UK seeks to boost cooperation with Turkey over higher education

British Minister of State for Universities and Science David Willetts yesterday visited Science, Industry and Technology Minister Nihat Ergun to exchange ideas following the recent signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Turkey and Britain. Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Willetts said Britain would introduce two programs which would enable Turkish academicians and students to get visa more quickly. Stating that as part of the Information Transition Program to be implemented as from May 1, Turkish academicians who are to make research and scientific works in Britain will receive visas faster than in the past,  Willetts said that the second program would cover the Turkish students who will carry out scientific studies in Britain. "This will be carried out as part of the Information Partnership Program. We aim to provide our students with a quicker process. Our gates are always open to Turkish academicians and students. There is no limit as to the number of Turkish academicians and students who can visit Britain," Willetts also said. Speaking in his part, Ergun said that contacts between the two countries would contribute to the science environment and technological progresses particularly among the universities.