OMU expands global partnership network with 45 institutions from 20 countries at NAFSA 2026

ORLANDO, USA – Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) significantly expanded its international engagement efforts during the NAFSA 2026 Annual Conference & Expo, strengthening existing collaborations and establishing new global partnerships through an intensive schedule of bilateral meetings.

Extensive international networking across five continents

The OMU delegation, led by Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın and comprising Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz, Rector’s Advisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Begüm Korunur Engiz, Head of the International Relations Office Dr. Ahmet Aycan, and Erasmus Institutional Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Tütüncü, maintained a continuous program of meetings throughout the conference.

During the event, the delegation met with representatives from universities and higher education institutions across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In total, OMU held bilateral discussions with representatives of 45 universities and higher education institutions from 20 countries, including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Georgia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Egypt, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and New Zealand.

Focus on mobility, research, and joint academic initiatives

The meetings focused on a wide range of collaboration opportunities, including student and academic staff mobility, Erasmus programs, bilateral cooperation agreements, joint research projects, dual degree programs, short-term mobility schemes, international project partnerships, and scientific collaboration.

As a result of these productive discussions aimed at strengthening existing partnerships and establishing new institutional ties, six new bilateral cooperation agreements were signed between OMU and higher education institutions from different countries. In addition, agreements in principle were reached with three more universities, paving the way for future cooperation protocols.

Rector Aydın: “We held highly productive meetings that will strengthen our global partnerships”

Providing an overall assessment following the conference, OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın described NAFSA 2026 as an important milestone for the university’s international vision.

“Participating in a globally respected platform such as NAFSA 2026 is a concrete reflection of our university’s internationalization vision,” said Aydın.

“As OMU, we aim not only to increase student and academic mobility but also to deepen international cooperation in research, innovation, and knowledge production. In Orlando, we held highly productive meetings, particularly with universities in the United States and many other regions, that will strengthen our academic and scientific partnerships. We will continue our efforts with determination in line with our goal of becoming a globally competitive, highly visible, and collaboration-oriented university.”