YÖK's New President: Yusuf Ziya Özcan

The four-year term of the former president of the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Prof. Dr. Erdogan Tezic, ended on 8 August.

President Abdullah Gül then appointed Prof. Dr. Yusuf Ziya Özcan, a sociologist at the Ankara Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) and the vice-president of the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK).

Özcan began his duty yesterday and has announced that he would try to tackle all kinds of problems at universities, and, in order to do so, would "meet with whomever necessary."

Freedom of expression a priority 

He expressed the opinion that universities should be places were there was freedom of expression and where ideas could be discussed freely:

"The problems of the universities are clear from YÖK's own reports. Once I [start my office], I will sit down, look at the problems, make a list of priorities and start addressing them."

The appointment of Özcan caused controversy in some circles, as he has openly opposed the headscarf ban in the past. He had said: "Because there will be a free environment, some will give up wearing the headscarf. Those not wearing a headscarf have unnecessary fears. If there is freedom, there will be a more liberal democracy. Then this issue will become irrelevant. There will never be peer pressure."

The NTV news reported that Özcan's wife Kivilcim Metin Özcan is a graduate of Oxford and teaches at the economics department of Bilkent University in Ankara. It was emphasised that she does not wear a head covering.

Speaking in his first interview with the Anatolia News Agency yesterday (11 December), Özcan addressed university staff and students, saying: “My message would be that in the upcoming period they will see a university that is freer, where both students and instructors will be allowed to express their thoughts freely. I do believe that they will appreciate this very much, and I want universities to be places like that.”

Who is Yusuf Ziya Özcan?

According to the Radikal news, Özcan was born in 1951. After graduating from Ankara University, he completed his Masters and PhD at the University of Chicago. He then joined the teaching staff of ODTÜ in Ankara and has continued his career at this university.

Özcan has written numerous books and articles on issues in Islam and concerning the police force. He was influential in deciding on the collaboration of ODTÜ university with the police in "anti-terrorism" issues.

Özcan is also the chairman of the Science and Experts Committee at the International Strategic Research Foundation (USAK).

In addition, he is co-founder of the Pollmark Market and Public Research Company which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan employed for surveys before the general and the presidential elections. (GG/AG)