“Distinguished Members of the Press, Esteemed Pamukkale University Family, and Valued Public,

I have been appointed as the Rector of Pamukkale University by the esteemed approval of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. As I take on this significant responsibility, I would first like to express my gratitude to our President for the trust he has placed in me, and to the people of Denizli for their continued prayers and support. I also extend my thanks to the President of the Council of Higher Education, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, for his support.

Since its establishment in 1992, Pamukkale University has become one of the leading and distinguished higher education institutions in our country, thanks to its academic achievements and the quality of its graduates. I am fully committed to working with all my strength to elevate our university further on both national and international platforms, continuing its role as a driving force in the development of Denizli and the region.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the previous administration and their team. Our primary goal will be to foster a spirit of teamwork and to work harmoniously with everyone without discrimination. We are committed to preserving a peaceful working environment. We have held no grudges in the past, and we shall hold none in the future. We approach everyone with the same goodwill. Our sole objective is to serve our nation, our sacred values, and of course, our distinguished university.

We aim to meet with you regularly to communicate our intentions transparently, ensure accurate public information, and respond to your questions directly. I sincerely thank you all for your participation.

Key Initiatives and Current Actions

• We consider the sense of belonging among our staff to be of great importance. We have already sent notifications to units regarding pending staffing requests, and we will begin initiatives with the Council of Higher Education promptly.
• We are receiving briefings from unit heads to assess the state of our academic and administrative structures and to promptly address any needs. Implementation of solutions is already underway.
• We have launched donation-based projects for our university hospital, which serves as our gateway to the public. These initiatives are planned without the use of public funds (for example, hospital cleaning and painting are currently being funded entirely by our philanthropic donors).
• We have begun efforts to transfer part of the workload from the main hospital to the Organized Industrial Zone (OIZ) Polyclinic, supported by our donors.
• Preparations are underway to establish operating rooms at the OIZ Polyclinic for dermatology and ENT surgeries. A stroke center will also be established, and efforts are ongoing to procure a thrombolysis device for urgent embolism treatments.

Our Strategic Vision

During my term as Rector, I have identified the following strategic priorities for our university:

1. Academic Excellence: We will enhance the quality of education and research, increase the number and quality of scientific publications, and elevate academic performance to international standards.
2. R&D and Innovation Ecosystem: By strengthening university-industry collaboration, accelerating technology transfer, and prioritizing innovative projects, we aim to increase our contributions to regional development. This will be realized through our two successful technoparks in the city.
3. Digital Transformation: We will complete the digitization of all academic and administrative processes, develop forward-looking educational models, and implement full automation to reduce and eventually eliminate paper-based operations.
4. Internationalization: We will increase the number of international students, academics, stakeholders, and joint ventures, thereby diversifying our global collaborations and projects. We currently rank in the top 10 in terms of such agreements.
5. Entrepreneurship and Employment: We will develop programs to enhance graduate employability and promote a culture of entrepreneurship. Our city, with $4.5 billion in exports, offers the perfect environment for this, and we will collaborate closely with local business leaders.
6. Social Responsibility: By prioritizing environmental awareness, sustainability, and community-oriented projects, we will strengthen the university’s contribution to the region, the nation, and even the world—aligned with the initiatives led by our President.

Our Management Approach

Our governance will be based on merit, transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness. We will value the opinions of all university stakeholders and encourage their participation in decision-making processes. We aim to foster a performance-oriented culture that motivates both administrative and academic staff.

We will unconditionally support academic freedom and freedom of expression. Interdisciplinary collaboration will be encouraged to pave the way for innovative ideas and projects.

The Future of Pamukkale University

In the next four years, we aim to:

• Secure a higher position in global university rankings,
• Rank among the top 10 universities in national patent and utility model applications,
• Increase graduate employability rates to over 85%,
• Raise our international student ratio to 15%,
• Become a model university with sustainable and green campus initiatives,
• Ensure all social service units, especially our hospitals, operate at full capacity without interruption.

Our Contribution to Denizli and the Regional Economy

Our university is not only a center of higher education but also a key driver of economic and social development in Denizli and the Aegean region. With this awareness, we will continue to cultivate qualified human resources for priority sectors and contribute to regional growth through our R&D and innovation potential.

Through our Technology Transfer Office and Technopark, we will support national and local technological advancement and elevate university-industry collaboration to a new level.

In Conclusion

I am fully committed to transforming Pamukkale University into a shining beacon of national and global value, just like the world heritage travertines from which it takes its name. On this journey, I seek the support of all our university stakeholders, the people of Denizli, and the broader public.

I will carry out my duties as Rector in alignment with the national vision for 2053 and 2071, taking bold steps to advance our university. Once again, I thank all those who have entrusted me with this position.

Respectfully announced to the public.”