Hosted by Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University (GİBTÜ), the First Consultative Meeting of Rectors of Islamic Universities marked a significant gathering that attracted the attention of the international academic community. University rectors and academics from 41 countries across 4 continents came together to discuss common vision and institutional solidarity in higher education. At the meeting, the President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, and the Rector of GİBTÜ, Prof. Dr. Şehmus Demir, called on the rectors to form an “Alliance of Islamic Universities.”
At the 1st Consultative Meeting of Rectors of Islamic Universities, hosted by Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University (GİBTÜ) at the Şahinbey Congress and Arts Center, important assessments were made regarding the development of international cooperation, joint academic studies, and knowledge sharing in higher education, while topics that will contribute to strengthening solidarity among universities in the Islamic world were discussed.
RECTOR DEMİR CALLS FOR AN ALLIANCE OF ISLAMIC UNIVERSITIES
In his opening speech at the 1st Consultative Meeting of Rectors of Islamic Universities, Prof. Dr. Şehmus Demir, Rector of Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University (GİBTÜ), called for an Alliance of Islamic Universities to be built on a common vision and institutional governance understanding.
Rector Demir stated: “The fundamental problem of the Islamic world is not a lack of resources. It is not a lack of population. It is not a lack of universities. It is certainly not a lack of natural resources. The real problem is a lack of coordination. We cannot think together. We cannot conduct research together. We cannot prioritize together. We cannot act together. Yet fragmented capacity is not capacity. Fragmented power is not power. Fragmented knowledge is not knowledge. Therefore, the meeting we are holding here today is an important step towards the reconstruction of a shared destiny at the academic level.”
LET’S ESTABLISH A LASTING ACADEMIC SOLIDARITY NETWORK
Underlining the need to establish a lasting academic solidarity network among universities in the Islamic world, Prof. Dr. Şehmus Demir addressed the rectors and academics attending the meeting with the following words: “Let’s develop research programs together in areas shaping the strategy of the future, from cybersecurity to defense industry technologies, from critical infrastructure to space technologies, from artificial intelligence to biotechnology, from energy security to food security, at the turning points of the digital age. Let’s systematize student and academic mobility. Let’s create common digital information platforms. Let’s be institutions that produce solutions. Because history will one day ask us this question: ‘In a period of great crises, you had the information, you had the institutions, you had the resources. So what did you do?'” The answer we are giving here today is the beginning of the answer we will give to that question. Our prayer to our Lord is that He grants us the ability to see the truth as it is. May He grant us the ability to recognize what is right and follow it, and to recognize what is wrong and stay away from it.”
THE TIME HAS COME TO FORM AN ALLIANCE OF ISLAMIC UNIVERSITIES
The President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, also called for an Alliance of Islamic Universities to be built on a common vision and institutional governance understanding at the 1st Consultative Meeting of Rectors of Islamic Universities.
In his speech at the meeting, which brought together representatives from 73 universities in 41 countries across four continents, Özvar stated that joint action is needed in many areas, from common research networks and academic mobility to artificial intelligence, sustainability, the reconstruction of Gaza, and science diplomacy, and presented a common vision for the future of higher education.
Özvar emphasized that collaborations in higher education within the Islamic world should go beyond temporary initiatives, and called for the establishment of an Alliance of Islamic Universities built on a shared vision and institutional governance approach.
He stated that the alliance would create a broad framework for cooperation, ranging from joint degree programs and research consortia to academic and student mobility and joint quality assurance mechanisms. He added that this structure would significantly increase the scientific production capacity and global competitiveness of the Islamic world.
Özvar said, “Today, we have greater opportunities than at any other time in history. What we truly need is to unite around a common will and a long-term shared vision.”
CALL FOR JOINT ACADEMIC SOLIDARITY FOR GAZA
Özvar stated that the destruction in Gaza is not only a humanitarian but also an academic catastrophe, adding that targeting schools, laboratories, and universities means targeting the future as well.
Özvar stated that they will pave the way for Gazan doctors to specialize in Türkiye, saying, “God willing, you will all hear about it in the coming days. We will open the way for doctors residing in Gaza to specialize in Türkiye. Following the instructions of our President, Gazan doctors will undergo specialist training in university hospitals in Türkiye.”
Calling for the establishment of a strong network of solidarity among universities, Özvar suggested developing joint scholarship programs for Palestinian students, providing research opportunities for academics, creating distance learning infrastructure, and conducting joint efforts to rebuild higher education institutions in Gaza.
During the two-day First Consultative Meeting of Rectors of Islamic Universities, rectors, academic administrators, and higher education representatives from different regions evaluated strengthening a common academic vision in the Islamic world, the role of universities in building identity and civilizational awareness, and opportunities for joint research areas and R&D-focused cooperation.
On the final day of the event, the Final Declaration of the First Consultative Meeting of Rectors of Islamic Universities was shared with the public.
The meeting, held at the Şahinbey Congress and Arts Center, was attended by the President of the Council of Higher Education, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, the Rector of Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University, Prof. Dr. Şehmus Demir, Gaziantep Member of Parliament Şehzade Demir, the Mayor of Şahinbey, Mehmet Tahmazoğlu, the Rector of Al-Azhar University, Prof. Dr. Salama Gomaa Ali Daoud, representing the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, the President of the Union of Islamic Universities, Prof. Dr. Samy Mohamed Rabie Elsherif, members of the Council of Higher Education, protocol members, rectors, and academics.
