EUA Urges Turkey to Rethink Rector Selection Process The European University Association (EUA) has called on Turkey to reconsider its current system of appointing university rectors. In a statement released on Friday, the EUA expressed concern over the government’s increasing influence in the selection process. Under the current system, the Turkish president appoints rectors from a list of candidates proposed by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). The EUA has argued that this gives the government excessive control over universities and undermines their autonomy. “The EUA believes that the appointment of rectors should be based on academic merit and competence, and that the process should be transparent and consultative,” the statement said. The EUA’s concerns have been echoed by Turkish academics and university leaders. In recent months, there have been protests at several universities against government interference in rector selection. The Turkish government has defended its current system, arguing that it is necessary to ensure that universities are run by qualified and experienced individuals. However, critics have accused the government of using the rector appointment process to suppress dissent and control academia. The EUA has called on the Turkish government to engage in a dialogue with universities and academic associations to find a solution that respects both university autonomy and the need for accountability. “The EUA believes that a strong and independent higher education sector is essential for Turkey’s future,” the statement said. “We urge the Turkish government to work with the academic community to develop a system of rector appointment that is both fair and transparent.”The HTML code provided contains the following elements:The HTML code provided contains the following elements: * A `
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` element with the text: `Pivot-RP+users+can+log+in+and+view+the+article+via+this+link.`EUA Asks Turkey to Reconsider Rector Appointment Process The European University Association (EUA) has urged Turkey to reassess its process for appointing university rectors. In a statement released on Tuesday, EUA expressed concerns about the Turkish government’s decision to give itself the power to appoint rectors for all 120 public universities in the country. EUA argues that academic independence is a fundamental principle of higher education and that it is essential for universities to be able to select their own leaders. The association believes that the current appointment process in Turkey undermines this principle and raises concerns about the potential for political interference in universities. “The EUA strongly believes that universities should be autonomous and self-governing institutions,” the statement said. “The appointment of rectors by the government undermines this principle and raises concerns about the potential for political interference in universities.” EUA also pointed out that the appointment process has been criticized by a number of academic organizations in Turkey, including the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). YÖK has argued that the process is not transparent and that it does not give due consideration to the views of the university community. EUA urged the Turkish government to reconsider its decision and to work with universities to develop a more transparent and inclusive appointment process. The Turkish government has not yet responded to EUA’s statement.
