Representatives from the member universities as well as those that applied for membership in the Union from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey, representatives of Uzbek and Hungarian universities, members of the Student Council, President of ICYF, Elsevier Regional Director for Central Asia and Azerbaijan, Elsevier Regional Director for Turkey, academic staff of International University Silkway and officials of the Secretariat of the Turkic Council attended the Assembly.
Secretary General of the Turkic Council Baghdad Amreyev, Chairman of Board of Trustees of Khoja Akhmed Yassawi University Prof. Musa Yıldız, Rector of Khoja Akhmed Yassawi University Prof. Bolatbek Abdrassilov and First Vice-rector of Khoja Akhmed Yassawi University Prof. Cengiz Tomar made opening speeches of the Assembly.
The meeting was moderated by Deputy Secretary General Dr. Ömer Kocaman.
In his speech Secretary General of the Turkic Council Baghdad Amreyev noted the successful implementation of the Cultural and Arts Festival of the Turkic World and 2nd Young Leaders Forum, which were held a day ago. He underlined the importance of higher education in converging the peoples of the Turkic World. Secretary General also stressed concrete projects developed by the Secretariat in cooperation with the members of the Turkic University Union such as Orkhun Exchange Programme, Sports Games of the Turkic University Union, Student Council and Cultural and Arts Festival.
Chairman of Board of Trustees of Khoja Akhmed Yassawi University Prof. Musa Yıldız expressed his appreciation to host the Fourth General Assembly of the TURKUNIB in Turkistan, the spiritual capital of the Turkic World, and highlighted the importance of the Orkhun Process as an initiative bringing together the Turkic Speaking Countries.
Rector of Khoja Akhmed Yassawi University Prof. Bolatbek Abdrassilov in his opening speech conveyed that Khoja Akhmed Yassawi University has become a favorite place of study of the Turkic World providing education services to young people from 17 countries and 33 Turkic communities. He stressed that developing a bilateral partnership between the current member universities is crucial in order to compete with universities around the world. After the opening speech, Rector Abdrassilov presented the views and proposals of Khoja Akhmed Yassawi University regarding the projects to be realized during its chairmanship and discussed the realization of the said projects with other member universities.
First Vice-rector of Khoja Akhmed Yassawi University Prof. Cengiz Tomar underlined that the cooperation in the field of culture, education and science has greatly contributed to the development of relationship among the Turkic peoples. He also specified that activities of the TURKUNIB will gain momentum in the chairmanship of the Khoja Akhmed Yassawi University.
Upon the presentation of Rector Abdrassilov on the activities of the Khoja Akhmed Yassawi University, which will be carried out during its chairmanship, the member universities agreed to work on the establishment of the joint portal showcasing good practices and successful projects, Turkology Research Institute, and Joint Techno Park, the work on which will be led by Khoja Akhmed Yassawi University and Eskişehir Osmangazi University with the support of Ömer Halisdemir University.
In the course of the meeting, the parties agreed to enhance the capacity of the Orkhun Exchange Program by eliminating the restrictions on the number of Departments. Previously students/lecturers of only International Relations, Political Science and Turkology Departments could benefit from the program.
For better coordination among the universities from the Turkic Speaking States, the participants of the General Assembly discussed the issue of mutual recognition and equivalence of education documents and academic degrees. This matter will be presented to the Turkic Council Ministers of Education at the next ministerial meeting. Ege University, which has experience in this field, will prepare a project on the mutual recognition of diplomas.
The parties also consented on the establishment of the e-education platform and research group on science and innovation.
Turkey’s Gazi University, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Cappadocia University and Hungary’s Szeged University was accepted as new members of the TURKUNIB. The inclusion of new members will generate enthusiasm and contribute to the promotion of the activities, within the TURKUNIB such as Orkhun Exchange Program, especially among students.
The next Second Sports Games of the TURKUNIB will be hosted by Akhmed Yassawi University next year (2020) during Nawruz Feast celebrations. The games will also include certain branches of ethnosport games with the support of World Ethnosport Federation.
