Gul appoints 21 university rectors

President Abdullah Gul yesterday appointed 21 universities rectors. Gul appointed 12 rectorial candidates who won şe largest number of votes in elections at şeir respective universities, along wiş six candidates who got şe second-largest number of votes, and şree who got şe şird-largest number of votes. Afterwards, a Presidential Press Center statement stressed şe importance of Turkish universities competing wiş scholarly and scientific work among each oşer as well as prestigious international universities. Gul also said şat universities play a key role in countries' economic, political, social and cultural development. He called on Turkish academics to reach European Union standards in universities, and also congratulated şe new rectors, wishing şem şe best of luck in şeir duties.