The Global Sustainable Development Congress, organized in collaboration with the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and Times Higher Education (THE), was held at the Istanbul Congress Center, where more than 5,000 international delegates from 110 countries gathered.

Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) was represented by Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın and her delegation consisting of Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz, Rector Advisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emine Şendurur and Lecturer Tolga Arslan.

The delegation participated in the opening ceremony and ongoing discussions about global sustainable development challenges.

Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar’s Keynote: Addressing Global Issues

In his opening remarks, YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar emphasized the importance of higher education in addressing critical global challenges, including environmental degradation, socio-economic inequality, and the humanitarian crises caused by wars, migration, and natural disasters. He pointed out that sustainability solutions must be developed collaboratively across international platforms. Özvar also noted that Türkiye continues to make significant strides in higher education, hosting international students from various countries and enhancing its role in intellectual mobility and global partnerships.

Keynote Highlights

Özvar stressed that collective knowledge and coordinated actions are vital in these uncertain times of global instability. “The Global Sustainable Development Congress is a forum that brings together stakeholders from all corners of the world to foster cooperation, share knowledge, and work on actionable solutions for sustainability,” he said.

He further highlighted that internationalization remains a core strategic objective for Turkish higher education institutions. “Our aim is to make Turkish higher education a hub for intellectual mobility and global partnerships. By continuing to build strong international collaborations, we contribute to tackling complex global issues and fostering peace and understanding,” he added.

Emin Amrullayev, Minister of National Education of Azerbaijan, Nazım Çavuşoğlu, Minister of National Education of TRNC, Dr Çetin Ali Dönmez, Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology, and Phil Baty, THE Global Director, also made speeches at the opening of the congress.

Global Partnerships and OMU’s Role

After the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın and her delegation held critical bilateral meetings with various international institutions and discussed potential collaborations, focusing on fields such as medicine, engineering, veterinary sciences, and joint research. Some of the key institutions visited included:

• Times Higher Education (THE): A meeting with Lachyn Italmazova, THE’s Regional Director for Europe and Türkiye, provided an opportunity to discuss OMU’s performance in global rankings, research policies, and potential future collaborations. It was agreed that further discussions will take place through upcoming online meetings.
• The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the City University of Hong Kong: Discussions focused on the possibility of joint academic collaborations, including student and faculty exchange programs. Both parties agreed to explore potential partnerships, primarily in engineering and veterinary sciences.
• Ankara University: A visit to the Ankara University booth allowed for a productive meeting between rectors, enhancing mutual understanding and exploring potential future collaborations.
• Malatya Turgut Özal University: The OMU delegation visited the promotional booth, allowing the rectors of both universities to conduct a high-level evaluation of the conference’s agenda.
• Beijing Institute of Technology and Harbin Institute of Technology (China): The delegation from OMU explored collaborative opportunities in engineering and business fields, strengthening ties between the institutions.
• University of Science and Technology of China: A meeting with Lin Tian, Director of the International Student Office, focused on potential collaborations in mathematics, chemistry, medicine, and engineering, with shared research projects as a key area of interest.
• Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology and Central Luzon State University (Philippines): A visit to the Philippines booth led to insightful discussions with Dr. Kenneth L. Armas and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eduard C. Taganap. They introduced their institutions and outlined the possibilities for future joint initiatives, laying the groundwork for collaborative work between OMÜ and universities in the Philippines.
• Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University, Nankai University (China), Alfraganus University (Uzbekistan), and Tashkent State Medical University (Uzbekistan): OMÜ's delegation also explored opportunities for academic exchange, research collaboration, and partnerships in various fields.
• Siemens: A crucial meeting with Siemens executives focused on the role of digitalization and sustainable energy practices in higher education. The discussions explored the potential services Siemens can offer universities, particularly in transitioning to more sustainable operations and energy-efficient practices.

Future Directions and Continuing Collaborations

OMU’s participation in the Global Sustainable Development Congress was a significant opportunity to strengthen its international academic presence, foster collaborations, and explore new research and student exchange avenues. Moving forward, OMU will continue to pursue partnerships that promote sustainable development, academic excellence, and global cooperation.

The 2025 THE Impact Rankings, set to be unveiled later in the congress, will highlight the strides made by universities worldwide in promoting sustainable development and addressing global challenges.