Workshop, which International Universities Council (IUC) executed with the honours and collaborations of European University of Lefke, was arranged under the title namely “Democracy and Terrorism” with 40 participants including universities’ rectors who were predominant from 15 different countries.   The conference, which started with the opening ceremony that was organized in EUL Rauf Raif Denktaş Education Complex Conference Hall, continued with the sessions that were held in the afternoon.

‘TRNC has the most special status in terms of being a university island’

EUL Rector, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Yükselen, who started his speech by acknowledging Foremen of IUC, President of YÖDAK (Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council), rectors and guests who attended to Democracy and Terrorism conference from abroad, gave utterance to the fact that TRNC has the most special status in the world regarding its becoming a university island as it is in other various fields.  Yükselen depicted that EUL, this year, has also begun its academic year with over 7.000 students by calling attention to that there are over 75.000 university students in TRNC.

Yükselen, who gave information to the guests about EUL, remarked that EUL is the fastest-growing university within two years regarding higher education in TRNC.  Yükselen also put emphasis on the fact that no compromises are made in terms of education quality by increasing the number of faculty members with over 80% hike in the number of the students.  Yükselen said that the number of the programmes, which are in the system of the university, reached 91 with 28 new programmes opened with approval of YÖK (High Education Board).  As a result of this, there are students coming from 49 different countries who are registered to these departments.  Yükselen also informed the visitors about the infrastructure work and accreditation.

Higher Education ensures TRNC to be introduced to the world

President of YÖDAK (Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council) Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş drew attention on that TRNC is not known in the international area but it is recognized by the world in higher education field with the students, who come from 127 countries.  Gökçekuş, who pointed out that there are 80.000 students in TRNC, stated that 55% of these students are originated from Turkey, 28% students are from foreign countries and 17% of these students are originated from TRNC.  Gökçekuş said that higher education contributes to TRNC to be recognized and its economy beside the education, exploration, development and community service practices.

Terrorism demolishes democracy

Foremen of International Universities Council, Orhan Hikmet Azizoğlu also depicted that terrorism and democracy are the two phenomena that should never come side by side. He added that Terrorism is used as a factor to demolish democracy.  He also indicated that “Democracy and Terrorism” were discussed in detail with the honours of EUL.

In his presentation, which was about “Democracy and Terrorism”, Azizoğlu addressed issues titled as representative democracy,   pluralistic democracy, participatory democracy and issues regarding non-governmental organizations and local democracy. Azizoğlu acknowledged EUL Rector, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Yükselen, due to his being host for a far-reaching conference about democracy and terrorism, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Members and he also thanked everybody who contributed to the conference.