"GAU is our window opening to the world"

Education Minister Kemal Dürüst had an exchange of opinions about GAU`s development, future projects and the problems experienced in higher education sector by visiting Girne American University (GAU) Founding Rector and Chancellor of Board of Administrators Serhat Akpınar. Senior executives of GAU also attended to the meeting where Dürüst stated that "GAU is our window to the world".

 “GAU is a huge university”

Dürüst, answering the questions of the GAU Media after the meeting, stressed that beside his visit to the Girne American University as a minister, he continued his visits while they were in opposition and that the dialogue between GAU and him continued uninterruptedly.

Dürüst, who expressed that "I think, GAU is a university which gives a very large contribution to the economic and political structure of the TRNC. Therefore I, heartily congratulate Mr. Serhat and all the board of trustees and academic staff of GAU. Today, it is the only university that has revealed it`s courage and success of opening campuses approximately in 8-10 different location of the world. Therefore we can say that it is a window opening from Girne to the world.", stated the followings;

"Our window opening to the world"

"When we look at the number of students, GAU is a university which exceeded itself and is at a structure nearing 16 thousand students and it is a university that has received around 4 thousand students from third countries. I think due to its geographical location and its vision, GAU`s horizon is very large and the number of students will be 20 thousand within a very short time. It is a university that keeps their willingness to progress and their vision always in the front lines. I find it very successful; it is at a point where we can say GAU is our pride. Contributing significantly to the educational tourism in the heart of sea and mountain, allowing the sale of the productions of all producers in the region and allowing the consumption of all the products that cannot be exported here and a university approach that entrants in various investments by embracing the new investor have grown here immensely with the right policies."

Dürüst, emphasizing that many developments caught his eye although the passing days are numbered over his last visit to Girne American University, stated that "GAU is living and breathing education center, here life and progresses are continuing non-stop and we can see a new development and innovation every day.”

"GAU has the accumulation of years”

Education Minister Dürüst, explaining his views regarding GAU`s project to open campuses in Susurluk, stated that: "It is an event I met with much appreciation, it means that our universities can go and open campuses in Turkey and they can achieve this perfectly. Because they have all kinds of equipment. Girne American University has demonstrated the leadership to share the accumulation of years with our motherland. Being welcomed deferentially in Balıkesir has made me proud."

"I`m sure that AUC will be successful"

Konuşmasının sonunda Lefkoşa Surlariçi bölgesinde ortaya çıkan Kıbrıs Amerikan Üniversitesi ile ilgili görüşlerini de açıklayan Dürüst, “Kıbrıs Amerikan Üniversitesi’ne henüz bir ziyaret gerçekleştirmiş değilim. İnşallah önümüzdeki günlerde oraya da gideceğim ama emin adımlarla GAÜ’nün tecrübe ve deneyimleriyle muhakkak kısa sürede belki de GAÜ’den de hızlı adımlarla ilerleyeceklerdir. Lefkoşa’nın merkezinde de gayet başarılı olacaklarına tam olarak inanıyorum, KAÜ`nün de GAÜ gibi başarılı olacağına eminim” dedi.

Dürüst, who explained his views on the Cyprus American University which emerged in the Old City of Nicosia at the end of his speech, stated that "I have not yet carried out a visit to Cyprus American University. I hope I will go in there in the upcoming days, but surely, with GAU`s experience and knowledge and certainly in a short time and also perhaps, they will move at a quick pace from the GAU. I fully believe they will be very successful in the center of Nicosia, I am sure AUC will be successful like GAU."

"Many universities are following GAU "

Dürüst, who stressed on a question that many universities are following the Girne American University and that GAU is the leading institutions in private universities, stated that "GAU` mission and concept is at a different form. It is our first private university operating in Cyprus. We are able to feel this difference in areas where we currently are. Being able to catch this position not easy. Because when we look at our right we can see the mountains, we look to our left we can see the sea, this is a natural privilege. I think all our universities have good quality but Girne American University is easily making itself a center of attraction with its physical, contemporary structure. GAU really is a leader university."

The words of Serhat Akpinar

GAU Founding Rector  Serhat Akpinar stated in his speech that "As our university I want to thank Mr. Minister. With the vision our minister put forward and the development and restructuring of higher education on the island and at the point of revealing the objective a very high opinion is revealed and not only us but all universities gradually becoming aware of this issue is exceptional for us. We had a number of challenges in a lot of work we have put forth so far, but our Ministers and our Ministry helped us to take additional steps forward with many of their expansions. And we are also very aware of it.

"GAU is a world university"

Akpinar indicating that they are aware of this responsibility and its weight stated that "Mr. Minister expressed it very nicely, they know us as well as we know ourselves, they worked well, they are watching us. I express once more that we will continue to move TRNC to the top with GAU Group of Schools and our external campuses, to take further steps as a world university and to demonstrate a leadership position in higher education around the world, to proceed to the 20 thousand number of students with the "2015 + 5" strategic development program and of course we will continue to be a center of attraction in all areas with all the faculties from Aviation to Marine, in TRNC and especially in Girne."