ENG
Istanbul Nişantaşı University Rector Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Komsuoğlu Çıtıpıtıoğlu, together with Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ece Salihoğlu, attended the 5th Arab Higher Education Congress held in Tunisia on October 10–11, 2025.
The event was hosted by University of Tunis El Manar, in cooperation with the Association of Arab Universities (AARU) and EURAS (Eurasian Universities Union). The congress brought together numerous university rectors, academics, and representatives of higher education institutions from Turkey and Arab countries.
Opening Sessions and Thematic Topics
In the opening speeches, Tunisian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Prof. Mondher Belaïd, President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, AARU Secretary General Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama, and EURAS President Prof. Mustafa Aydın emphasized the importance of strengthening regional academic cooperation.
Following the opening session, the congress proceedings began with Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar's keynote address titled "Transforming Higher Education for a Changing Global Landscape."
Over the course of two days, the congress addressed transformation in higher education within the framework of four main themes:
The shared aim of the panels was to strengthen the circulation of knowledge, students, and values within the Arab–Turkish higher education sphere, and to institutionalize structures such as joint doctoral programs, research centers, and double diploma systems between universities.
Our Rector's Speech on Internationalization
In her speech at the panel titled "Internationalization, Reputation & Global Engagement," our Rector Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Komsuoğlu began by describing Istanbul Nişantaşı University's vision for internationalization.
Komsuoğlu emphasized that universities' understanding of internationalization needs to be redefined. She noted that for many years, success had been measured solely by the number of protocols signed or the number of students crossing borders, but that these indicators did not reflect whether knowledge was genuinely being shared and creating real transformation.
Stating that true internationalization is a process in which learning becomes reciprocal and institutions change the way they think and produce together, our Rector said, "The ability to create value together is the essence of the university of the future."
Komsuoğlu also emphasized that the future of higher education will be shaped not by individual excellence but by shared purposes, defining cooperation as the cornerstone of the university of the future. Recaling that scholars of this region built a shared intellectual network in the past through correspondence, translation, and debate, she stated:
"Today, we must adapt that same tradition to our era; we must build academic networks based on trust, shared ethical values, and open access."
New Collaborations and Visits
On the second day of the congress, numerous Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Turkish and Arab universities. The parties launched new projects in the fields of student exchange, academic research, and joint publication.
Istanbul Nişantaşı University concluded important agreements by establishing new project connections with the region's leading universities on the themes of sustainability, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.
In one-on-one meetings with university rectors from various countries, our Rector Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Komsuoğlu exchanged views on topics such as academic diplomacy, open science, joint doctoral programs, and student-centered education.
The second day of the congress continued with visits to the Faculties of Science and Medicine at the University of Tunis. Our Rector and the accompanying delegation also attended the Study in Turkey 2025 Fair, whr they had the opportunity to promote our university, our academic projects, and our research and international cooperation opportunities.