Çankırı Karatekin University Rector Prof. Dr. Harun Çiftçi, accompanied by his delegation, visited the Turkish Consulate in Lyon, the Maarif Foundation representative office, and Turkish schools in France as part of a series of educational mobility activities. The visits focused on discussions regarding educational mobility, potential collaborative projects, and opportunities for further cooperation.
Rector Çiftçi emphasized that the primary aim of the visit was to enhance both faculty and student mobility. “We hope our students will gain new perspectives by actively participating in educational activities abroad and apply these insights to their academic work in Türkiye,” he stated. He also noted that Türkiye`s unique geographical and strategic position, along with its human-centered approach and cultural values, continue to attract attention abroad.
Rector Çiftçi further explained, “Wherever we go, we make it a point to visit our Turkish embassies, consulates, and organizations such as TIKA, the Yunus Emre Institute, and the Maarif Foundation.” He highlighted the university’s strong position in mobility projects, particularly Erasmus+, and outlined the goal of developing new strategic partnerships and projects in addition to ongoing initiatives. He also mentioned that Çankırı Karatekin University hosts thousands of international students and has established partnerships with numerous countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Students from Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Sarajevo, Moldova, and Djibouti are among those receiving their education at the university. Rector Çiftçi added that the university has also engaged in discussions in Brussels with the European Union Research and Application Center.
As part of his visit, Rector Çiftçi toured several Turkish schools in France. He observed that, in addition to the French curriculum, these schools offer programs focused on Turkish history and culture, and he gathered further insights from school authorities on the various activities being carried out.
Maarif Foundation Lyon Representative Highlights Collaborative Projects
Rabia Gönül Ataş, the Lyon Representative of the Maarif Foundation, expressed her pleasure at hosting the Çankırı Karatekin University delegation. Ataş shared that the foundation has submitted four projects to the European Union and is hopeful for their success. She also suggested that it would be beneficial for university students studying in France to receive additional consultancy or co-consultancy support from Turkish universities during their master`s and doctoral thesis work. Ataş further mentioned that the foundation is actively working on various initiatives to help Turkish children in France preserve their cultural heritage.
Consul General Elif Çelebican Appreciates the Visit
The Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Lyon, Elif Çelebican, expressed her gratitude for the Çankırı Karatekin University delegation`s visit and thanked them for their efforts. Çelebican emphasized the significant role that universities play in strengthening relations between Türkiye and France, particularly in the field of education. She reiterated the Turkish Consulate`s commitment to fostering these connections and offering any necessary support to advance cooperation.