Erol Özvar, head of Turkey’s Council of Higher Education, said universities should reassess traditional teaching as artificial intelligence and digital technologies transform access to information. He spoke at the opening ceremony for the 2026–2027 academic year at Yıldız Technical University.
Özvar said students can access course materials from leading universities around the world on their phones and compare them with their instructors’ lessons. He said academics should do more than deliver lectures: they should guide students, share their experience and encourage research.
He called on universities to reduce the number of courses in undergraduate programmes and combine classes with similar content. Students should have more time for research, project development and practical work, he said. Engineering programmes in Europe have around 25–30 courses, Özvar added.
The Council head also called for the systematic and transparent use of artificial intelligence at universities. He said institutions should offer regular training for students and academics and develop guidance suited to different disciplines. AI use should follow academic ethics principles.
Özvar said assessment methods should also change, with greater emphasis on students’ reasoning, analysis, communication and practical skills. He announced that Yıldız Technical University would join the Artificial Intelligence and Data Analysis School, run under the auspices of the Council of Higher Education, with training on sustainability.
Yıldız Technical University Rector Eyüp Debik drew attention to the destruction of educational institutions in Gaza and said universities should defend the right to learn and human dignity. He said the university was continuing its work toward a goal of joining the world’s top 100 universities.
