions for sharing our enthusiasm during this meaningful event."

Speaking at the meeting, the President of the Council of Higher Education, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, noted that the meeting was organized for the first time this year to enhance higher education cooperation between Türkiye and Malaysia.

Özvar mentioned that discussions held during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's official visit to Malaysia in February continued during this meeting. He stated, "We are pleased to observe that Türkiye and Malaysia have been expanding cooperation in all fields, particularly defense industry, science, and technology. Universities in both countries are playing critical roles in this process."

YÖK President Özvar: “Our global academic strategy involves both competition and collaboration”

Özvar emphasized that the Council of Higher Education encourages universities to develop concrete projects based on mutual interests with their international counterparts. "Our global academic strategy involves both competition and collaboration. Without these two fundamentals, we cannot fully realize academic and scientific advancement," he remarked.

“Responsibilities and expectations from universities have increased”

Özvar also highlighted that new technologies, evolving social expectations, and changing economic conditions have led to significant transformations in higher education. "We expect our universities not only to deliver academic knowledge but also to create social impact, embrace digital innovations, and effectively manage international collaborations," he said.

“We will encourage universities to increase joint diploma programs”

Noting Türkiye's extensive experience in Erasmus exchange programs as part of the European Higher Education Area, Özvar stated, "We will encourage our institutions to utilize Erasmus+ mobility programs for staff and student exchanges to enhance academic and cultural interactions."

Özvar added, "We are also prepared to explore scholarship exchanges at undergraduate and graduate levels in technology, vocational education, mathematics, and sciences through the Türkiye International Exchange Scholarship Program (TIES Program). We will further encourage universities to increase the number of joint diploma programs."

“Universities must increase their international visibility”

Stressing internationalization as a key element among higher education goals, Özvar emphasized that universities are continuously encouraged to enhance their international visibility.

Özvar concluded by expressing his belief that the Joint Committee's efforts would strengthen cooperation and contribute significantly to academic advancement through concrete research projects.

Malaysian Minister of Higher Education Kadir: “Malaysian students love Türkiye”

Malaysian Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir described the meeting as significant and memorable, noting, "Our goal is to enhance faculty and student exchanges and the training of higher education administrators. Malaysian students love Türkiye and choose to study here."

During the meeting, Prof. Dr. Naci Gündoğan, Member of the Higher Education Executive Board, presented on "An Introduction to the Turkish Higher Education System," METU Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yozgatlıgil discussed "Research-Oriented Universities and Innovation Leadership in Türkiye," Rector of Gebze Technical University Prof. Dr. Hacı Ali Mantar addressed "International Academic Collaborations between Turkish and Malaysian Universities," and İTU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal spoke on "Collaboration Based on Co-Creation in the Turkish R&D and Innovation Ecosystem."

Meeting with the Romanian National Rectors' Council

Subsequently, Prof. Dr. Özvar met with Prof. Dr. Sorin Mihai Cîmpeanu, President of the Romanian National Rectors' Council, and his delegation.

During this meeting, participants discussed ways to enhance higher education cooperation between Türkiye and Romania. The discussion included encouraging more collaboration protocols between universities in both countries, promoting joint educational programs in mutually agreed areas, and strengthening existing academic relationships through regular interactions.

The Romanian National Rectors' Council, which plays a crucial role in promoting quality across all fields of Romanian higher education—including curriculum development, academic staff, and institutional organization—has 82 member universities.