The “Research Collaborations Workshop,” hosted by Mersin University, was held on Sunday, January 25th, with broad participation. Aimed at increasing inter-university research capacity, strengthening institutional collaborations, and developing joint projects, the workshop brought higher education institutions together on a common platform, providing a productive academic environment. The workshop's core focus was on sharing Ankara University's institutional experiences gained during its journey to becoming a research university with Mersin and Tarsus Universities.
The opening speeches were given by Ankara University Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar. Prof. Dr. Ünüvar expressed his pleasure in sharing the institutional experience they possess as a long-established research university, drawing attention to the importance of the research university structure for sustainable scientific production. He stated that inter-university interaction makes strategic contributions to institutional development, a spirit of unity, and the scientific development of the country. Following him, Mersin University Rector Prof. Dr. [Name of Rector] spoke... Erol Yaşar stated that inter-university cooperation plays a critical role in strengthening the research ecosystem. Prof. Dr. Yaşar expressed that such meetings will spread a culture of joint projects, deepen research capacity, and make significant contributions to increasing the quality of scientific output.
Taking the floor, Tarsus University Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Özen emphasized that Tarsus University has gained significant momentum in its research-oriented development thanks to its young and dynamic structure. Stating that strong academic networks play a decisive role in this development, Prof. Dr. Özen noted that as a result of discussions conducted within the framework of Ankara University's research university experience, Ankara, Mersin, and Tarsus Universities decided to conduct a joint Scientific Research Project (BAP), and that this cooperation will make significant contributions to interdisciplinary studies.
During the workshop, it was emphasized that the research performance analysis of Tarsus University prepared by Ankara University showed that Tarsus University's scientific publication rates, especially in Q1 category journals, exceeded the Turkish average, which is a concrete indicator of the university's vision for quality scientific production. The workshop, which aimed to strengthen the research culture at the institutional level and develop sustainable partnerships, concluded with an emphasis on the shared will to make inter-university cooperation more systematic and results-oriented.