A meeting focusing on “Research Universities Knowledge Sharing” between Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) and Ankara University (AU) was held at OMTEL Hotel in Samsun.
At the opening of the meeting, Ankara University Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar emphasized the importance of goal-oriented strategies for universities, stating, “Neither individuals nor institutions can thrive without purpose. Education, research, societal contribution, and internationalization are the core functions of universities. However, education remains at the heart of what we do. Without students, we cannot hire academics or purchase equipment. Therefore, enhancing the quality of education must be our top priority.”
Prof. Dr. Ünüvar also highlighted the significance of institutional visibility, adding, “It is critical that the research and studies we produce are well-publicized. To attract higher-scoring students and provide quality education, visibility is essential. The fact that six out of seven students who received full scores at the university placement exam chose Ankara University is a valuable indicator.”
OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın highlighted the university’s 50-year legacy and shared detailed information about the activities of its 19 faculties, 14 vocational schools, 4 graduate schools, and 28 research centers. Underscoring OMU’s role as a regional hub in the field of health, she stated, “We are the only organ transplant center in the Black Sea region. We perform liver and kidney transplants, more than half of which come from cadaveric donors. OMU is one of the few centers in Türkiye with this capacity.”
Stressing the value of industrial collaboration, Aydın noted that OMU works with 130 companies through its Technopark and shared that the university has received 50 corporate patents in recent years, including 11 registered in 2024 alone—one of which is an international patent.
She also stated that OMU currently hosts 5,000 international students from 106 countries and emphasized the university’s focus on digital transformation through newly established departments such as Precision Agriculture and Robotics.
Highlighting the diverse research conducted within the Faculty of Agriculture—from hemp-based genetics to the production of medical goods, bricks, and ropes—Aydın also underlined the contributions of OMU’s two accredited laboratories to production, R&D, and commercialization processes.
• Prof. Dr. Kaan Orhan (Vice Rector and Dean of Research): Activities of the Research Dean’s Office
• Kerem Ceyhan (Coordinator of the Research Projects Support Office): What Does the Project Support Office Do?
• Prof. Dr. Esin Ebru Onbaşılar (Vice Dean of Research): Analyses Conducted by the Research Dean’s Office and Their Strategic Contributions
• Evrim Ağaçdelen (Accreditation and Quality Coordinator): The BRIDGE Software and Performance Analysis of Ankara University Publications
The participants exchanged ideas and shared experiences related to Ankara University’s research management and quality assurance processes.
The meeting was attended by OMU Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Alper Kesten, Prof. Dr. Ayşe Pınar Sümer, and Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz; Secretary General Prof. Dr. Erhan Burak Pancar; Rector’s Advisors Assoc. Prof. Emine Şendurur and Assoc. Prof. Begüm Korunur Engiz; Head of International Relations Office Dr. Ahmet Aycan; as well as representatives from the R&D Coordination Office, BAPKOB, OMU TTO, Technopark, and numerous faculty members.
The meeting concluded with mutual exchanges of ideas, a Q&A session, and a commemorative photo.
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