The aim of High Level University Representatives Forum was creating a high-level platform in order to discuss opportunities and challenges regarding internationalization of and regional cooperation on higher education. The Forum brought together around 60 high-level administrators and professionals at International Offices of the universities from Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Turkey and Turkmenistan in a technical setting with three roundtables dedicated to active discussion of subjects. In the first session, the participants discussed student mobility within the ECO Region, sharing numbers from their institutions and explaining their efforts about future projects. The second roundtable was dedicated to strengthening scientific research collaboration in the ECO Region and resource sharing regarding libraries, educational technologies and systems and laboratories. In the last session, the experts discussed institutionalization of higher education cooperation, with a special focus on accreditation, credit transfer and accumulation systems, consortia, recognition of qualifications and joint degree programs. Participants coming from more than 30 universities in the ECO Region had an occasion to meet each other and share their ideas, ongoing projects, challenges and establish partnerships.
ECOEI President Prof. M. Akif Kireçci, rectors and vice-rectors from the participating universities gave opening speeches. Prof. Kireçci announced a new website to be launched by ECOEI: studyineco.org, a platform that aims to promote student mobility within the ECO region by facilitating the initial research of prospective students on educational opportunities offered by universities in the region. The participating universities were invited to submit the necessary information regarding their institutions to be uploaded on the website.
