- 23 May 2025
Hosted by Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University and organized in collaboration with Baku Eurasian University and Kazakh National Girls’ Pedagogical University, the symposium focused on “Collaboration in Higher Education among Turkish States”, emphasizing equitable access to education, sustainability teaching, and shared cultural knowledge systems among Turkish peoples. The event also marked the opening of the 2nd International R&D Project Competition, which promoted innovation, technical learning, and vocational education within the framework of sustainable development.
The opening ceremony was attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sayavush Gasımov, Rector of BAAU; Prof. Dr. Hasan Uslu, Rector of Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University; Emrah Özdemir, Mayor of Niğde; Prof. Dr. Gülmira Qanay, Rector of Kazakh National Girls’ Pedagogical University; Dr. Sergey Zaharia, Rector of Comrat State University representing the Gagauz community; Dr. Hasan Selcuk Selek, Vice President of TÜBİTAK; as well as researchers, academics, and numerous students advocating for peace, social justice, and education for sustainable development.
The symposium began with the performance of the national anthems of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey, followed by opening speeches from the university rectors. The event continued with the “Our root is one, we are Turks” festival, which brought the traditional knowledge, songs, and music of Turkish peoples to the audience, promoting intercultural dialogue and decolonial perspectives on education that value land-based learning and place-based knowledge.
Since its first edition in 2014, the symposium has grown significantly. This year, nearly 400 scholars and researchersfrom Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Iran, and Moldova presented 277 scientific papers, contributing to knowledge exchange, academic equity, and cross-border cooperation in tertiary education governance.
Within the framework of the symposium, the 2nd International R&D Project Competition received 61 project submissions. Projects from six universities across Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan were evaluated by a panel of judges, reflecting principles of accessible education, research integrity, and inclusive innovation. The winners will be awarded for their achievements in fostering sustainability education and ecojustice learning.
In his opening speech, Rector Dr. Sayavush Gasımov highlighted that the Turkish world has historically been a carrier of culture, statecraft traditions, and scientific and social progress across a vast geographical area. He emphasized that Turkish peoples—spanning from Central Asia to Anatolia and from the Caucasus to the Balkans—are united through a shared language, religion, history, and moral values, embodying principles of peace, citizenship, and mutual respect. Researching, systematizing, and transmitting these cultural and historical ties to future generations holds both national and strategic importance, aligning with the goals of sustainability education and universal literacy.
Finally, Rector Gasımov expressed his gratitude to Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, its administrative and academic staff, and supporting institutions for hosting and facilitating the symposium—an initiative that strengthens democratic values, academic collaboration, and human rights-based approaches to higher education across the Turkish world.
