Is university education being reduced to 3 years? Erdoğan answers the question on everyone's mind

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the 2025-2026 Higher Education Academic Year Opening Ceremony. Announcing that a comprehensive transformation process will be entered into in higher education, Erdoğan emphasized that universities should not only produce academic knowledge but also become institutions that offer solutions to the needs of society.

Erdoğan stated, "A university that is distant from society, distant from the nation, and distant from the realities of the country and the nation in the city where it is located is contrary to the essence of the concept of a university. A university should be ahead of society, lead society, and produce solutions to current problems."

"APPLIED EDUCATION MODEL WILL BE EXPANDED"

President Erdoğan stated that a workplace-based applied education model will be adopted in universities. He said that this model would be an important step in developing students' professional skills.

Erdoğan said, "In this respect, we find it important to expand the workplace-based applied education model to cover the associate and undergraduate levels of our higher education system. With this model, we aim to transform internship practices into workplace-based vocational training."

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION WILL BE REDUCED TO THREE YEARS

Announcing that the curriculum will be simplified in the new term, Erdoğan said that course plans will be reorganized and students will be directed toward project-based learning.

Erdoğan stated, "In the new term, we will simplify course plans. We will implement application and research-based learning models where our students can develop projects. One of the most concrete outcomes of this transformation is the inclusion of structural reforms on the agenda that will offer our students the opportunity to graduate in 3 years, as is the case in many European countries."

"HIGHER EDUCATION WILL COMPLY WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS"

President Erdoğan stated that the planned reforms will make the higher education system in Turkey both more efficient and compatible with international standards.

Erdoğan concluded his speech with the following words:

"With these reforms, our higher education system will achieve a structure that is both more efficient and more compatible with international standards. May our new regulations be beneficial from now on. I wish the 2025-2026 academic year to bring success to our country, our students, and our academics."

News Source: 12punto