Gul: "Turkey needs a new universit system"

Turkey needs to rework its university system, starting with the law establishing the Council of Higher Education (YOK), the body regulating the nation's universities, said President Abdulah Gul yesterday. Delivering a speech at 29 Mayis University marking the new academic year, he recalled the days when Turkey had only state universities, before private ones were authorized. "The same regulations used to be applied to all universities," he explained. "And this was used to prevent them from making great leaps forward. The YOK law must be changed. It is very pleasing to see Turkey's universities again embracing innovation. There's no need to shy away from this."