higher education

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar unexpectedly quits

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Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar unexpectedly quits

Leo Varadkar announced he would step down as Ireland’s prime minister, believing a new leader would increase the coalition government’s chances of reelection. He has asked his Fine Gael party to elect a new leader by April 6, after which parliament will vote on the new prime minister post-Easter. Varadkar, who became the first gay prime minister of Ireland in 2017 and resumed office 15 months ago, cited personal and political reasons for his resignation. His departure does not trigger a general election, which must occur by March 2025. The main opposition, Sinn Fein, currently leads in polls over Fine Gael and their main coalition partner, Fianna Fail. Potential successors include Simon Harris, Simon Coveney, Paschal Donohoe, and Helen McEntee. Varadkar’s government has seen economic recovery post-COVID-19 but faced challenges with housing and asylum seeker pressures. Ireland lifted its abortion ban and legalized same-sex marriage during his tenure. Varadkar has no immediate personal or political plans following his resignation.

North rules out amnesty for fake diplomas

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North rules out amnesty for fake diplomas

Nazim Cavusoglu, the ‘education minister’ of the north, announced on Tuesday that there will be no amnesty for individuals who obtained fake diplomas without using them. He emphasized that his ministry does not support those who have committed wrongdoings and is against making any concessions in this matter. Both the government and opposition agree on the need to eliminate dishonest practices in the higher education sector. The ministry is also considering transferring fake diplomas to the police for forgery prosecutions. Opposition party CTP MP Sila Usar Incirli criticized the higher education accreditation authority (Yodak) for its inability to effectively oversee higher education and stressed the urgency of addressing the issues within the north’s higher education system, highlighting their significant impact on the country.

Tatar, ’s bodyguard ‘lost phone on way to police station’

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Tatar, ’s bodyguard ‘lost phone on way to police station’

Serif Avcil, the bodyguard of Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, claimed he lost his phone on the way to the police station, according to police sergeant Bilger Koral. Avcil was arrested and had his second court hearing where it was revealed he registered for a master’s degree at Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University on June 5 last year, but the university’s records showed his enrollment date as February 2, 2022. Fake course grades were entered for Avcil, allowing him to graduate top of his class on June 19. He also claimed to not know where his diploma certificate was. Avcil was given a further six-day remand for not assisting the police by hiding evidence. Dervish Refikler, general secretary of the north’s higher education accreditation authority, was also in court for taking bribes related to the accreditation of KSTU’s medical school. Items including laptops and a diploma were seized from Refikler’s house, and he too was given a further six-day remand.

Turgay Avci resigns as Yodak chairman

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Turgay Avci resigns as Yodak chairman

– Turgay Avci resigned as chairman of the north’s higher education accreditation authority (Yodak) on Friday.
– Avci resigned after a scandal involving alleged forgery of diplomas and bribes in the north’s higher education sector.
– Avci and former Yodak board member Mehmet Hasguler are accused of taking under-the-table payments during the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU)’s medicine school’s application for Yodak accreditation.
– Both Avci and Hasguler were released on bail.
– Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar had called for Avci’s resignation and instructed the north’s supreme court to fire him.
– Yodak’s deputy chairman, Hasan Amca, took temporary charge of the authority amid the criminal proceedings against Avci.

‘We should ask why there are so many medical schools’

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‘We should ask why there are so many medical schools’

Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar addressed the “fake diploma scandal” affecting the north’s higher education sector. He mentioned criticism regarding the excessive number of medical and dental schools relative to the population and suggested that the north’s higher education accreditation authority (Yodak) might have been negligent. Tatar had previously called for Yodak chairman Turgay Avci to resign due to allegations of bribery during the accreditation process of the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU)’s medicine school. The north’s ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel stated the ‘government’ is actively addressing the issue to minimize negative impacts on the higher education sector and emphasized the importance of justice and maintaining the country’s reputation.

Tatar, ’s daughter insists diploma is real

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Tatar, ’s daughter insists diploma is real

Canev Tatar, daughter of Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar, insisted that her diploma from the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU) is authentic, despite the university being involved in a diploma forgery scandal. She graduated from the University of the Arts London in 2015 and has been involved in artistic and personal development activities. Tatar expressed disappointment and offense over accusations against her, asserting she completed the required coursework and exams at KSTU. She provided evidence of her studies, including Whatsapp conversations, a PowerPoint presentation, and her diploma certificates from both universities. High-profile arrests linked to the fake diploma scandal at KSTU include former ‘education minister’ Kemal Durust and his wife Meray Durust, as well as Yodak chairman Turgay Avci and former board member Mehmet Hasguler, all of whom are currently on bail.

Eyes on , ‘MP’ in north’s fake diploma scandal

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Eyes on , ‘MP’ in north’s fake diploma scandal

The scandal involving “fake diplomas” in the north’s education sector continues to unfold, focusing on UBP MP Emrah Yesilirmak and the authenticity of his business administration degree from Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU). MPs in the north have immunity from criminal proceedings with certain exceptions, but this does not prevent investigations. The Cyprus Massachusetts Centre of Innovation is linked to a criminal network involving forged student visas, leading to several arrests. The north’s higher education accreditation authority (Yodak)’s deputy chairman, Hasan Amca, takes charge amid criminal proceedings against its chairman, Turgay Avci, and former board member Mehmet Hasguler, both arrested for accepting under-the-table payments during KSTU’s accreditation process. Senior judge Gokhan Asafogullari is investigating Avci’s conduct.

Michaelidou outlines priorities for next school year

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Michaelidou outlines priorities for next school year

Education Minister Athena Michaelidou outlined her priorities for the next school year, aiming to create an education system that forms skilled, responsible citizens with a democratic ethos, historical identity, and respect for diversity. The ministry’s priority is transitioning to a modern, human-centered, and inclusive school to improve learning outcomes. Policies are divided into six pillars: educational policies, human resources, administrative structures and infrastructure, higher and lifelong education, sports, and youth. A new assessment system abolishing midterm examinations in all subjects in secondary education was implemented. The government plans to enhance higher education through internationalization, modernization, and labor market connections, increase scholarships, and has announced a €10 million fund for purchasing modern equipment, including 10,000 computers and 1,000 video projectors. Measures to address pupil behavior and attainment issues are being adopted, with free and compulsory education from the age of four to be introduced. Eight international memoranda of understanding have been signed, a pilot German language program in middle and high schools, and an action plan for Cypriot sports development, focusing on school sports and infrastructure upgrading, have been announced.

Tatar moves to fire education chief

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Tatar moves to fire education chief

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar filed a case to have Turgay Avci, the head of the higher education committee (Yodak), fired. Tatar received complaints regarding not firing Avci, who is a former ‘education minister’. The dismissal of Avci is contingent upon an evaluation by the ‘court’, according to the ‘law’ on higher education. This action follows allegations against Avci related to the Cyprus University of Health and Social Sciences in occupied Morphou. Avci, facing these allegations, gave a statement to the police and was hospitalized in northern Nicosia due to hand pain. He was taken to court over allegations of fraudulently obtaining 926,286TL (€27,451) through 19 invoices from six different companies.

Greek parliament approves private foreign universities, bucking protests [PHOTOS]

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Greek parliament approves private foreign universities, bucking protests [PHOTOS]

Greece’s parliament passed a bill allowing foreign private universities to establish branches in the country, approved by 159 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated the legislation aims to reduce the number of Greek students studying abroad and align Greece with the rest of the European Union by boosting competition in higher education. The bill has faced weeks of student protests, with concerns over the devaluation of public university degrees and job prospects. Additionally, the government’s reform agenda includes a same-sex marriage law passed last month. Greece allocates 3%-4% of its GDP to education, below the EU average, but the bill includes provisions for increased funding for state universities.