İstanbul Bilgi University shut down by presidential decree
President Tayyip Erdoğan issued a decree in the Official Gazette today shutting down İstanbul Bilgi University, one of Turkey's major foundation universities and the fourth ever established in the country.
The university's license was revoked in accordance with Additional Article 11 of the Higher Education Law No. 2547, the decree stated. This provision allows the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) to close a university if the quality of education at the institution is deemed inadequate and the "recommendations and warnings to remedy the situation" are not implemented.
The foundation running the university had been managed by a trustee since September as part of the seizure of Can Holding by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF).
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The university had previously stated that if it were to shut down, its students would continue their education at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (MSGSÜ), which was designated as the guarantor state university in 2021.
YÖK later issued a written statement, saying it would carry out the process without adversely affecting students and academic staff:
"The Council of Higher Education is taking the necessary measures without delay to ensure that our students do not face any disadvantages and that educational activities continue without interruption.
"The necessary procedures will be carried out without allowing any disadvantages to arise for our students or the administrative and academic staff working at our university.
"Detailed statements regarding this matter will be issued in the coming days. We strongly urge our valued students, their families, and the higher education community to follow accurate and up-to-date information regarding this process exclusively through the Higher Education Council’s official communication channels." (VK)
