Play a little on the sidelines, Lithuania

Last week, I was in Vilnius as part of a project funded by the European Union.

I wrote about my impressions last week.

Quite a few people wrote to me, asking, 'If it's so beautiful, why did you return to the jungle?'

Since I have lived abroad before, I couldn't bring myself to face a second experience of living in a foreign land.

Even if I did, I don't know if it would be Lithuania.

It is a very beautiful country, but it is very cold.

Anyway, that is not our topic.

Our project partner, Vilnius University, has opened an English-language Civil Engineering Department.

They are focused on international students.

They are also looking for professors.

They offered me a position as well.

Since I am content in Istanbul, I didn't consider it for now.

God knows what will happen in the future.

I said, "We'll see later."

Afterward, I started to think, "Why is even Lithuania, with a population of less than 3 million, opening a department that provides education in English?"

I spoke with the dean.

They have learned that after the United States and the United Kingdom, Turkey has also been generating significant added value from education exports.

They read in the newspapers that Turkey has reached a volume of 3 billion dollars.

They have also become aware of Greece's recent initiatives.

They want to get a share of the education market.

On the other hand, they have realized that the easiest way to overcome visa problems is integration into the European education system as a student.

Let us announce this to the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) here.

Competition in the market is going to heat up.