Technical Universities Gather at GTU for Graduate Education Workshop

Hosted by Gebze Technical University (GTU), a workshop on graduate education is held on April 18, 2025, at the GTU Congress and Cultural Center. The event is attended by the directors, assistant directors, and institute secretaries of Bursa Technical, Erzurum Technical, Eskişehir Technical, Gebze Technical, İskenderun Technical, Istanbul Technical, Karadeniz Technical, Konya Technical, Yıldız Technical Universities, as well as the İzmir Institute of Technology.

The workshop, held in three sessions, addressed topics such as the number and quality of international students, the number and quality of PhD students, and potential collaborations and joint events among the Technical Universities.

The first session of the workshop was attended by GTU Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar and Vice-Rector Prof. Elif Damla Arısan.

Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar: "Collaboration in Science Is Essential"

In his opening speech, GTU Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar emphasized that universities can no longer progress on their own, but must move forward through national and international collaborations. “Research and development activities have transformed into team efforts. Many countries and institutions act jointly in European Union projects. We must also adapt to this model,” he stated.

“We Must Stop Making Excuses and Increase Synergy”

Mantar emphasized that there are no real legal or structural barriers in Türkiye, such as regulatory gaps or lack of authority. Rather, the main shortcoming lies in the insufficient investment in collective thinking and synergy. He highlighted the importance of strengthening infrastructure and project sharing among technical universities.

Prof. Karabulut: “A New Alliance of Power Is Emerging in Higher Education”

In his presentation at the workshop, GTU Graduate School Director Prof. Mevlüt Karabulut provided information about graduate education efforts being carried out across Türkiye and specifically at GTU. Sharing the scope and objectives of the event with participants, Karabulut referred to OECD reports, mentioning higher education participation rates and university-industry collaboration programs. He emphasized that the workshop laid the groundwork for an alliance that will bring a new perspective to higher education.

Emphasis on Collective Wisdom and Collaboration

The importance of joint promotion efforts to increase the number of international students was underlined during the workshop. It was noted that identifying target regions and collaborating with educational attachés in those areas would enable more effective outreach to prospective students.

It was also stated that existing support systems such as accommodation and scholarships for students are currently insufficient and that enhancing these opportunities is particularly crucial for increasing both the number and quality of PhD students.

A consensus has been reached on organizing a joint online “Experience Sharing Event” among the Technical Universities, and on reserving quotas for the Technical Universities in graduate research symposiums held by each institution.

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