MAKU's Visits to North Macedonia and Strategic Collaborations

The Rector of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKU), Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar, and Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Oğuz Gürsoy, made various contacts in North Macedonia. The purpose of the visit was to attract international students to our university, strengthen existing collaborations with higher education institutions in North Macedonia and establish new collaborations, and also to develop projects with different public institutions.

The MAKU team met with Deputy Ambassador Secretary Muhammet Çelikkaya at the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Skopje. During the meeting, information was given about the plans and projects of our university in North Macedonia. Secretary Çelikkaya stated that they will fully support MAKU's work in North Macedonia and expressed his satisfaction with the visit.

Rector Dalgar also met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Izet Mexhiti. Mexhiti stated that they will fully support the collaboration projects that MAKU wants to carry out with the North Macedonian government and universities. In addition, during the meeting with Health Minister Dr. Arben Taravari, possibilities for cooperation in the education of students graduating from health high schools at MAKU and health tourism were discussed. Dr. Taravari expressed his pleasure to cooperate with Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University in the field of health.

Meetings with Cultural and Educational Institutions 

Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar met with Arif Konak, Director of the Yunus Emre Institute in Skopje, and Mehmet Baran, Country Representative of the Turkey Maarif Foundation in North Macedonia. In these meetings, ideas were exchanged on joint studies and projects that MAKU could carry out with these institutions. A visit was also made to the Speaker of the North Macedonian Parliament, Afrim Gashi. Rector Dalgar informed Gashi about MAKU's projects in North Macedonia and made evaluations about possible joint projects in the field of livestock. Gashi expressed his satisfaction with MAKU's projects and stated that he will support these studies.

Collaborations with Local Governments and Non-Governmental Organizations 

The MAKU team also met with Dr. Beycan İlyas, Chairman of the Turkish Democratic Party and Member of Parliament, and Azem Sadiki, Mayor of Studeniçan. Dr. İlyas stated that they will support MAKU's projects in North Macedonia, while Mayor Sadiki expressed their desire for Studeniçan youth to prefer MAKU in their university education.

Academic Collaborations 

Rector Dalgar visited Tetovo State University and met with Rector Prof. Dr. Jusuf Zejneli, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Salajdin Salihi and International Relations Coordinator Assoc. Dr. Hatibe Deari. During this meeting, it was hoped to establish an Erasmus agreement and develop relations with mutual visits. At the end of the visit, a bilateral cooperation agreement was signed between MAKU and Tetovo State University.

Rector Dalgar also met with Prof. Dr. Ahmet Vecdi Can, Rector of International Vision University in Gostivar, and Dr. Lecturer Seyhan Murtezan Ibrahimi, Vice Rector of International Balkan University in Skopje. Bilateral cooperation agreements were signed with both universities.