YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar spoke at MAKÜ: “Transformation in universities is inevitable”

President of the Council of Higher Education Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, during his visit to Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ), met with the university administration and academic staff, delivering important messages regarding transformation in higher education, quality, and the vision of education in the age of artificial intelligence.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting held in the Rectorate Senate Hall, Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar stated that they closely follow the vision set forth by YÖK and that as a university, they act quickly and in harmony in this direction. Rector Dalgar emphasized that their aim is to build a more dynamic and agile university structure together.

“A significant momentum has been achieved in universities”

YÖK President Özvar expressed that he observes the development of MAKÜ more clearly with each visit and stated that universities across Turkey have gained significant momentum in recent years. Prof. Dr. Özvar noted that the performance of universities in research capacity, education quality, and internationalization is closely monitored and said that they are in strong interaction with universities during this process.

Prof. Dr. Özvar noted that Turkey has achieved a significant increase in capacity in higher education over the past 25-30 years and expressed that this growth is remarkable on a global scale. He stated that the increase in capacity has brought along discussions on quality and expressed that they find these discussions positive for the development of the system.

“Anatolian universities cannot be differentiated”

In his speech, Prof. Dr. Özvar also addressed the discourse of “provincial university,” stating that such expressions are divisive and emphasized that all universities in Turkey are nourished from the same academic tradition. Reminding that academics working in newly established universities are also trained in well-established universities, Prof. Dr. Özvar said that this accumulation has spread to all corners of Anatolia.

Emphasis on differentiation and data

Prof. Dr. Özvar stated that the way for universities to gain competitive power is through “differentiation,” and that this is only possible with proper data analysis. He noted that YÖK has been encouraging data-based management in universities in recent years and expressed that they act with the understanding that “a university that cannot own its data cannot own itself.”

Message of radical change in curriculum and programs

Prof. Dr. Özvar emphasized that the number of courses in universities should be reduced and the curriculum should be simplified, stating that the understanding of “not many courses, but quality courses” should be adopted. He expressed that outdated courses should be removed and that the understanding of “course according to the teacher” should come to an end.

New understanding of education in the age of artificial intelligence

In his speech, Prof. Dr. Özvar devoted a significant portion to the impact of artificial intelligence on education, stating that students now analyze courses with artificial intelligence tools and that this transformation cannot be ignored. He emphasized that the role of academics is changing and that guidance and skill acquisition should come to the forefront rather than the transfer of knowledge.

The meeting concluded after receiving the views and evaluations of the academic staff.