Erasmus Days 2024 were held at GİBTÜ.

The Erasmus Days 2024 event organized by the Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University (GİBTÜ) International Relations Coordinatorship was held at the GİBTÜ Rectorate Conference Hall and Foyer Area with the participation of the President of the Turkish National Agency, İlker Astarcı. Astarcı stated, “Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University is a global brand. It is the only university in Turkey among 208 universities that has the word ‘Islam’ in its name. We are proud of what GİBTÜ has achieved.”

The ErasmusDays 2024 events, organized by the Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University (GİBTÜ) International Relations Coordinatorship, began with an opening program attended by the President of the Turkish National Agency, İlker Astarcı, aimed at introducing Erasmus+, highlighting its benefits, and encouraging active participation from students. The program was attended by GİBTÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Şehmus Demir, Turkish National Agency President İlker Astarcı, Vice President Yunus Alper Altay, Head of the Higher Education Coordinatorship Department Kemal Başcı, academic and administrative staff, and students.

“We are a university aiming for quality”

GİBTÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Şehmus Demir stated, “We held a meeting with Turkish National Agency President İlker Astarcı and his team to evaluate potential collaborations that could be made between our institutions in the Erasmus+ and ESC Programs. Our discussions were very positive. We explained that Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University is a mission university. GİBTÜ is the only university with the word ‘Islam’ in its name. We are a university targeting the international arena and aiming for global-level quality. The main element that makes today meaningful is that our university has been chosen among 208 universities to be with us today, along with the President of the Turkish National Agency and his team. Therefore, I sincerely thank them for honoring us.”

“We send 60 thousand people abroad”

In his speech, Turkish National Agency President İlker Astarcı provided information about their activities, stating, “We are the organization running the Erasmus+ program in Turkey. Our field is education and youth. In 2024, we have a budget of 150 million euros, and this budget is expected to rise to 200 million euros by 2027. Two-thirds of this budget is distributed as grants within the project framework. One-third is used for the mobility of university students for education and internships abroad. Every year, we send a total of 60 thousand people abroad for education, including 20 thousand university students. The Turkish National Agency provides Turkey’s local and national resources to facilitate the internationalization of young people, students, and researchers through European Union mechanisms. We hope you will benefit from these opportunities, get to know international standards closely, and do beneficial work for our country.”

“We are proud of what GİBTÜ has accomplished”

Astarcı also spoke highly of Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University, saying, “Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University is a global brand. It is the only university in Turkey among 208 universities that has the word ‘Islam’ in its name. We are proud of what GİBTÜ has achieved. I congratulate the dynamic International Relations Coordinatorship and ERASMUS Coordinatorship of GİBTÜ, which has been increasingly successful in projects.”

The event included comprehensive information about the Erasmus+ program, opportunities for international education and cultural sharing for students, experience sharing, and Q&A sessions. GİBTÜ students had the chance to closely understand the opportunities for studying abroad and intercultural experience provided by the Erasmus+ program. The Erasmus Days 2024 event aims to introduce GİBTÜ students to the different cultures of Europe and to open new doors in their internationalization journey.