Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ's assessment of Bilgi University: The problem does not end here

Following the decision to close Bilgi University, which appeared in the Official Gazette with the signature of AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan, many students have been left in a difficult situation.

Although Mimar Sinan University has been appointed as the guardian university to ensure students can receive their diplomas, there are still some grievances that have emerged.

Zafer Party Chairman Özdağ also made a post regarding this situation, in which he shared photos taken with students during a past visit and made the following assessments:

"Bilgi University was closed overnight with a signature from Erdoğan. Of course, some assessments were made with judicial authorities and YÖK beforehand. However, 20 thousand students were left without a university in an instant.

When private universities are established, a state university becomes the guardian university. Mimar Sinan University is the guardian university of Bilgi University. In this case, Bilgi University students will receive their diplomas from Mimar Sinan University.

However, this is not as easy as it is said to be. First of all, some departments that exist at Bilgi University do not exist at Mimar Sinan University.

Students in these departments will likely be transferred to other state universities. But the problem does not end here.

Mimar Sinan University's student capacity and number of faculty members are fixed. Now, thousands of new students are being added to this number. There will likely be different curricula, textbooks, and different instructors.

Could the state not have seized Bilgi University and turned it into a state university before closing it?

In summary, Bilgi University students are facing a very serious problem and are going through an ordeal they never expected or anticipated when they entered the university. This is an injustice done to Bilgi University students.

During my last visit to Bilgi University, we had a very pleasant conversation with the young people."

Bilgi University was closed overnight with a signature from Erdoğan. Of course, some assessments were made with judicial authorities and YÖK beforehand. However, 20 thousand students were left without a university in an instant.

When private universities are established, a state university becomes the guardian university.… pic.twitter.com/4WovzgZG8A

— Ümit Özdağ (@umitozdag) May 23, 2026