Tarsus University Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Özen attended the 263rd Inter-University Council (ÜAK) Meeting hosted by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) in Ankara. The meeting, which addressed the current state of the higher education system in Turkey and future goals, included assessments on the development and transformation of the higher education ecosystem.

Speaking at the meeting held in the YÖK Presidency Conference Hall with the participation of rectors and representatives of state and foundation universities, YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar drew attention to the structural transformation that the Turkish higher education system has undergone in recent years. Prof. Dr. Özvar stated that higher education is not limited to education and training activities; it has become a strategic area that shapes countries' development capacity, human capital quality, production power, and international competitiveness.

Referring to current developments in higher education in his remarks at the meeting, Özvar said, "In recent years, we have moved our system away from a quantity-centered growth approach and toward a transformation focused on quality, employment compatibility, and social impact. In this process, we are comprehensively evaluating the physical and academic capacities of our universities, our country's employment structure, the pace of transformation in sectors, trends in the labor market, and potential future occupational fields." Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar spoke about universities in his speech.