On 22 September 2025, Gazi University in Ankara hosted the 1st Forum of Rectors of Türkiye and Poland. The Forum is a milestone in the development of bilateral relations in higher education and research.
By uniting distinguished academic leaders from both countries, the Forum seeks to enhance mutual dialogue, promote excellence in scientific collaboration, and support academic exchange at all levels. This historic meeting provides a platform to share experiences, explore opportunities for joint initiatives, and build long-term partnerships that will contribute to the advancement of knowledge and innovation, while deepening the ties between Poland and Türkiye.
The event was launched with a meeting between the President of the Council of Higher Education of the Republic of Türkiye and the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland, concluding with the signing of an academic cooperation agreement.
Following the meeting, the Rectors' Forum Official Meeting was held under the patronage of CRASP and the Council of Higher Education of the Republic of Türkiye with the participation of Minister of Higher Education Dr. Marcin Kulask, Vice-President of CRASP – Prof. Jerzy Lis and Director of the National Agency for Academic Exchange and the President of the Council of Higher Education of Türkiye (YOK) Erol Özvar.
The meeting included rectors and vice-rectors from 22 major Polish universities and 23 Turkish universities. AMU was represented by Vice-Rector Prof. Piotr Pawluć.
The gatherings included a plenary session focused on the prospects for scientific and educational cooperation between Türkiye and Poland. This session provided an opportunity to meet with Turkish universities that have maintained a close partnership with Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU), primarily through the ERASMUS program. The universities involved were Anadolu University, Ankara University, Istanbul Aydın University, and Karadeniz Technical University.
In addition to the plenary session, parallel sessions allowed all participating Polish and Turkish universities in the Forum to present their research and academic strengths. The Forum concluded with the signing of bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) between Polish and Turkish institutions. The event was co-organised by the Perspektywy Education Foundation.
