Turkish-Korean University

Turkish higher education has been signing off on some great projects in recent years.

Even though the desired results have not yet been achieved in rankings—that is, in quality assessments—there are visible efforts regarding universities with foreign partnerships.

Universities like the American University of Baghdad, the American University in Cairo, or similar institutions, whose names we frequently hear in the Arab world, have also begun to be established in Turkey.

There is no Turkish-American university yet (Note: Actually, there is, but it does not have 'American' in its name), but the Turkish-German and Turkish-Japanese universities have been established.

It is clear that this structuring will continue.

For instance, we are also hearing about efforts for a Turkish-Chinese University.

But before that, we should put the Turkish-Korean University in line.

Our historical roots in Asia, our kinship ties, and our strategic partnership during the Korean War—which resulted in the establishment of METU—are more than enough reason to establish this university.

In recent years, the Koreans have been achieving successes that would make the Japanese envious.

The partnerships and successful projects our engineers and contractors in the Turkish construction sector have carried out with Korean builders can also be evaluated as a guiding model.

They have a more agile production model.

They have established a systematic structure that is both fast and provides higher added value.

They also want to get closer to Europe geographically.

Culturally, they see Turkey as the country closest to them; they never address their elders without using honorific prefixes, just as we do, which signify respect similar to 'older brother' or 'older sister'.

May it be auspicious and beneficial from now on.