ANKARA - Turkey's well-known Turkish
Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) issued a report
entitled "Restructuring of Higher Education: Basic Principles", yesterday.
TUSIAD declared its views on the higher education
system in Turkey that has been one of the most important controversies on
the domestic scene for months.
The report composed of two chapters, was prepared
by Professor Mehmet Sahin of Erciyes University, former METU rector
Professor Suha Sevuk, Sabanci University Rector Professor and former
TUBITAK Chairman Professor Tosun Terzioglu, YOK member Professor Oktem
Vardar and former Bosphorus University Rector Professor Ustun Erguder.
In the report, TUSIAD urged government to amend
some of the articles in the prepared higher education or YOK draft
especially the ones concerning financial autonomy of universities that
everyone has complaints on.
TUSIAD addressed the government to cooperate and
reconciliate with the Higher Education Board (YOK) and Inter-University
Council on these articles.
TUSIAD criticised the YOK draft law for forseeing a
uniform model for universities, stressing that the types of universities
in Turkey are very diverse and have become more so in recent years.
"A decentralistic system which stresses on diverse
identities of each university and supports competition among different
universities giving them autonomy to solve their own problems is very
important for the higher education in Turkey," stated the report.
In the report, it was claimed that the draft was
too long than it was supposed to be, arranging even the details that each
university should deal with themselves.
TUSIAD also noted the draft couldn't succeed in
changing the centralistic and uniformist point of view of the current
system to universities.
TUSAID also foresaw a model of three stages for the
restructuring of the higher education system in its report: according to
this model in the short term, government should amend some articles that
were complained about after reconciliating with universities and YOK,
therefore the controversy between the sides should come to an end.
In the medium term, some of the articles of the
Constitution on higher education should be amended, paving the way to form
modern and contemporary principles of higher education.
In the long run, different regulations should be
brought for each university considering the situation of each university.
Turkish Daily News
ANKARA - It was reported that fire fighters gained
control of a forest fire in the Karaburun District of Izmir.
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Karaburun
local administrator Omer Lutfi Yaran said the reason for the fire has not
been determined yet, noting that 100 hectares of forested area had been
damaged.
Yaran said one helicopter normally used to fight
fires could not be used due to bad weather conditions and added fire
fighters were stil struggling to fully extinguish the fire.
Turkish Daily News
ANKARA- The Islam University in Rotterdam, Holland
started its new education year with an opening ceremony at its new
residence, yesterday.
Speaking at the ceremony, university's executive
board member Profesor Nevzat Yalcintas said such a university will serve
not only the Muslims but all humanity in an environment where all people
were in search for peace.
Yalcintas said the university will contribute to
the harmonisation of Turkey with Europe in its process to join the
European Union.
University Rector Professor Ahmet Akgunduz
stressing that the number of Muslims has reached around 900,000 in
Holland, stated the university will boost dialogue between different
religions and serve citizens who want to learn more about Islam.
Present at the opening ceremony was AK Party's Van
deputy Haci Biner, Rotterdam Municipality officials, several academics and
students.
Turkish Daily News
ANKARA - Prime Ministry Human Rights Department
Head Vahit Bicak said recent amendments paving the way for higher
standards in human rights brought new values with them. He added, in order
to translate these values into practice they should first be embraced by
authorities.
The Prime Ministry Human Rights Department held its
second human rights committees meeting at the Merit Hotel, yesterday.
During a speech at the meeting, Bicak said they
were making efforts, with local human rights committees, to inform local
authorities, who will put the new human rights amendments into practice.
Bicak stressed that, in order for the amendments to
be properly implemented throughout society, first the authorities should
embrace these amendments, thus their efforts are very important.
He said they were cooperating with civil society
organisations and local human rights committees to insure the proper
implementaion of the amendments.
The Parliament passed a series of amendments
envisaging improvements in the human rights area, in a bid to increase
Turkey's chances of joining the EU.
EU officials drew attention to proper
implementation of the amendments, saying it is as important as passing
them through Parliament.
Turkey is trying to convince the officials to fully
implement the laws to help start accession talks by the beginning of 2005.
Turkish Daily News
ANKARA - Republican People's Party (CHP) leader
Deniz Baykal said "The CHP is the most important castle in Turkey that has
not fallen," stressing there is no internal or external authority that can
manipulate or eliminate the CHP other than the CHP's administration.
Baykal made a speech, of about two hours, at his
party's 30th annual congress, yesterday. The congress started smoothly. No
fierce battles were experienced since there are no rivals to Baykal as
party leader.
Baykal mainly criticised the ruling Ak Party's
actions and performance in the government and addressed recent
accusations, that the CHP displayed insufficient opposition, in his
speech.
Baykal noted in his speech that Turkey was passing
through a difficult time in which several games were played with the
country and added that the CHP carried a lot of responsibility in such an
environment, being the strongest party.
The CHP leader answered the recent criticisms about
the party's ineffective opposition, saying such criticisms were derived
from the CHP's attitude towards Iraq and Cyprus.
"Some circles are disturbed by CHP's being against
sending troops to Iraq or by CHP's Cyprus policy. This is the reason
behind the criticisms claiming the CHP displayed ineffective opposition.
Those who criticise us indeed mean we don't display opposition in the way
they desire," said Baykal.
Baykal said the CHP's attitude towards sending
troops to Iraq was enough for the party to be respected during its
lifetime.
Baykal also criticised the ruling Ak Party for
deciding to deploy troops in Iraq, saying they had no right to drag the
country into such a bad situation.
Baykal addressing recent controversies on drafts
the government prepared to amend the education system, noted that the
state, the judicial system and education should be kept away from religion
and from Ak Party attempts to damage the secular system.
TDN Parliamentary Bureau
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