International Turkic States University, Co-founded by ITU, Counts Down to Its Launch

ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal visited Tashkent as part of the establishment process and preparations for the first academic year of the International Turkic States University.

On July 28, 2025, ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal paid a one-day visit to Tashkent within the scope of the establishment process and preparations for the inaugural academic year of the International Turkic States University (ITSU). The meeting was attended by the rectors of Turkish universities serving as founding partners of ITSU, Vice Rector of Tashkent State Transport University Prof. Dr. Bakhodir Turaev, and Chairman of the Uzbekistan Higher Education Council Prof. Dr. Odil Abdurakhmanov.

Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal expressed that Istanbul Technical University is proud to be part of this initiative from its earliest stage. He stated that ITU will contribute to the development of the process through the academic programs it will launch in the field of engineering.

Expressing his gratitude to Prof. Dr. Odil Abdurakhmanov and all stakeholders for their hospitality, our Rector emphasized his belief that this collaboration, aimed at shaping a shared future for the Turkic world, will strengthen academic and scientific ties among the participating countries.

The International Turkic States University was designed as an umbrella model of higher education for the Turkic world, with founding partnership from ITU, METU, Hacettepe University, and Ege University. The foundation of ITSU was laid through a memorandum of understanding signed between the Council of Higher Education of Türkiye (CoHE) and the Uzbekistan Higher Education Council on April 7, 2025.

ITSU is set to commence education in the Fall semester of the 2025–2026 academic year, offering programs in engineering, information technologies, health sciences, and agriculture. The university aims to implement joint undergraduate and graduate programs, dual degree opportunities, student and faculty exchange initiatives, and multi-centered research projects.