President of the Council of Higher Education Erol Özvar met with the rectors in the earthquake zone in Gaziantep, where he came to make a series of visits.
Özvar held a meeting with the rectors of Gaziantep University regarding education in the earthquake zone. Answering the questions here, Erol Özvar said that it was observed that 15 percent of higher education students faced the effects of the earthquake disaster.
Özvar, “Today, before the start of the 2023-2024 academic year, we came to see the work done at our universities in the earthquake zone and to evaluate the situation with the rectors of our universities in the region. We will hold a meeting at Gaziantep University with the rectors of our universities affected by the earthquake. According to the records of the Council of Higher Education, the number of students studying in 18 universities in the earthquake zone was 410 thousand 434. In addition, although they continued their university education in different provinces, the number of students whose families lived in the earthquake zone was approximately 300 thousand. In this way, it can be seen that 15 percent of our higher education students faced the effects of the earthquake disaster. “When the approximately 45 thousand academic and administrative staff working in the earthquake zone, as well as our students, are taken into consideration, the magnitude of the impact becomes clearer.” said.
New decisions for 4 cities in the earthquake zone
YÖK President Erol Özvar stated that, as a result of comprehensive evaluations, the Higher Education Executive Board has determined the 2023-2024 education and training program by taking into consideration the earthquake impact of the buildings belonging to the universities in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya, which suffered the heaviest damage in the earthquake on September 7, 2023, and the accommodation facilities of the students. Stating that new decisions were made specifically for the year, he said:
“In order for our universities to continue their educational activities in a healthy way, the Council of Higher Education decided to switch to hybrid education throughout the country in the 2022-2023 Spring Semester, taking into account the great experience gained in the field of distance education during the pandemic period. In this way, both distance and face-to-face education Universities were given the opportunity to carry out the work together. In addition, students who wanted it were given opportunities such as optional registration freeze and private studentship in the spring semester. In addition, with the Presidential Decree, students affected by the earthquake were exempt from contribution loans and the fees of those who had made payments were refunded. After the first decisions were taken. “The situation of our universities in the earthquake zone has been closely monitored by the Council of Higher Education and new decisions have been taken when necessary.”
“Senates will decide”
Erol Özvar stated that face-to-face and distance education at the universities in the said provinces will be decided by the university senates and said:
“In this context, as a result of comprehensive evaluations, some decisions were taken by the Higher Education Executive Board regarding our universities in the provinces of Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya, which suffered the most severe damage in the earthquake on September 7, 2023. Considering the earthquake impact of the buildings of the universities in these provinces and the accommodation opportunities of the students. Decisions were made specifically for the 2023-2024 academic year. Considering factors such as the current physical conditions of the universities in the provinces in question and the housing opportunities in the city, it was determined which programs and classes would be face-to-face and which programs and classes would be face-to-face in the associate and undergraduate programs within the faculties and colleges. “University senates will decide whether distance education will be provided, and whether face-to-face and distance education will be provided on the basis of department or program in graduate programs within the institutes.”
“It has been decided to grant the right to suspend registration for 1 year”
Özvar continued his words as follows:
“In addition, in accordance with the decision taken by the university senates, all students who will receive distance education or face-to-face education will be granted the right to be a private student in programs at other state universities that are equivalent to the program they are registered in and whose language of instruction is the same, and students who wish to receive education as private students within the scope of the second article will be granted a special student education within the scope of the second article, 2023- Considering the start date of the 2024 academic year, they can apply to the state universities where they want to be a private student, and if the university they apply to has a class with a program equivalent to the program in which the student is registered and with the same language of instruction, the private student application will be accepted, and the university senate will decide to provide education through distance education. Students who are given a course and who do not apply to receive education as a special student for a semester or semesters at another university, but who need to take the Teaching Practice course face to face during the education and training period, can continue their teaching practice course at the universities in the provinces where they are currently located, or can continue their teaching practice course only for this course. It has been decided that universities will be able to apply for studentship, if necessary, universities will appoint responsible units to coordinate the work and transactions of students in this situation, and all students registered in universities in the said provinces will be given the right to freeze their registration for 1 year, without being included in the education period. “
“Applied programs will continue face to face”
Pointing out that these decisions were taken by the Higher Education Executive Board as a result of detailed evaluations, Özvar concluded his words as follows:
“As the Council of Higher Education, we see it as a priority issue for our students in the earthquake zone to continue their education in a healthy and safe environment. On the other hand, taking the necessary measures to ensure that our students do not fall behind in education is also a vital issue for the Council of Higher Education. Considering all these issues, 4 Our universities in our province have been given the opportunity to make decisions for distance and face-to-face education by evaluating the opportunities and conditions they have. Students who register in these provinces are kindly requested to check the official websites or social media accounts of the universities. On this occasion, our universities in these provinces have applied units through distance education, namely “Programs such as the faculty of medicine and health sciences will be carried out face to face, while other theoretical programs will be carried out through distance education according to the decisions taken by the universities. Applied programs will continue face to face, and other theoretical programs will continue through distance education.”