THE RECTOR of Famagusta’s Near East University (NEU) has lashed out against a decision by Turkey’s Higher Education Council (YOK), which he said would effectively cut to a third the number of Turkish students going to north if not repealed.
Suat Gunsel, who described the decision as coming “out of the blue”, said that prior to the new ruling, universities in the occupied areas could accept direct applications from Turkish students. Now, YOK’s decision meant students would only be allowed to enrol via the Turkish University Applications Board.
“Things have reached a stage where I think it necessary for us to remind YOK of a number of things,” he said, before outlining a list of “detrimental effects” he felt YOK’s decision would have on universities in the north, the economy and society in general.
“It’s worth remembering that the state and successive governments sought to promote the TRNC through its universities. The policy also aimed at building bridges between the youth of Turkey and north Cyprus,” Gunsel said, adding: “Does the decision mean YOK considers these missions accomplished?”
Gunsel said YOK’s new ruling came completely without warning and, if implemented, would mean “massive investment” at NEU would have been “for nothing”.
“We have representative offices in 18 districts of Turkey employing 54 staff. This year we have distributed 600,000 brochures across Turkey and are in communication with some 120,000 potential students.”
He added that through promotion of the university he was also promoting the ‘TRNC’ and complained that if YOK had been planning the ruling for some time, “why did they send us instructions on how to carry out registrations just before they announced the new ruling?”
Also included in Gunsel’s written statement was reference to expansion plans at NEU that would see construction on 110,000 square metres of land, 48,000 square metres of which were to be built this year.
“On what basis now can we carry out these plans? And what am I supposed to say to the 165 new staff appointed for the next academic year?” he asked.
Gunsel also sought to remind Turkish officials that they had repeatedly called for an increase in the student capacity of the NEU from 20,000 to 40,000.
“How are we supposed to do that now?”
