Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakif University (FSMVU) Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Şimşek, accompanied by a delegation, visited Qatar with the aim of enhancing academic collaborations and advancing cultural diplomacy. Throughout the visit, they held a series of important meetings to foster international academic partnerships and expand FSMVU’s global network.
The delegation’s first stop was the Turkish Embassy in Doha, where they met with Ambassador Dr. Mustafa Göksu to discuss FSMVU’s contributions in education and culture. Education Attaché Mustafa Adaş provided valuable insights into the Qatari education system, further enriching the discussions on potential areas of collaboration.
The delegation then visited the Qatar Foundation’s Higher Education Center, engaging in discussions with President Francisco Marmolejo and Executive Director of Student Services Dr. Abdulnassir S. Al-Tamimi. This meeting laid the foundation for future international academic partnerships, particularly in the fields of higher education and research.
Promoting Turkish language and culture
A key part of the visit was a meeting with Enver Gedik, Coordinator of the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center in Doha. The discussions focused on the Yunus Emre Institute’s work in promoting Turkish language and culture, alongside FSMVU’s initiatives in Turkish language education and Traditional Turkish Arts. In addition, discussions with Dr. Hayat Maarifi, President of QatarDebate, explored the possibility of organizing international debate events and expanding existing collaborations.
The delegation also visited Qatar’s Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Mr. Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanim. During this meeting, the two parties exchanged insights on the endowment system and discussed opportunities for cooperation in Islamic education. Further talks were held with Dr. Tan Huism, Director of the Qatar National Library, and Dr. Hüseyin Şen, to explore academic and research collaboration, including joint research on historical manuscripts and rare books.
At the Web Summit Qatar Reception, hosted by the Turkish Embassy in Doha and the Presidency’s Investment Office, Rector Prof. Dr. Şimşek presented FSMVU’s academic and research initiatives. He also met with Ahmet Çalık, Chairman of Çalık Holding, to discuss potential collaborations in education and technology.
Academic collaborations
The visit also included a productive meeting at Qatar University with Prof. Ibrahim Mohamed Al-Kaabi, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs. The discussions covered potential academic collaborations in Islamic Studies, business administration, and research, as well as opportunities for student and academic staff exchange programs and institutional partnerships.
Rector Prof. Dr. Şimşek further met with Dr. Abdelwahab El Affendi, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, to explore collaborations in graduate programs, Islamic studies, social sciences, and research on democracy, security, and the preservation of cultural heritage. Additionally, at the Doha Institute of Science and Technology (UDST), he met with Rector Dr. Salem Al-Naemi to discuss potential partnerships in engineering, technology, and information technology.
Rector Prof. Dr. Şimşek concluded the visit with a meeting with Ms. Noora Mohammed Al-Ansari, Deputy Minister of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education of Qatar. During this meeting, the delegation provided an update on ongoing collaborations with Qatar Debate, the Qatar Foundation’s Higher Education Center, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), and other institutions. Discussions focused on expanding student and academic staff exchange programs, increasing scholarship opportunities, and supporting students affected by war, particularly those from Palestine and Syria.
Through these productive meetings, FSMVU has significantly strengthened its international academic network and furthered its mission of promoting Turkish culture on the global stage.
