Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Minister of National Education and Culture Olgun Amcaoğlu paid a visit to the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Rector’s Office on Thursday, 13 January 2022 at 11:45 a.m.. President of EMU Board of Trustees Dr. Erdal Özcenk, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın, Members of the Board of Trustees Ersun Kutup and Halil İ. Orun, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Hasan Demirel, Vice Rector for Social and Cultural Affairs Prof. Dr. Deniz İşçioğlu and Vice Rector for Administrative and Technical Affairs Prof. Dr. Serhan Şensoy were also present at the said visit.
“Harmonious Work Has Brought Success”
Speaking during the visit, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın stated that they would be exchanging views with Minister Amcaoğlu about the work of EMU. Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın said, “As a state university, since the beginning of the pandemic period, EMU has done its part for students, parents and the city of Famagusta and will continue to do so.” Thanking the Ministry for its continued support towards EMU, Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın underlined that with the decisions they made, they have taken the necessary steps for the development of both the university and the society. Talking about the international academic cooperation and promotional activities carried out by EMU recently, Prof. Dr. Hocanın said, "Our goal is to be the leading university throughout the island, including the universities in Southern Cyprus, and to rank high in the international higher education arena." said. Expressing that EMU's highest decision-making body is the Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Hocanın emphasised that they have been working harmoniously since the day they took office. Prof. Dr. Hocanın said, “This naturally has ended with success. I would like to thank the President of the Board of Trustees and the Members of the Board for their support.”
“We Managed the Crisis Process Very Well”
President of EMU Board of Trustees Dr. Erdal Özcenk also said, “Welcome to EMU, the apple of the TRNC's eye and the locomotive of higher education. We are proud to be a part of this distinguished institution. As it is known, EMU is one of the institutions that have been fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic for the last two years. We managed this crisis very well and survived without any injuries. As a doctor, I can say that COVID-19 will soon turn into an endemic, not a pandemic. It is highly important that the Board of Trustees and our Rector’s Office work in harmony. We have seen the positive outcomes of working in harmony. We are doing very well,”
“84% of Social Insurance Taxpayers are in the Field of Education”
TRNC Minister of National Education and Culture Olgun Amcaoğlu stated that higher education is the blood that flows in the veins of the country and said, “No one will ever discuss, argue, or question EMU's leadership in this field, its being an armada. It is a must for us. EMU's problems are the country's problems. While higher education was being revised again, we tried to take the necessary steps to help it stand on its own feet. While EMU graduated 2,400 students during its last semester, no one could ever say that over 4,500 new enrollments would be made. At the point we have reached, this is a success story.” Stating that the entire burden of the 1.6 billion dollar added value created in total is on the shoulders of higher education institutions, Minister Amcaoğlu said, “Currently, there are 102 thousand registered social insurance taxpayers. 84% of them are employees working in small and medium-sized enterprises directly related to education and higher education. With such an obvious fact, it is of great importance both in terms of the promotion of the country, the education opportunity it offers to young people, and its contribution to the livelihood, from which 84% of the country makes a living. At the same time, the added value it creates in foreign trade balances transforms higher education into the blood that circulates in the veins of this country.”
Underlining that they will do whatever it takes for EMU to achieve even greater success, Minister Amcaoğlu said, “Whatever is necessary for the future of our country, we will do it with you. I visited EMU to personally express how grateful we are to you. By pioneering this work at a point where it is said that education cannot commence, you have shown that education can start in a much better and higher quality way”. Minister Amcaoğlu stated that they aim to increase the number of registered students, which is close to 108,300, to over 150 thousand, and said, “Higher education will grow even more by raising the welfare of the people of the country in a healthy way. I have absolute faith in this. I would like to thank EMU Board of Trustees’ President, Board Members, the Rector and his team. If you exist, our country, homeland, our people and our people also exist. "
