The 8th Term Meeting of the Eastern Anatolia Project (DAP) Region Universities Union
(ÜNİDAP), hosted by Erzurum Technical University (ETU), was held with the participation
of Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK).
Before the meeting, Özvar visited ETU’s innovation centers, including the High Technology
Application and Research Center (YUTAM), the Kristal Entrepreneurship Center, and the
MUCİTPARK Science and Idea Workshop, reviewing ongoing projects and receiving detailed
information from officials.
“ETU’s Innovation Centers Make Erzurum a Strategic Technology Hub”
Özvar noted that these centers conduct work across a wide range of fields, from advanced
materials development for the defense industry to autonomous UAV software, smart
agriculture applications, and artificial intelligence algorithms. He emphasized that this
infrastructure positions Erzurum as a strategic technology production hub.
Highlighting MUCİTPARK’s focus on youth, Özvar stressed the importance of
interdisciplinary educational environments where children develop robotic prototypes and
produce 3D design and TEKNOFEST-oriented projects, contributing to the cultivation of a
creative and analytical-thinking generation.
Following the center visits, the ÜNİDAP 8th Term Meeting commenced at the ETU Senate
Hall with participation from 18 university rectors representing 15 provinces.
During the meeting, Özvar stated that universities today go beyond merely producing
knowledge, playing a crucial role in economic development, societal transformation, and
cultural advancement.
“Universities Disconnected from the People Have No Place”
Özvar emphasized that a university’s success cannot be measured solely by academic
indicators, but also by its capacity to address the problems of its region. He said: “A
university disconnected from the people, which does not consider the needs of its society, has
no relevance in today’s Turkey or the world. Our universities must be integrated with society,
share their knowledge and experience, and make all their resources available for public
service.”
He also stressed that research infrastructure should be shared with the community, making it
accessible to producers, entrepreneurs, and industrialists. Noting significant transformations
in higher education over the past 20 years, Özvar stated that under the leadership of President
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, university capacities have been expanded and access to higher
education has been significantly increased.
Highlighting the importance of university-industry collaboration, Özvar said this relationship
has become a fundamental element of economic development. Referring to DAP-supported
projects, he added that the initiatives implemented in the region clearly demonstrate the role
of universities in regional development.

Corporate Communications and Public Relations Directorate – 27.03.2026