The evolution in universities is accelerating

I received an email the other day.

Prof. Pawel Novak, a senior professor at the Warsaw University of Technology—where I have conducted academic work for years and together with whom I have thoroughly navigated European Union research funds—invited me to deliver the opening keynote speech at an important international engineering congress.

This is, of course, not a first for Turkey.

Many of our academics are delivering opening keynote speeches at various congresses around the world.

My close friend, Prof. Dr. Teoman Kılıç, both delivers opening keynote speeches and teaches as a guest of honor at dozens of medical congresses on structural heart diseases and non-surgical valve operations with his own invention, the “Kılıç Technique.”

It has also fallen to my lot.

Let us note that the expenses will be covered by the Polish government so that citizens do not misunderstand.

It is not a “cook it yourself, eat it yourself” situation, in other words.

It is not one of those fake international congresses organized by FETÖ members in Europe, where they defrauded and robbed TÜBİTAK and where not a single foreign researcher was present.

It is a perfectly legitimate international congress.

This invitation, of course, does not happen out of the blue.

Thirty years ago, communication between a Polish academic and a Turkish academic would not have escaped the notice of the KGB, the CIA, or the MIT, and close surveillance would have begun.

The gendarmerie sergeant in the neighborhood would also go on alert so that the “commie” professor wouldn't stir up any trouble.

He would remind himself of his presence by occasionally driving past the apartment building with his siren on.

The professor, labeled a “commie,” would then review the library in his home to ensure he wouldn't be treated as having “objectionable” books.

He would also memorize the Subhaneke, Felak, and Nas surahs again so that he could recite them breathlessly if the need arose.

Returning to seriousness, some Turkish universities are adapting to the fourth-generation university system.

Founded in 1963, TÜBİTAK began supporting academics' research projects in addition to its primary duty of guiding Turkish science.

Especially during the Erdoğan era, billions of liras in additional research budgets were transferred to TÜBİTAK, whose budget previously consisted only of personnel salaries.

Academics who utilized this research budget properly turned their focus toward international research funds with the experience they gained.

The one-dimensional academic structure of the 1980s, which only provided vocational training and dealt with information transfer, is now operating in the fourth dimension as well.

The fourth-generation university is a model that goes beyond mere education and research, centering on digital transformation, artificial intelligence, innovation, and global ecosystems.

It refers to institutions that not only produce knowledge but also directly commercialize it, transform it into social/economic added value, and establish strong international academic ties and relationships.

I exclude the academics in the medical faculty, as they have been active in the fields of education, research, operations, and social added value for years.

They had long since transitioned to the third-generation university model.

With people like Prof. Dr. Teoman Kılıç and others, they also transitioned to the fourth-generation university model early on.

Recently, academics in other faculties are also advancing in the fields of education, training, research, and social benefit.

Some are taking these efforts even further, bringing the fourth-generation university model to life, which is significantly increasing their recognition and visibility in the world.

Implementing the fourth-generation model is inevitable in this day and age to make the names of universities heard.