Gdańsk, Poland – Sivas University of Science and Technology (SivasUST) has successfully expanded its international footprint by participating in the 2nd Forum of Rectors of Poland and Türkiye, held on May 8, 2026. Gathering 150 participants from 79 institutions across both nations, the prestigious event was organized to strengthen academic ties and transition from declarations to highly concrete arrangements and agreements.

Leading the Discussion on Dual-Use Technologies A major highlight of the forum was Panel I, titled "Development of Dual-Use Technologies at Technical Universities in Poland and Türkiye". SivasUST Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kul represented the university as a distinguished panelist.

Moderated by Prof. Marek Pawełczyk, Rector of Silesian University of Technology, the panel explored the critical role of technical universities in adapting defense-grade innovations for broader civilian applications. During his speech, Rector Kul emphasized SBTÜ’s "boutique" university model and its highly specialized R&D infrastructure. He showcased how SBTÜ acts as an agile bridge between the defense sector and academic innovation, demonstrating the university's capability to solve complex engineering challenges.

Expanding Horizons: The Polish-Turkish Studies Centre Beyond the formal signing ceremonies, SivasUST actively engaged in strategic academic diplomacy. SivasUST International Relations Coordinator Fatih Kurtoğlu held a comprehensive meeting with Prof. Wojciech Grabowski, Head of the newly established Polish-Turkish Studies Centre at the University of Gdańsk. The discussions focused on aligning SivasUST’s advanced dual-use and defense technologies—such as the civilian application of unmanned aerial vehicles—with broader sustainable development goals. Adopting a shared "filling the gaps" philosophy, the two institutions agreed to launch targeted academic initiatives. This includes planning a joint seminar on the "Change in the International System" for November 2026, and collaborative organization for a Middle East Congress scheduled for April 2027.

Moving Ideas into Concrete Agreements Living up to the forum's core objective of forging genuine cooperation, SBTÜ cemented its international partnerships during the dedicated inter-university agreement signing session.

Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kul officially signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) and Erasmus+ agreements with six of Poland's leading technical and thematic universities. These strategic partnerships include:

·         AGH University of Krakow: Signed with Rector Prof. Rafał Dańko.

·         Cracow University of Technology: Signed with Rector Prof. Andrzej Szarata.

·         University of Agriculture in Krakow: Signed with Rector Prof. Andrzej Sechman.

·         Bialystok University of Technology: Signed with Rector Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk.

·         Koszalin University of Technology: Signed with Rector Prof. Danuta Zawadzka and Vice-Rector Prof. Krzysztof Wasilewski.

·         Gdańsk University of Technology: Signed with Rector Prof. Krzysztof Wilde.

These agreements mark the beginning of comprehensive joint R&D projects, advanced engineering consortia (including Horizon Europe initiatives), and extensive academic mobility between SivasUST and its Polish partners, further strengthening the scientific bridge between the two nations.