The Organization of Turkic States

Turkic Universities Union

The Turkic Universities Union was established with the preparation of its directive at the Turkic Council Turkish University Union Preparatory Meeting, held in Istanbul on 28-29 March 2013, in order to encourage cooperation in the field of higher education among the member countries of the Turkic Council. 

For further information: http://www.turkunib.org/tr/site/index

The Process of Head of State Summits:
It is the process that started in 1992, after the Turkic Republics had gained their independence, and continued until 2010, when the Secretariat of the Organization of Turkic States (formerly known as the Turkic Council) was established. It comprises ten summit meetings held among the Heads of State of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan.

Establishment and Structure of the Organization of Turkic States:
During the Summit of the Heads of State held in Nakhchivan in 2009, the Nakhchivan Agreement on the Establishment of the Council of Cooperation of Turkic-Speaking States was signed by Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, and it entered into force on November 17, 2010.

Member States: Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan
Observer States: Hungary, Turkmenistan, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
Observer Organizations:Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
References: (https://www.turkicstates.org/tr)

History:
Turkic Council - Turkic Universities Union was established in order to foster cooperation in the field of higher education among the member countries of the Turkic Council. It began with the Meeting of Ministers of Education, organized in Cholpon Ata on August 10, 2012. Then, during the Second Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States, held in Bishkek on August 22-23, 2012, key decisions were made. Finally, on March 28-29, 2013 in Istanbul, the Directive on the Establishment of a Higher Education Area among the Member Universities of the Union was adopted.

Goals:
One of the key areas of cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States is education. Education lies at the heart of the Organization of Turkic States’ mission and the Organization has consistently prioritized educational collaboration among its Member States and Observers. The educational sphere is important because it not only concern cooperation among OTS governments, but also has direct impact on people and future of the Turkic generation.

Projects:
Turkic Universities Union, established within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, along with the cooperation targeted in relevant platforms, has developed concrete projects aimed at students and academics. These projects and their objectives are as follows:
Training the next generation to develop a common identity consciousness by implementing an appropriate education system aligned with modern scientific standards, taking into account the shared history, culture, and language, in order to foster cooperation among member states.
Implementing a common credit transfer system.
Encouraging teaching staff training programs.
Implementing student and teaching staff exchange programs.
Creating appropriate conditions for the mutual recognition of diplomas among member universities.
Benefiting from the outstanding strengths of universities in specific academic fields.,
Conducting joint training for the implementation and execution of research programs and projects.
Organizing competitions in science and sports; and arranging symposiums, academic, and cultural activities among member universities.
Providing special scholarships for students conducting research on the Turkic world.
Offering courses on common history, culture, and literature at universities in all member states.

References: (http://turkunib.org/tr/site/index)

Through various mechanisms, such as regular Ministerial and Working Group Meetings, the Turkic Universities Union (TURKUNIB) and the Orkhun Process, the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is advancing educational cooperation to enhance academic collaboration, promote student and faculty exchanges, and harmonize educational standards across the Turkic world. These efforts aim to foster a shared knowledge base and strengthen cultural and academic ties among its Member States and Observers.

References: (http://turkunib.org/tr/site/index)

To strengthen cooperation among higher education institutions, the Organization of Turkic States supported the idea of establishing a union among universities of its member countries. Following the foundation of the Turkic Universities Union, a total of seven General Assembly Meetings and one Special Meeting of Rectors have been held. The most recent General Assembly was held in Baku on May 20, 2024, under the term presidency of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics. During this meeting, Hacettepe University was accepted as a member of the Turkic Universities Union through a vote. Additionally, it was decided that the term presidency of TURKUNIB would be assumed by the International University of Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The new term officially commenced with a handover ceremony.

References:: (http://turkunib.org/tr/site/index)

The member universities of the Turkic Universities Union (TURKUNIB) from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Hungary, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are listed in the link below.

Our university was officially admitted as a member of the Turkic Universities Union during the 7th General Assembly of the Organization of Turkic States, held on May 20, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The General Assembly, hosted under the term presidency of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics, brought together high-level officials, university rectors, and representatives from member universities of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, and Hungary.

At the 7th General Assembly of TURKUNIB, our university was represented by its Rector, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cahit GÜRAN.

During the meeting where the membership application of our university was discussed, our Rector delivered a speech emphasizing that our university is a well-recognized institution on the international stage, welcoming students from around the world. He highlighted that the university serves as a shared home and hearth for students coming from the ancestral lands—the Turkic Republics. He also expressed the university’s strong desire to contribute at the highest level to the future activities of TURKUNIB.

Our Rector concluded his speech by expressing his gratitude and appreciation to Ambassador Kubanychbek OMURALIEV, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, and to Prof. Dr. Adalat MURADOV, President of TURKUNIB and Rector of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics, for their support and interest throughout the membership process.