YÖK President Özvar highlights OMU’s potential to become a Research University

During his visit to the OMU booth at TEKNOFEST, YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar highlighted the University’s strength in health sciences and said stronger integration with engineering could help OMU move from candidate to full Research University status.

Council of Higher Education (YÖK) President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar visited the Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) booth at TEKNOFEST and met with Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın.

After receiving information about the University’s scientific studies and ongoing projects, Özvar highlighted OMU’s particular strength in the field of health sciences and said the University could advance from Candidate Research University status to full Research University status in the coming period.

During his visit to the OMU booth on the third day of TEKNOFEST, Özvar and Rector Aydın exchanged views on the University’s scientific activities, projects, and future goals.

Özvar also examined technology projects developed by young participants and shared in the atmosphere of the festival.

“OMU has the potential to become a Research University”

YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar drew particular attention to OMU’s strong capacity in health sciences.

“We would like to see Ondokuz Mayıs University in the league of Research Universities,” Özvar said. “One of our greatest hopes is that our candidate universities will attain Research University status.”

He emphasized that achieving this goal ultimately depends on the performance of the candidate universities themselves.

“Important responsibilities fall on our faculty members, academic staff, students, and administrative personnel,” he said. “From what we can see, the University administration and academics are working together to fulfill these responsibilities.”

Özvar added that further effort would be needed because of the strong competition among universities.

“There is a very positive competition among our universities,” he said. “Everyone is seeking to produce more, demonstrate stronger performance, contribute to our country, and support its economic development through numerous projects.”

He said this should be among the fundamental missions of universities.

“Universities should provide every possible contribution to the development and advancement of the country. Research Universities are regarded as the institutions that fulfill this mission at the highest level.”

Health sciences could provide a pathway to Research University status

Özvar said OMU’s capacity in health sciences could become a particular strength in its Research University ambitions.

“We believe that Ondokuz Mayıs University, especially through the capacity it has demonstrated in health sciences, can join the league of Research Universities,” he said.

“If this strength is further supported, particularly by engineering, I believe that in the coming period our University could move directly from candidate status to full Research University status.”