Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ulusoy attended Sinop University’s 2026–2027 Academic Year Opening Ceremony and the Western Black Sea Universities Union Meeting, held under the chairmanship of Council of Higher Education (YÖK) President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar.
The Academic Year Opening Ceremony, held at Sinop University Şehit Ömer Can Açıkgöz Conference Hall, was attended by YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, Sinop Governor Mustafa Özarslan, AK Party Sinop MP Nazım Maviş, Sinop University Rector Prof. Dr. Şakir Taşdemir, BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ulusoy, rectors of regional universities, protocol members, academics, and students.
YÖK President Özvar Highlights “Micro-Credentials” and “Digital University”
Speaking at the ceremony, President Prof. Dr. Özvar drew attention to micro-credential practices, which play a key role in the transformation of higher education, and noted that the framework procedures and principles prepared by YÖK had been shared with universities. Stating that micro-credentials allow students to integrate the knowledge and skills they gain in different fields into the system while maintaining quality standards, President Özvar emphasized the importance of universities implementing their own regulations in this regard.
Özvar also spoke about digital education initiatives and announced that the Data Analysis School and Artificial Intelligence School programs carried out last year had been transformed into Türkiye’s first “Digital University Platform” this year. He stated that applications were open for the courses, which will start in November with 16 course modules, and invited the entire academic community and students to join the platform.
Western Black Sea Universities Union Meets in Sinop
Following the Academic Year Opening Ceremony, BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ulusoy attended the Western Black Sea Universities Union Meeting, hosted by Sinop University at the Ahmet Muhip Dıranas Practice Hotel.
The meeting was jointly organized by ÜNİ-DOKAP and the Western Black Sea Universities Union and chaired by YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar. Opportunities for regional cooperation between universities, joint research projects, sharing academic knowledge and experience, and solution-oriented projects addressing the economic, environmental, and social dynamics of the Black Sea were discussed.
Rector Ulusoy: “Strong Cooperation Between Universities Is the Key to Regional Development”
Following his meetings in Sinop, Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ulusoy made the following remarks:
“I would like to express my gratitude to our YÖK President, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, who guides our higher education system with his visionary approach and always supports cooperation between universities and regional development, as well as to the entire YÖK family. We highly value the innovative steps that reflect the spirit of our time, such as micro-credentials and the Digital University Platform, which our President highlighted in his inspiring speech at the ceremony. Integrating learning outcomes gained outside universities into higher education while maintaining high quality standards, along with digitalization initiatives, will also shape Türkiye’s future vision for education in the Turkish Century.
On this occasion, I congratulate Sinop University Rector Prof. Dr. Şakir Taşdemir on the 2026–2027 Academic Year Opening Ceremony and sincerely thank him for his kind hospitality. I wish the new academic year to bring success, health, and peace to the entire Sinop University family, especially our esteemed Rector, and to our dear students.
I also hope that the Western Black Sea Universities Union Meeting, held under the chairmanship of our YÖK President, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, will bring benefits to our region and our country. I sincerely believe that, as universities in the Western Black Sea region, we will achieve much more together by strengthening cooperation between institutions and sharing examples of good practice. I would like to thank all the rectors who contributed to the meeting, particularly Sinop University Rector Prof. Dr. Şakir Taşdemir, who hosted us, and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, Rector of Kastamonu University and current Chair of the Western Black Sea Universities Union. I wish them and their universities success in the new academic year.”
