The 25th Senior Board Meeting of the Trakya Universities Union (TÜB) was held on February 12, 2026, hosted by our University.
The meeting was attended by our Rector Prof. Dr. Rengin Ak; the Term President of TÜB and Rector of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Prof. Dr. R. Cüneyt Erenoğlu; Rector of Trakya University, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hatipler; Rector of Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, Prof. Dr. Mümin Şahin; Vice Rector of Balıkesir University, Prof. Dr. Murat Doğdubay; Vice Rector of Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University, Prof. Dr. Ebru Kaya Mutlu; our Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Eylem Özkaya Lassalle and Prof. Dr. Meryem Çamur Demir; and the Secretary General of the Trakya Universities Union, Prof. Dr. Ünzüle Kurt. The meeting, which brought together senior executives from member universities, served as an important platform for strengthening regional academic cooperation.
The program began with a welcoming ceremony at the Rector’s Office. Subsequently, students from the Faculty of Tourism, Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, prepared a special menu for the guests that had previously won a Gold Medal at the 22nd International Gastronomy Festival. The presentations, reflecting our students' practical skills and creative culinary approach, were highly appreciated by the participants. The main session of the meeting took place between 14:00 and 17:00 at the Senate Meeting Hall.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, our Rector Prof. Dr. Rengin Ak drew attention to the importance of the Trakya Universities Union in terms of regional development, scientific productivity, and solidarity between universities, stating: "The sharing of knowledge and the culture of joint projects between our universities will carry the academic strength of our region even further."
Following this, Vice Rector of Balıkesir University, Prof. Dr. Murat Doğdubay, emphasized that inter-university cooperation plays a key role in increasing academic quality and stressed the necessity of multiplying joint projects. Vice Rector of Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University, Prof. Dr. Ebru Kaya Mutlu, noted that the exchange of knowledge and experience contributes to institutional development and highlighted the importance of activities carried out under the umbrella of the union.
Prof. Dr. Mümin Şahin, Rector of Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, stated that it is of strategic value for universities to act in coordination in line with regional development goals, while Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hatipler, Rector of Trakya University, mentioned that increasing interdisciplinary collaborations would support scientific productivity.
Prof. Dr. R. Cüneyt Erenoğlu, TÜB Term President and Rector of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, emphasized in his speech that the Trakya Universities Union is a strong structure acting with a culture of common mind and consultation, and stated that this unity would be further reinforced through sustainable projects.
Furthermore, Erenoğlu delivered a presentation on the "GNSS-based Tectonic Monitoring Platform." The presentation provided information on the technical infrastructure of the platform—which enables the monitoring of earthquakes and ground movements in light of scientific data—as well as its areas of use and potential contributions to disaster management processes. It was stated that the system, expected to support early monitoring and risk reduction efforts on a regional scale, also holds significant opportunities for academic collaborations between universities.
During the meeting, agenda items were discussed comprehensively. The current status of ongoing joint projects was evaluated, new areas of cooperation were deliberated, and strategic plans for the upcoming period were discussed. Additionally, the date and host university for the next Trakya Universities Union Senior Board Meeting were decided.
Following the receipt of opinions and suggestions, the meeting concluded with mutual wishes of goodwill. It was emphasized that the Trakya Universities Union will continue to strengthen the culture of sustainable cooperation among regional higher education institutions and contribute to the development of a shared academic vision.
KLU
