Visit of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) President and Delegation to YÖDAK

The Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK) was in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on April 23-25, 2025. On April 24, an “Extended Higher Education Meeting” was held at the Ministry of National Education.
On the same day, the President of YÖK, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, and his delegation visited the Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council (YÖDAK).
Prof. Dr. Özvar expressed his gratitude to YÖDAK President Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın for accompanying him from the moment he arrived on the island.
YÖDAK President Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın expressed his deep satisfaction and great honor in feeling the strong support and sensitivity of YÖK in the path taken and direction set for higher education in the TRNC.
The meeting held in YÖDAK’s conference hall was attended by YÖDAK President Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın; Vice President Prof. Dr. Hasan Amca; Prof. Dr. Hülya Harutoğlu; Prof. Dr. Zafer Ağdelen; Prof. Dr. Remziye Terkan; Prof. Dr. Akın Cellatoğlu; and YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar. Also in attendance were YÖK Vice President Prof. Dr. Haldun Göktaş; Executive Board Member Prof. Dr. Naci Gündoğan; President of the Council of Universities Prof. Dr. Mehmet Karakaş; President of the Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK) Prof. Dr. Ümit Kocabıçak; Head of YÖK International Relations Department Mustafa Efe; Head of YÖK IT Department Yasin İnağ; Presidential Advisor/Ambassador Mustafa Türker Arı; Press Counselor Çiğdem Savaşçıoğlu; Protocol Director Mustafa Emin Sağlam; Chief of Security Yahya Kırmaz; and Photographer Ömer Ali Delibaş.
President Hocanın emphasized that they are in constant communication with the YÖK President to ensure a more successful higher education sector, and expressed his satisfaction with the sensitivity shown by the YÖK President and his delegation towards higher education in the TRNC. He stated:
“YÖK provides us with full support in all matters, especially in terms of quality. We are honored by their visit to YÖDAK. We are currently working on legal regulations regarding the qualifications framework. We are acting in coordination within our area of responsibility. We are fulfilling our duties regarding legislation and bylaws. We are ready to do whatever is required of us. We always feel YÖK by our side.”
YÖK President Özvar stated:
“I respectfully greet the esteemed President and valuable members of YÖDAK. We have held very productive meetings on behalf of higher education in the TRNC. We have seen that the cooperation between the universities of the Republic of Türkiye and the TRNC is elevating higher education beyond its current state. We already have many important collaborations, and we will work to implement more such partnerships. We started with the information system. The roadmap set for us by our President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is to increase cooperation with universities in the TRNC. These collaborations are being realized within his vision, as expressed during our consultations. YÖK has demonstrated its determination to further strengthen our collaborations. The entire experience of YÖKAK is intended to be transferred to YÖDAK. The goal is to accelerate national and international accreditations. Our efforts will intensify, with a particular focus on quality enhancement. Increasing academic cooperation and recognition between the two countries will be of great significance. We will strengthen our collaborations to ensure that TRNC universities gain greater visibility on the international stage. We hope that TRNC universities will also achieve the momentum that the Republic of Türkiye has gained in terms of international student mobility. The YÖDAK President and members are approaching the issues of supervision, planning, and accreditation with great care and will continue to do so, thereby making a greater impact in future scientific output.”
The YÖK-YÖDAK meeting held at YÖDAK concluded with a mutual exchange of gifts.