YÖK issues warning on foreign universities: 'Blacklist' updated

Council of Higher Education (YÖK) President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, in a message released for the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day, issued a serious warning to students planning to study abroad and their families. Özvar announced that certain universities with links to the FETÖ/PDY terrorist organization are not recognized by YÖK and that the "blacklist" regarding these institutions has been updated.

NO EQUIVALENCY WILL BE GRANTED: "DO NOT MAKE CHOICES WITHOUT GETTING INFORMATION"

In his written statement, Özvar included the following remarks:

"Our youth and their families can learn which higher education institutions are not recognized by applying directly to the Council of Higher Education or through e-Devlet. Making a choice without performing a recognition inquiry can lead to irreversible consequences."

YÖK once again clearly announced that no equivalency certificates are issued to graduates of institutions identified as having FETÖ/PDY links.

41 INSTITUTIONS ARE DISREGARDED: FETÖ-LINKED SCHOOLS IN 20 COUNTRIES

YÖK's current blacklist includes 41 higher education institutions determined to have direct organic ties to FETÖ/PDY. The countries where these institutions are located include the USA, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Indonesia, Georgia, Iraq, Cambodia, Canada, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Colombia, Kosovo, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, and Turkmenistan.

It was stated that these institutions serve as the organization's centers for training personnel, generating financial resources, and conducting propaganda worldwide.

13 INSTITUTES, CHAIRS, AND CENTERS ALSO UNDER SUSPICIOUS STATUS

On the other hand, institutes, centers, or academic chairs that are not universities themselves but are associated with the organization are also being closely monitored by YÖK. In this context, it was emphasized that 13 units are not recognized by YÖK due to their ties to the organization. Although some of these units operate under the umbrella of host universities, they have been found to be linked to FETÖ in terms of content, staff, and operations.

Some of these institutions are as follows:

USA: University of Houston – Gülen Institute

Australia: Deakin University – Research Chair in Islamic Studies and Intercultural Dialogue

Colombia: Universidad del Rosario – Centro de Estudios de Turquía

Canada: University of Waterloo – Master of Peace and Conflict Studies, Conrad Grebel University College – Master of Theological Studies

News Source: 12punto