- CoHE President Özvar: “The greatest strength in Yemen’s recovery will be a well-educated and highly skilled population”

- “No crisis is a nation’s unchangeable destiny”

August 6, 2026

CoHE President Erol Özvar met with Yemeni students studying in Türkiye and Yemeni academics working at Turkish universities. Drawing attention to the historic bonds of brotherhood between Türkiye and Yemen, Özvar said Yemen’s future would be built on the shoulders of well-educated young people, adding, “No crisis is a nation’s unchangeable destiny.”

Speaking at the meeting held at the Council of Higher Education, Özvar emphasized the deep-rooted friendship and fraternal ties between Türkiye and Yemen.

He said educated young people would play a decisive role in Yemen’s future, noting that the peoples of Türkiye and Yemen share strong ties dating back centuries. He said relations between the two countries draw strength from their shared history, bonds of solidarity, and fraternal ties.

Özvar said wars, political tensions, and humanitarian crises in different parts of the world have evolved into sources of global instability that affect not only the countries where they occur but humanity as a whole. He noted that the Islamic world is among the regions most severely affected by these developments. Saying that Yemen, which has been living under the shadow of conflict for many years, is also struggling with serious humanitarian, economic, and social challenges, Özvar noted that these developments have adversely affected educational institutions and the country’s pool of qualified human resources.

At the same time, Özvar stressed that no crisis is permanent, noting that history has shown that even societies facing the most difficult circumstances can rise again through unity, solidarity, and determination. Drawing attention to the resilience of the Yemeni people, Özvar said he believed the country would achieve a strong future once again in an environment of peace and stability.

- “Türkiye hosts students from many countries”

Özvar said the most important factor in Yemen’s reconstruction would be a well-educated and highly skilled population, emphasizing that young people have important responsibilities to fulfill. He stressed that, alongside the academic knowledge acquired at universities, it is also important to preserve integrity, a strong work ethic, a spirit of solidarity, moral values, and the determination to serve one's country. He said Yemen’s future would be shaped by the efforts of young people capable of bringing together the knowledge of the modern age with their own values.

Noting that Türkiye has made significant progress in higher education in recent years, Özvar said Turkish universities host students from many countries around the world thanks to their growing capacity, quality of education, and research infrastructure.

Özvar said Türkiye regards international students as its own children, noting that this approach is a natural outcome of the country’s historical and cultural heritage.

- “A diploma alone does not guarantee success”

Özvar said more than 5,000 Yemeni students are pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies in Türkiye, noting that educational cooperation between the two countries is growing stronger by the day. He said Yemeni academics working at Turkish universities also make significant contributions to this cooperation, adding that educational ties play an important role in carrying the friendship between Türkiye and Yemen into the future.

Addressing the students, Özvar said a diploma alone does not guarantee success, emphasizing that the decisive factor is an individual’s commitment to continuous self-improvement and to expanding their knowledge and competencies.

During the meeting, the students shared their requests and expectations regarding their educational experiences with Özvar. Özvar also took a close interest in the students and listened to their views. Mohamed Saleh Ahmed Turiq, Ambassador of Yemen to Ankara, also attended the meeting.