ADANA – The European Universities Türkiye Workshop, organised with the aim of addressing structural and operational challenges faced by Turkish universities within the European University alliances and ensuring coordination with national institutions, was held on 3 April 2026 under the coordination of EUPeace, hosted by Çukurova University.
Participants included the Council of Higher Education (CoHE), the Turkish National Agency, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Koç University, and Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University (ATÜ).
The workshop took place in the Meeting Hall of Çukurova University’s Office of International Relations. Opening remarks were delivered by EUPeace Coordinator Prof. Dr Zuhal Okan and the Rector of Çukurova University, Prof. Dr Hamit Emrah Beriş. In his speech, Prof. Beriş highlighted the academic and structural reforms undertaken to position the university as a more active player on the global stage. Prof. Okan, meanwhile, emphasised the success of projects implemented in Türkiye within the framework of the EUPeace partnership.
Across Europe, the number of European University alliances has reached 67, yet only five universities from Türkiye are currently represented. These long-term partnerships, which require institutional alignment and sustainability, necessitate national-level policy harmonisation in areas such as mobility, joint programmes, and quality assurance.
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© EUPeace Çukurova Team
© EUPeace Çukurova TeamStrategic importance of the initiative and current situation analysis
In the first session of the workshop, the strategic importance of the European Universities initiative for Türkiye was discussed in detail. Dr Kemal Başçı from the Turkish National Agency outlined its strategic impact on the Turkish higher education system. Prof. Dr Can Yücesoy from Boğaziçi University provided technical insights into the current status and progress of member institutions.
Best practice examples and societal impact
During the morning sessions, participants examined the educational and research outputs of the alliances, as well as their contributions to regional development. Dr Esin Aksay Aksezer and Dr Birce Demiryontar from Koç University shared successful models in education, mobility, and research. Presentations highlighted that these alliances are not merely academic structures, but organisations with transformative societal impact. Challenges encountered throughout the process and proposed solutions for strengthening national-level cooperation were also discussed.
Focus areas: Education, mobility, and governance
In the afternoon session, a joint working group moderated by Duygu Bahçekapılı and Bengisu Görgün Özgüven from the Çukurova University EUPeace team focused on three main themes:
- Education: Development of joint programmes and quality assurance
- Mobility: Bureaucratic barriers in student and academic staff exchange processes
- Governance and Policy: Institutional and national policy needs for long-term sustainability
Conclusion and roadmap: Proposal for a coordination mechanism
Following the evaluation session led by Assoc. Prof. Dr İlke Şanlıer, the workshop concluded with closing remarks by Prof. Dr Zuhal Okan. Key findings were translated into a roadmap. The workshop aimed to achieve the following core outcomes:
- Policy harmonisation: Alignment at the national level in mobility, joint programmes, and quality assurance
- Coordination: Establishment of a regular and sustainable national coordination mechanism
- Future vision: Sharing short- and medium-term policy recommendations with relevant national bodies (CoHE, HEQC, and Turkish National Agency)
This comprehensive workshop aims to serve as a turning point in addressing structural and financial challenges faced by Turkish institutions participating in the European Universities alliances.
© EUPeace Çukurova Team
© EUPeace Çukurova Team
© EUPeace Çukurova Team
© EUPeace Çukurova Team