- President of the Council of Higher Education Erol Özvar addressed the Turkic Academy’s Scientific Council Meeting in Kazakhstan.

- “We aim to achieve deeper integration in higher education across the Turkic World.”

- “The steps we are taking today constitute the building blocks of the Turkic World Higher Education Area.”

- Özvar called for the expansion of the Orhun Exchange Program.

- Özvar held bilateral meetings with Azerbaijani Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev and Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek.

- The 9th Meeting of Education Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States concluded with the signing of the Communiqué.

June 8, 2026

President of the Council of Higher Education Erol Özvar stated that the Turkic Academy would make significant contributions to the process of establishing the Turkic World Higher Education Area. “The intellectual support and policy recommendations provided by the Academy will be of great importance in helping us achieve our common goals,” he said.

Speaking at the Turkic Academy’s Scientific Council Meeting held in Turkistan, Kazakhstan, Özvar noted that they view the Academy’s activities not merely as academic initiatives but as strategic investments in the shared future of the Turkic World.

He emphasized that through its research projects, symposiums, workshops, summer schools, and publications, the Turkic Academy has made substantial contributions to the development of a common scientific consciousness and a culture of academic solidarity. Özvar also stressed that, in today’s highly competitive global environment, it is more important than ever for countries to share their knowledge and experience in order to build collective capacity.

- “The Memorandum of Understanding Is a Strategic Step”

Referring to the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Ankara last year between the Council of Higher Education and the Turkic Academy, Özvar described the agreement as a concrete manifestation of the goal of achieving stronger integration in higher education, science, and research. He noted that the memorandum aims to increase the exchange of knowledge and expertise among member countries, strengthen research capacity, and support the development of human capital.

Özvar further stated that enhancing academic recognition, strengthening cooperation in quality assurance, promoting joint accreditation initiatives, and establishing regular consultation mechanisms among higher education institutions are among the priority areas of cooperation. He emphasized that genuine integration in higher education can only be achieved through joint research projects, shared academic programs, and joint degree models.

- Emphasis on the Orhun Exchange Program

Highlighting student and academic mobility as one of the cornerstones of higher education integration in the Turkic World, Özvar called for the expansion of the Orhun Exchange Program and the establishment of stronger funding mechanisms to support it.

“The Orhun Program has the potential to become one of the most important instruments of academic integration across the Turkic World in the future,” he said. Özvar reiterated that Türkiye attaches great importance to cooperation in higher education throughout the Turkic World, citing the Khoja Ahmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, the Türkiye-Azerbaijan University, and the International University of Turkic States established in Uzbekistan as concrete examples of this vision.

- “The Turkic Academy Should Become a Key Actor in Academic Diplomacy”

Özvar also noted that the Turkic Barometer studies conducted by the Turkic Academy provide valuable data for planning processes in higher education. He stated that they particularly appreciate the findings of the Turkic States Youth Survey, which offers important insights into the expectations and perspectives of young people across the Turkic World. Emphasizing that the Turkic Academy could assume a more prominent role as one of the leading actors of academic diplomacy in the coming years, Özvar added that a more visible and competitive higher education area could be built through the mutual recognition of diplomas and academic qualifications, the establishment of joint quality assurance mechanisms, and the expansion of academic mobility.

The meeting was attended by Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, Azerbaijani Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev, Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek, Deputy Minister of Science, Higher Education and Innovation of Kyrgyzstan Durus Kozuev, and President of the Turkic Academy Shahin Mustafayev.

- Bilateral Meetings with Azerbaijani and Kazakh Ministers

During his visit to Turkistan, President of the Council of Higher Education Erol Özvar also held a series of bilateral meetings, including separate discussions with Azerbaijani Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev and Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek.

Regarding his meeting with Amrullayev, Özvar stated that they reviewed ongoing efforts to support the institutional development of Karabakh University as well as the academic contributions being provided by Istanbul Technical University to the institution. He emphasized that cooperation in higher education between the two countries serves shared strategic objectives. Özvar also noted that the discussions focused on new initiatives planned within the framework of Türkiye-Azerbaijan University and that both sides agreed on convening a meeting of the university’s Board of Trustees. “We will continue to advance the exemplary solidarity and shared achievements we have established with Azerbaijan in education and science through new projects in the years ahead,” Özvar said.

“The Turkic Academy Should Become a Key Actor in Academic Diplomacy”

- Bilateral Meetings with Azerbaijani and Kazakh Ministers

During his visit to Turkistan, President of the Council of Higher Education Erol Özvar also held separate meetings with Azerbaijani Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev and Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek.

“Our Relations with Kazakhstan Continue to Grow Stronger”

In his meeting with Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek, Özvar stated that relations between Türkiye and Kazakhstan continue to deepen under the strong commitment and leadership of the presidents of both countries.

Highlighting the Khoja Ahmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University as one of the most important symbols of academic cooperation between Türkiye and Kazakhstan, Özvar emphasized that support for the university would continue in every respect.

He noted that the discussions focused on the swift finalization of a memorandum of understanding on higher education cooperation between the two countries, the launch of joint laboratory programs, the promotion of student mobility in doctoral programs, and the strengthening of academic, scientific, and research collaboration between Turkish and Kazakh universities. Özvar also stated that the parties discussed the importance of sharing the expertise and experience of Türkiye’s leading centers of excellence in healthcare—particularly those at Hacettepe University, Akdeniz University, and İnönü University—more effectively with higher education institutions in Kazakhstan.

- OTS Education Ministers’ Meeting Concludes with the Signing of the Communiqué

The 9th Meeting of Education Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States concluded with the signing of the Communiqué and the approval of several strategic initiatives and policy documents.

Among the approved initiatives were the establishment of a Permanent TURKUNIB Secretariat and a Special Program Fund for the Orhun Exchange Program, the creation of a Turkic World Higher Education Database, the establishment of the Turkic World Higher Education Quality Assurance Association (TWAQA), the development of diploma certification and equivalency mechanisms among TURKUNIB member universities, the creation of a Turkic Universities League, the implementation of student and teacher exchange programs and a sister-school initiative, the establishment of a Turkic States Education Information Network, and the creation of an Education Cooperation Working Group.