Prof. Dr. Halil Güven: “We’re standing firmly”
 

The Rector of  EMU, Prof. Dr. Halil Güven said that everything should be settled down in the T.R.N.C. and added EMU is continuing its work to develop education, quality and  the messages given to the public.

Saying “We are standing firmly. No worries”, Halil Güven stated EMU will intake much more students next year.    

The Rector of EMU, Prof. Dr. Halil Güven had a meeting with the press in Saray Hotel this morning. Ass. Prof. Dr. Şamil Erdoğan, the Rector Advisor of Student Affairs, and Hüseyin Ünsal Yetiner, the director of Student Affairs were also present at the meeting and they informed the public about the services provided for the students.

         At the meeting, the Rector of  EMU, Prof. Dr. Halil Güven also gave out a 3-page declaration titled “Bologna Process/Erasmus and the goals of EMU in 2006 – 2007 academic year”.

EXAM SYSTEM

At the meeting, the Rector of EMU, Prof. Dr. Halil Güven underlined the fact that the number of new students registered at EMU decreased this year and added that the most important reason of this was the change in the exam system in Turkey.

         Prof. Dr. Halil Güven said that this year YÖK administered an exam which was based on knowledge as well as ability. He also said the part testing the knowledge learned in high school caused problems since there was not a transition period and the change in the system was not informed well in advance.

         Güven hopes that the exam system will be improved, at least partially next year and added “The change in the ÖSS exam system, new universities and the process of EU play an important role in the number of enrolments in the TRNC.”        

THE STUDENT IMAGE IN PUBLIC

Güven pointed out that there is no higher education concept in the TRNC and stressed that the public should have a different perspective about university students.

Güven stated the public should support the higher education sector and also said the structure of students studying in the TRNC depends on the demand and supply in Turkey, so sometımes there may be some increase or fall.

The Rector of EMU, Prof. Dr. Halil Güven explained that the higher education law has been passed recently and the plans have just been made and he warned that this sector can be lost if the necessary actions are not taken.

Güven stated that now there are about 30 foundation universities in Turkey and this is a competition. He said if the public wants students, they shouldn’t think of only financial factors and they should look at students as people who will make investments in the TRNC when they become executives in the future.

Güven pointed out that EMU has produced 23 thousand graduates and they are our representatives and ambassadors throughout the world.     

Güven said the satisfaction of the students in the TRNC has reversed in the last 2 -3 years and added the students are not happy with the perspective of the public and this should be changed by social mobilization.

Güven also mentioned the importance of the competition with the universities in the neighborhood countries and added the quality in education is essential. 

NEW DEPARTMENTS

The Rector of EMU, Prof. Dr. Halil Güven said EMU is often criticized for not opening new departments and not constructing new buildings. He pointed out that they are determined to fill the quota in the existing departments instead of opening new ones and they are planning to build a Culture and Congress Centre, which EMU urgently needs.

Güven stated that the guesthouse in the project has not been built yet since there have been problems in the budget.

Güven said although academicians had initially difficulties with coping with the new vision, they have succeeded many things in 2,5 years. He added EMU administration is open to criticism, but they want them to be constructive.   

Halil Güven said “Criticism shouldn’t be destructive” and added everything should be settled down in the TRNC and EMU is continuing its work to develop education, quality and the messages given to the public.

Saying “We are standing firmly. No worries”, Halil Güven stated EMU will intake much more students next year. 

ACCREDITATION OF DIPLOMAS

As a reply to a question about the accreditation of diplomas, the Rector of EMU, Prof. Dr. Halil Güven stated that 23 thousand EMU diplomas are in use at present.

Güven said students can get accreditation approval from YÖK if they want to. He also said EMU has accreditation from 8 different countries and graduates do not face any problems in the USA and Europe since diplomas are approved by YÖK.

Güven informed the press that currently, there is an ongoing accreditation project in Europe and that a process called Bologna Process has been started in order to improve higher education in 10 years.

Güven said “We are already at the point that Europe wants to reach” and added “our system is compatible with EU norms and values. We will only make some minor changes by 2010.”

Güven announced that European University Association (EUA) has already been invited over and that the necessary changes for compatibility will be made.

Halil Güven said “No one should worry about the accreditation. We will do everything required by 2010.”    

Teaching at Geek Universities 

         Guven replied the questions about the instructors teaching at Greek universities by saying that he approves such events. He also added that this contradicts with the idea of claiming that the universities in the north are illegal.

         Guven stated that there are two Greek instructors teaching at EMU and he suggested the two cultures get o know each other. He stated that education and information have no limits and it is inevitable for the countries which cannot separate education from politics to lose. 

Erdogan 

         Samil Edogan, a consultant of the rector who responsible from student affairs at EMU talked about the services given to students at EMU.

         Erdogan mentioned that the student affairs office continues giving services to the students, aiming at helping them with their various problems.

         Erdogan gave ‘immigration procedures’ as an example to the services given to the students by his office. He said that ‘we are completing this procedure in 5 minutes. As the immigration was extended to 4 years, the students are completing this 4 year procedure only once.’

         He further stated that there is a transition to student cards equipped with a microchips and these cards can be used for various procedures including downloading money. 

Table d’hote System 

         Erdogan also gave information about the food services given to the students by saying that a cafeteria with a capacity of 500 students will be opened soon and two cafeterias with a capacity of 180 students each will give table d’hote food services to the students. Table d’hote meals will be given to a total of 360 students within a year. Students will be given 4 bowl of meal for 4-4.5 YTL. 

Dormitories 

         Erdogan pointed out that the capacity of dormitories on the campus is 4 thousand 947. A dormitory with a capacity of 400 students is being built in Sakarya region.

         He mentioned that there are still rooms available for the students in the dormitories. He added that the 45% of the students live on the campus and 55% in the city. 

                                               Protocol with KISDER        

         Erdogan explained that they again have provided students with settlement services by picking them up from the airports and harbours. This caused a lot of contentment among students and the students got the message of being cared. Establishing an association of the owners of buildings and business places in Magosa (KISDER) and making a protocol with EMU will help students solve their problems related to renting houses and landlords. He stated that this protocol views the problem of housing from a European perspective.

         He added that they also try to help students with the amount of rents, they can also reduce the advance payment to 6 to 3 months and also being a guarantor to the students.  

YETINER 

         Huseyin Yetiner, who is the director of student affairs stated that there are 8 faculties, 20 schools and an English Preparatory School (EPS) in the university. The population of the new students is 2 thousand 555. 1 thousand 437 of them are Turkish, 794 are Turkish Cypriots and the rest are from the third world countries. He said that when we looked at the rates we see that 56% are Turkish, 31% are Turkish Cypriots and 13% are from the third world countries.

         2 thousand 500 of the students are in the EPS, 12 thousand in the departments, and 600 are in MA and PhD programs.  

                                               Student Contentment  

         HuseyinUnsal Yetiner mentioned that they have worked hard to increase student contentment. All the students have health insurance. The health insurance sign is on the microchip of their identity cards so they can get free health services in all the health centres of the ministry of health.

         Postponement of military service of Turkish students can be done in university for 4 years. He said that ‘we prevent students from getting lost in burocracy.’