Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB Turkey Higher Education Council convened to discuss the new Higher Education Council Bill. TOBB President and TOBB ETU Board of Trustees Chairman M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated in his speech the importance of the meeting and that they will directly relay their views regarding the bill to the architects of it.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that, for the last 30 years, everyone has been complaining that the YÖK law needs to be changed and yet nothing has been done; that Turkey has undergone its own transformation in the last 30 years.

Stating that the economy has developed but that innovative investments and high tech have yet to be developed, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We’ve always criticized our university system. We complained that universities are cut off from industry and that academics no longer concerned with inventions or patents. However we weren’t able to change the system.”

Turkey, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated, changed not only in terms of economy but also democratically, and went on, “Today, most arguments taking place in Turkey would have been out of the question 10 years ago, let alone 30. But we haven’t been able to turn our universities into producers of ideas. This is because the YÖK system is built around the uniform type.”

- 168 Universities throughout Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that 30 years ago there were 27 universities spread out among the central provinces and that, now, there are 168 universities throughout Turkey and went on:

“Thirty years ago there were no foundation universities. Today, there are approximately 70. Thirty years ago, there were 300,000 university students; now, almost 4 million. We’ve said that this YÖK law has not been designed to handle this sort of capacity increase. We’ve now taken an important step forward. We have a blueprint in hand. Of course there are things it lacks but we all know that starting is half the work.”

Thanking YÖK President Gökhan Çetinsaya for the importance he puts on public-state cooperation, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that when they met previously at the start of the year, again during a council meeting, they had relayed many requests to him but that changing the YÖK law was the most important.

Stating that they are following the announcements of the YÖK council members, and how much importance council members put on freedoms, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they believe the freedom focused views of YÖK members have not been adequately reflected onto the bill.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they were expecting the independence of foundation universities to be ratified with the new law but that it is not to be found in the bill; furthermore there have been steps taken in the wrong direction.

- “We see faults in the details”

Stating that while the Turkey Higher Education Council completes its restructuring, various state universities are defining their fields of independence, Hisarcıklıoğlu went on:

“It is our view that this is the reason foundation universities have been mostly ignored and faults exist within certain details. With the new law, foundation universities should have the freedom to determine their academic and administrative structures. YÖK should only set standards and ensure quality of foundation universities. Foundation universities should at least be more independent than council run state universities. The freedom of the founding will which has invested greatly to this field should not be limited; should in no way be impeded.

I believe that quality is dependent on variety. YÖK should leave uniformity behind and support diversification in our universities. Let a hundred flowers bloom; a thousand projects compete.”

YÖK President Gökhan Çetinsaya also gave a speech, reporting that they have been intensely in regards to the new law process. Çetinsaya said, “We will exchange ideas in regards to university-industry cooperation, public service, innovation, R&D, entrepreneurship and how these concepts are handled in the new law. From what Mr. Rifat has said, it appears that what awaits us is an intense meeting not lacking in criticism.”
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