Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Opinion leaders of foundation universities in Turkey,hosted by the TOBB Turkey Higher Education Board Council, met at the “The Future of Foundation Universities in Turkey” search conference in Bolu at the Gazelle Resort Hotel in order to determine the future of the sector, form a vision and to prepare their strategies and action plans accordingly.

Speaking at the conference attended by the boards of trustees, rectors, secretary generals and faculty members of the foundation universities in Turkey, TOBB ETU Board of Trustees and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the kind of education provided is as important as providing basic education to everyone. Stating that the increase of quality in higher education means contribution to a stronger economy and a better democracy through better trained people. Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that this would also open the way for prosperity.

- “A well trained work force is required for great goals”

Stating that Turkey needs a well trained work force to reach great goals, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We want to be one of the 10 biggest economies in the world. We’ve set this goal… We are determined to accomplish this thanks to our extraordinarily dynamic young population.

In actuality we have a far greater treasure than petroleum, natural gas or minerals: Our young population!

The average age is 28 but are we able to properly make use of this young population? Right now, in terms of production per employee we are, unfortunately, behind the top 10 countries.

While someone in our country produces 30,000 Dollars of added value per year, this is figure is 80,000-90,000 in the 10 largest economies. The key question is: What is the primary determining factor behind productivity? It is the education level and quality of the country.”

- “We should be the first ones to make sacrifices”

Stating that foundation universities must operate internationally, TOBB ETU Board of Trustees and TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu listed the issues he viewed to be important:

“We must attract foreign students to study in our country. I’m not talking about exchange programs, but rather foreigners completing their undergraduate education completely in Turkey.

Every year there are new universities, the contingents are increasing. Is the number of students increasing as rapidly? No.

What will happen? The profits of foundation universities are dropping fast due to rampant price competition as well as the quality of the education. Our universities, quality of the education system, our youth and our country suffers as a result.

Let us widen our horizon and start thinking of tomorrow! Let us design tomorrow… Look, we are right behind China in the construction sector. This is because our contractors went international 30 years ago. They started building today from 30 years ago.

While 65,000 of our citizens go abroad to study, why do only approximately 20,000 foreign students attend our universities? Why is there a current deficit in this field? I will emphasize this: Increasing this number is not a dream! I travel 365,000 km a year. The eyes of Damascus are on İstanbul, the eyes of Kiev on Ankara, the eyes of Baku on Erzurum. The dynamism of Turkey is beheld with admiration.

We must redesign the higher education system of our country as befits the potential of our country. We must design our curriculum to attract foreign students. For that we must strengthen English education. Turkey is the 43rd country out of 44 on the English Proficiency Index published by Education First. This is unacceptable.

We must strengthen our education staff. We must put emphasis on marketing, promotion, advertisement and information abroad. We have committed to this end. DEİK has business councils in 106 countries. We have founded only two special purpose councils. The first is the health tourism business council and the second is the education economy business council. We are working to design 5, 10, 20 years ahead.

In order to plan the future, foundation universities need to be taking the steps I just listed. There are, of course, steps which need to be taken by the public administration as well.”

- “Foundation universities must train students according to the needs of the market”

Stating that foundation universities must take note of the needs of the market, M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu spoke on the subject:

“All of our universities, especially foundation universities, must utilize their flexibility to analyze the needs of the market. Curriculum should include both theoretical and practical education. I speak as the president of the umbrella organization of the business world: An undergraduate who is newly graduated is far from what we need. That is why we brought joint education to TOBB ETU.

- “Theory and practice must go hand in hand”

Talking about the Georgia Governor’s TOBB visit, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “One of the largest states in the US with a population of 10 million, but they produce 401 billion Dollars’ worth. 14 of the world’s 500 biggest companies, the largest aerospace and military companies are there. The 8 largest food companies of the world are there. The 4 biggest logistics companies. The governor stated that their first priority was trained and experienced personnel. Each university has specialized in a field and has established its institute. Company employees continue training in these institutes.

Consider the engineer working at Boeing having to continue studying in university. They continue to learn new technology. The institutes conduct research on behalf of the companies. Feasibility of patents’ marketability is researched. New tech is observed and developed at the same time.”

- Financing students

“Foundation universities aren’t rivals with state universities. If the government perceives foundation universities as rivals then unfair competition would result and the development of universities would be stunted. Our suggestion is that a long term credit financial model for students attending foundation universities be formed.

Legislation to make it possible for individuals who complete their graduate or doctorate studies abroad to find employment in foundation universities should be implemented. In this regard, a reduction in their commutation could be considered or mandatory service could be postponed for a certain period of time.”

- Universities’ goals

Universities need to be working to be among the top 10, 100, 500 universities of the world, just like Turkey is working to be among the top 10 economies of the world, stated Hisarcıklıoğlu and said that everyone should make an effort to help with this.

“We must provide them with the legislative and economic structures they need and request. I believe that the work done here will lay the foundation for it.”
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