Turkic World Summer School Program Kicks Off
Turkic World Summer School Program Kicks Off
The opening ceremony of the “2nd Turkic World Summer School Program,” organized by the Haydar Aliyev Eurasian Studies Center at Ibn Haldun University, was held.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ibn Haldun University (IHU) Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan stated that the world is going through a complex, uncertain, and turbulent period.
Erdoğan emphasized that during times of uncertainty, it is important to give people hope for the future, which is why they place great importance on the Turkic World Studies Center.
He noted that while in the past it was more possible to build a career through diplomas, today, having expertise and a certain level of competence in a specific field has become much more critical. He added that research centers are becoming increasingly significant within the structure of universities.
Erdoğan pointed out that the issues facing society—whether in the social sciences, natural sciences, medicine, or engineering—can only be solved through the collaboration of multiple areas of expertise. He gave the example of how biologists, chemists, physicists, and engineers play crucial roles in many medical studies.
He further noted that even in fields like international relations and political science, expertise in just one area is no longer sufficient for fieldwork or issue analysis. “Therefore,” he said, “we also hope that our increasingly strong center will include economists, engineers specializing in energy, and environmental engineers alongside international relations and political science experts.”
Erdoğan highlighted that the Organization of Turkic States’ 2040 Vision includes many topics that concern the entire Turkic World. “These topics are not limited to international relations or energy security,” he said. “Issues such as transportation, economy, sociology, and topics that concern public opinion and society as a whole are all part of this vision. As a university, we want to provide strong support for work in this area. The master’s program we plan to conduct in four countries is actually a reflection of this vision.”
Erdoğan stressed that in addition to Turkey, a Turkic World master's program will also be launched in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. “In this way, we need to raise intellectuals who are familiar with the entire Turkic World. Of course, the Turkic World is also a ‘Kızıl Elma’ [Red Apple – a common cultural ideal]. But reaching this goal depends on removing all the borders between us. To remove these borders, we need to build friendships, strengthen dialogue, and achieve the ideal of unity in language,” he said.
Erdoğan concluded his remarks as follows:
“Amidst the uncertainties in the world, we need the Turkic World to stand shoulder to shoulder and be equipped with dynamics that allow us to draw strength from one another. If there is to be a new paradigm in the post-Western era, one that promises more peace and stability, and a renewed framework of international law, then countries that believe in this must come together to discuss and shape this new paradigm. I believe that, thanks to the influence of the younger, intellectual audience and academics here today, the paradigm set by the next generations will offer us a more peaceful and stable world order.”
"We need a fairer and more solution-oriented system"
Rector of Ibn Haldun University, Prof. Dr. Atilla Arkan, also pointed out that the uncertainty and chaos in the world will increase even further over the next ten years. “As President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has emphasized for many years, the current system has lost the ability to offer fair, accessible, and feasible solutions. Yet, we need a system that is fairer and more capable of producing solutions,” he said.
Stating that the participants of the "2nd Turkic World Summer School Program" will discuss the problems of the world, Turkey, and the Turkic World for a month, Arkan said, "In a world where chaos and uncertainty await us, the fundamental strength of countries lies in regional cooperation. Therefore, as the Turkic World, we are in great need of regional collaborations. One of the most important elements in this regional cooperation is undoubtedly developing intellectual leadership, intellectual capacity, and a shared intellectual understanding. As Ibn Haldun University, we are continuously taking steps to establish intellectual partnership and brotherhood not only with the Turkic World but also with all countries in our spiritual geography, including the Middle East, that seek justice."
Deputy Director General for the Caucasus at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ayşe Uzer, noted that the Turkic World is now advancing step by step toward unity not only in language, history, culture, and sports but also in diplomacy, politics, academia, economy, technology, and defense.
Explaining that the Organization of Turkic States is the institutional expression of this shared vision, Uzer said, "With its increasingly deepening cooperation mechanisms, our organization has now become an actor with tangible impact on the ground, beyond just a declaration of intent. From our universities to think tanks, all institutions are key elements that reinforce the scientific, cultural, and humanistic aspects of this journey. Programs like these make it possible for younger generations to establish more genuine and organic ties with the Turkic World."
Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, Sadi Jafarov, emphasized that the organization is becoming stronger and gaining greater international recognition.
Jafarov stated that they aim to deepen this unity and act with a shared consciousness for the Turkic states, and noted that in the face of global security threats, conflicts, and socio-economic instability, it is now more important than ever for countries to preserve their stability.
Chairman of the Turkey-Azerbaijan Interparliamentary Friendship Group and AK Party Member of Parliament, Şamil Ayrım, stated that nations that do not protect their history, culture, and civilizational heritage are destined for disappointment, and added:
"If we want to build an honorable future, we must protect, learn, preserve, and pass on our culture, which serves as a bridge from the past to the future. Today, the Turkic World has entered a period of geopolitical awakening. With a population of over 200 million, rich energy resources, strategic location, and shared cultural heritage, we carry great potential. Now, as a rising power, we will also solve some of the issues facing the Turkic World together."
Nearly a thousand students applied from 28 countries
Nearly a thousand students from 28 countries applied to the "2nd Turkic World Summer School Program," organized with the support of Ibn Haldun University, the Organization of Turkic States, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), and universities from Turkey and the Turkic World.
Within the scope of the summer school, regionalization movements, developments in the Eurasian geography, fundamental issues of the Turkic World, solutions, and cooperation potential will be evaluated from a scientific perspective.