Higher Education Council

The number of Ph.D. graduates in the country rose by 20 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching the highest level in six years, Türkiye's top education body has revealed.

According to the Higher Education Council's (YÖK) annual report on university monitoring and assessment, the number of doctoral graduates in Türkiye increased from 11,290 in 2022 to 13,561 in 2023.

The number of students enrolled in Turkish universities has soared past 7 million, a figure that now eclipses the populations of many provinces and even some European countries.

In a bid to enhance the professional standard of legal practitioners in the country, Türkiye on Sept. 29 introduced its first-ever professional qualification exam for law graduates.

This initiative marks a departure from the previous practice, where lawyers could commence their careers immediately after graduation without any formal examination.

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz has announced the launch of an action plan to combat gambling and digital addiction in schools.

The initiative will address addiction to gambling, the internet, smartphones and video games, Yılmaz said during a meeting of a board convened under the Health Ministry on Sept. 10.

Türkiye's recent nationwide university entrance exam results reveal an overwhelming interest in the fields of artificial intelligence, digitalization and big data.

Out of 1.2 million university placements available for such departments, 987,000 were filled, underscoring a shift toward technology-focused programs.

Pilot graduates lead the way with the highest starting salaries, with 78.3 percent earning over 51,999 Turkish Liras, according to the higher education employment index.

With an aim to enhance the quality of postgraduate education, the Higher Education Council (YÖK) has introduced new criteria focusing on publications and accreditations.

Accordingly, universities will now need at least one program accreditation for doctoral programs. Moreover, faculty members must meet a minimum publication requirement for both master's and doctoral programs.

Representatives of 150 universities from 67 countries attended the ninth Eurasia International Higher Education Summit (EURIE) in Istanbul on Feb. 27.

"The future of higher education will be shaped by our ability to embrace the dual nature of cooperation and competition," said Erol Özvar, the head of the Higher Education Council (YÖK), at the opening of the summit.

The rate of female students in universities has risen to 51.7 percent, while the percentage of female academics in Türkiye has ticked up to 46.4 percent in 2024, surpassing the OECD countries' average of 43 percent, according to a report by the Higher Education Council (YÖK).

The Higher Education Council (YÖK) has collaborated with the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) to inform students about the dangers they may face if their bank accounts are used for illegal purposes.