Some universities take action: New measures against protests

Student protests that began with the detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu on the morning of March 19 were not limited to interventions by security forces. As demonstrations continued following detentions and arrests, universities shifted to a new monitoring system.

A "QR Code Attendance" system has been implemented in several higher education institutions, most notably Hacettepe University and Üsküdar University.

According to a report by Sultan Uçar from Sözcü, the purpose of the application is to identify academics and students who are on campus but not attending classes. Universities have resorted to this method to reduce participation in protests and control extracurricular activities.

HOW WILL THE SYSTEM WORK?

While entry to the university is already managed via electronic student ID cards, the new system will now record classroom entry by scanning QR codes. QR codes placed in every classroom will require students and academics to scan them with their mobile phones to register their attendance.

In this way, not only presence on campus but also physical presence in class will be monitored.

It is stated that the application was developed to identify students and academics participating in protests held in response to İmamoğlu's detention. It is noted that individuals who do not attend classes but participate in protests on campus could be identified through this system and face administrative action.

STATEMENT FROM ÜSKÜDAR UNIVERSITY

In a statement regarding the matter, Üsküdar University included the following remarks:

There are various claims that do not reflect the truth regarding the QR Code Attendance System implemented at our university. There is a need to inform the public correctly regarding these claims.

As Üsküdar University, within the scope of our efforts based on quality in education, efficiency, and digital transformation—especially following the pandemic process—the “QR Code Attendance” system has been developed solely to track student attendance status in a fast, practical, and reliable manner.

This system;

* Makes attendance processes more efficient,

* Digitally records students' class attendance status,

* Facilitates the management of academic data in a more systematic way.

The application in question “has absolutely no relation to any political or ideological stance.” As Üsküdar University, we place special importance on digitalization as a requirement of the era. We strive to ensure the active use of our university's strong technological infrastructure in all dimensions of education and training. The digital attendance system is a reflection of this process; work in this direction was initiated at our university as a pilot application in our Faculty of Medicine during the Fall Semester of the 2024-25 academic year, and it was put into practice in all academic units of the university on February 24, 2025, with the Spring Semester. In accordance with the Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK), the application can only be used for the attendance system. Therefore, we would like to state our opinion that associating an application initiated at our university with good intentions and based on the use of technological opportunities, while also taking into account the requirements of the era, with the country's political agenda is an unfounded, meaningless, and forced effort.

Furthermore, Üsküdar University is an academic environment that strives to raise qualified individuals and professionals in line with the principles of pluralism, participation, freedom, and critical thinking, where the individual rights and freedoms of all individuals within it (students, academic and administrative staff) are valued and protected.

Therefore, we would like to share with the public our opinion that the news report in a press organ, which refers to our university and is based on the claim that “students are being profiled” through “QR code attendance,” has no relation to reality and is the product of a baseless, unfounded, and forced effort.

Sincerely…

Rectorate of Üsküdar University