Turkish universities host panels on Gaza higher education crisis

Under the auspices of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), various Turkish universities have organized a series of events titled ‘Science Cafe for Gaza’ to address the crisis facing higher education in the Gaza Strip.

Panels and discussions held at institutions such as Dokuz Eylül University, Bartın University, Tarsus University, Akdeniz University, and Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University have focused on the destruction of academic infrastructure and the challenges faced by students and faculty. Speakers highlighted the concept of ‘scholasticide’—the deliberate destruction of education systems—and emphasized the importance of academic solidarity to preserve scientific memory and future development.

Participants included academics from Gaza, such as representatives from Gaza Islamic University and Al-Azhar University, who shared their experiences of attempting to maintain scientific production amidst conflict. The events aimed to raise awareness about the humanitarian and intellectual impact of the war on the Palestinian academic community.