The 1416 Scholarships Orientation and Vision Program, organized by the General Directorate of Higher Education and Education Abroad of the Ministry of National Education, was held on September 24–25 at the Davutpaşa Campus of Yıldız Technical University. Scholarship recipients set to pursue graduate studies abroad gathered at panels organized prior to their academic journeys.

Yıldız Technical University hosted the 1416 Scholarships Orientation and Vision Program, which brought together the 1416 scholarship recipients who will pursue graduate studies abroad prior to their academic journeys. The program, held at the Davutpaşa Congress and Culture Center, was attended by Minister of National Education Prof. Dr. Yusuf Tekin, our Rector Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik, Director General of Higher Education and Education Abroad Faruk Berat Akçeşme, Abdullah Eren, President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA); Prof. Dr. Selim Argun, President of the Yunus Emre Institute; and Abdulhadi Turus, President of the Turkish Agency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB). 

During the program, information regarding the international education process was shared with the scholarship recipients, and the contribution of global academic experience to Turkey’s scientific heritage and future was discussed. Minister of National Education Prof. Dr. Yusuf Tekin, our Rector Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik, and General Director of Higher Education and Education Abroad Faruk Berat Akçeşme addressed the scholarship recipients.

Minister Tekin: “We are sending you abroad as ambassadors of the Republic of Turkey”

Addressing the scholarship recipients on the second day of the program, Minister of National Education Prof. Dr. Yusuf Tekin highlighted the long-standing history of the 1416 Scholarships, noting that the recipients would not only pursue academic education abroad but would also represent Turkey.

Stressing the importance of the scholarship recipients utilizing the knowledge and experience they gain in various countries to contribute to Turkey’s academic and scientific capacity, Tekin noted that their experiences abroad must be approached in line with Turkey’s needs.

Noting that orientation programs for scholarship recipients are also organized with this understanding in mind, Tekin stated, “We are sending you abroad as ambassadors of the Republic of Turkey.” Tekin emphasized the importance of scholarship recipients maintaining connections to Turkey’s past, future, and needs while keeping abreast of innovations in the countries they visit.

Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik: “The 1416 Scholarships bring together Turkey’s needs with young people’s goals of specialization”

Speaking at the program’s opening ceremony, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik, highlighted the contribution of the 1416 Scholarships to the development of academic staff at universities and the cultivation of expert human resources for public institutions. Noting that the scholarship program aligns young people’s specialization goals with Turkey’s long-term needs, Prof. Dr. Debik stated that the academic experience gained abroad would contribute to Turkey’s scientific knowledge base.

Emphasizing that the 1416 Scholarships offer young people the opportunity to experience different research cultures and work with international scientific communities, Prof. Dr. Debik noted that the research discipline and academic relationships the scholars will develop will form a significant foundation throughout their professional careers.

Also addressing Yıldız Technical University’s involvement in the 1416 scholarship program, Prof. Dr. Debik noted that the university, with its 115-year history, has contributed to Turkey’s scientific, engineering, and industrial sectors, and added:

“The 1416 scholarships support the academic staff of our universities and the expert human resources of our public institutions in line with this vision. They align the specialization goals of our young people with Turkey’s long-term needs. The 1416 Scholarship offers opportunities to pursue advanced education, experience different research cultures, and collaborate with international scientific communities. The research discipline our young people will develop and the academic networks they will build will empower them throughout their professional careers.”

“68 of our scholarship recipients are continuing their studies abroad”

Providing information on YTÜ’s current status in the 1416 scholarship program, Prof. Dr. Debik stated, “Twenty scholarship recipients who qualified for education under the 2025 1416 Scholarships will study on behalf of our university. Currently, 68 of our scholarship recipients are continuing their studies abroad. Meanwhile, 15 graduates who completed their studies under the YLSY program are now working at our university.”

Faruk Berat Akçeşme: “Our scholarship recipients will receive education in strategic fields that our country needs”

Faruk Berat Akçeşme, Director General of Higher Education and Education Abroad, highlighted the role of the 1416 scholarships in developing Turkey’s qualified human resources. Akçeşme noted that noted that in 2026, 506 scholarship recipients were eligible to pursue graduate education abroad; he added that the recipients will study in 26 different countries in strategic fields that our country needs—ranging from artificial intelligence and data science to health technologies, and from energy and defense technologies to climate change and sustainability.

“Global Knowledge, National Future in the Turkish Century” Panel

As part of the program, a panel titled “Global Knowledge, National Future in the Turkish Century” was also held. Moderated by Faruk Berat Akçeşme, Director General of Higher Education and Education Abroad, the panel was attended by Abdullah Eren, President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA); Prof. Dr. Selim Argun, President of the Yunus Emre Institute; and Abdulhadi Turus, President of the Agency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB). The panel discussed not only the academic and cultural experiences scholarship recipients would gain abroad but also the potential for establishing scientific, academic, and humanitarian ties with different countries.

From Global Experience to Academic and Humanitarian Ties

TİKA President Abdullah Eren emphasized the importance of scholarship recipients viewing the countries where they will study not merely as educational centers, but as venues where they can establish lasting humanitarian and academic ties with Turkey.

Yunus Emre Institute President Prof. Dr. Selim Argun emphasized the importance of maintaining the connection scholarship recipients establish with Turkey and its civilizational values while developing their international academic identities.

YTB President Abdulhadi Turus, meanwhile, noted that the challenges encountered during the process of adapting to a different country can be transformed into valuable experiences for personal development.

The panel also focused on how international academic experience can be leveraged to contribute to Turkey’s scientific, cultural, and human capital.

Contributing to Qualified Human Capital Through the 1416 Scholarships

It was noted that since 1929, approximately 23,000 young people have been awarded 1416 scholarships, and today, 2,672 scholarship recipients are continuing their education in 41 countries. It was also announced that 506 scholarship recipients eligible for 2026 will pursue graduate studies in 26 different countries.

Hosted by Yıldız Technical University, the 1416 Scholarships Orientation and Vision Program helped scholarship recipients not only prepare for their academic journeys abroad but also gain a perspective that will allow them to contribute the international knowledge they acquire to Turkey’s scientific and academic development.