Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (COMU) has officially inaugurated its International Advisory Board, marking a significant milestone in the university’s strategic efforts to enhance global visibility, academic excellence, and international engagement. The Board convened for its first meeting on December 31, 2025, bringing together senior university leadership and internationally recognized experts to outline a forward-looking roadmap for COMU’s global development.

Held online, the meeting served as a key platform to align COMU’s institutional vision with international higher education standards, with discussions centered on research innovation, digital transformation, quality assurance, and international accreditation.

Rector Erenoğlu: A Bridge Between Tradition and Global Innovation

Opening the meeting, Rector Prof. Dr. R. Cüneyt Erenoğlu emphasized the strategic role of the International Advisory Board in guiding COMU’s long-term development. Highlighting the university’s unique location at the crossroads of history, culture, and innovation, he stressed that COMU is pursuing a vision of becoming not only a regional leader but also a respected and visible institution within the global academic community.

Prof. Dr. Erenoğlu underlined that the International Advisory Board will provide critical strategic insight to support curriculum modernization, strengthen research capacity, and ensure that COMU graduates are well equipped to succeed in a digitally driven and globally interconnected academic and professional environment.

Institutional Leadership Highlights Quality and International Growth

Members of COMU’s executive leadership presented recent progress and future priorities in institutional development and internationalization:

• Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Evren Karayel Gökkaya and Prof. Dr. Arda Aydın outlined the university’s expanding participation in international research networks and European Union–funded projects. They emphasized COMU’s commitment to fostering a multicultural campus environment that attracts high-quality international students, researchers, and academic staff.
• Quality Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sibel Ocak Aktürk presented COMU’s comprehensive quality assurance framework and accreditation efforts. She highlighted the importance of the Board’s guidance in maintaining international institutional accreditation standards and ensuring that vocational and applied education programs align with global industry and labor market expectations.

Strategic Insights from International Advisory Board Members

The meeting featured in-depth contributions from distinguished international board members representing diverse academic disciplines and professional backgrounds:

• Prof. Dr. Andrea Berlin (Boston University, USA) emphasized the significant international potential of Çanakkale’s archaeological heritage. She noted that large-scale digital humanities and interdisciplinary research initiatives could substantially elevate COMU’s global research visibility while drawing international scholarly attention to the region’s historical assets.
• Prof. Dr. German de la Fuente (Spanish National Research Council, Spain) highlighted the importance of strengthening university–industry collaboration. Building on COMU’s existing partnerships with industry leaders, he encouraged the expansion of entrepreneurship ecosystems, support for start-ups, and the integration of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies into academic and research programs.
• Prof. Dr. Diane Freiberger (Director of FIBAA, Germany) focused on the role of quality development as a cornerstone of internationalization. She recommended pursuing internationally recognized certifications in digital education and vocational excellence to enhance student mobility and reinforce the global recognition of COMU degrees.
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Simona Pajaujiene (Lithuanian Sports University, Lithuania) stressed the need to expand English-taught academic programs, particularly in sports and health sciences. She emphasized aligning curricula with European professional qualification frameworks to improve the international employability of COMU graduates.
• Musayev Zaur Elchinoglu (Azerbaijan) conveyed a strong message of support, stating that they are fully prepared to provide all necessary contributions to ensure the successful implementation of the recommendations discussed during the meeting, reaffirming their commitment to COMU’s internationalization vision.

A Strategic Roadmap for 2026

Moderated by Dr. Emrah Yağmurlu, Head of the International Relations Office, the meeting concluded with a shared commitment to further diversify the International Advisory Board in the coming year and to maintain regular consultations to monitor progress and implementation.

Concluding the session, Rector Prof. Dr. R. Cüneyt Erenoğlu expressed his appreciation to all board members for their valuable contributions—especially on the final day of the year—signaling a strong, collaborative, and forward-looking start to 2026 for Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University.