Tuesday, 15th September 2026

Riphah International University has strengthened its international academic network by signing agreements with three leading Turkish universities — Yıldız Technical University, Dokuz Eylül University, and Sabancı University — opening new avenues for academic collaboration, research, innovation, and international engagement.

The agreements were signed during a series of high-level Türkiye–Pakistan higher education engagements in Islamabad, following bilateral discussions between the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, and the Council of Higher Education (CoHE), Türkiye.

A high-level reception hosted by OIC-COMSTECH on 14 September at Islamabad Club provided an important platform for networking and engagement among senior academic leaders from Pakistan and Türkiye. The event was graced by Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar (S.I.), Chairman HEC, and H.E. Dr. İrfan Neziroğlu, Ambassador of Türkiye to Pakistan, and brought together rectors and representatives of leading universities, including institutions with which Riphah already maintains strategic academic relationships.

As part of the University's continued internationalization efforts, Riphah formalized partnerships with three distinguished Turkish institutions:

• Yıldız Technical University (YTÜ): A historic institution with strengths in engineering, science, technology, and research.
• Dokuz Eylül University: A major Turkish public university with a broad academic portfolio and strong emphasis on research and multidisciplinary collaboration. Dokuz Eylül University has also confirmed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Riphah International University as part of the Türkiye–Pakistan higher education engagements.
• Sabancı University: A leading Turkish university recognized for its interdisciplinary approach, research, innovation, and international academic engagement.

The agreements are expected to provide a framework for expanding student and faculty engagement, academic collaboration, joint research, knowledge exchange, and other forms of institutional cooperation, subject to the specific arrangements agreed between the partner institutions.

Riphah International University was represented at the engagements by Mr. Hassan Muhammad Khan, Chancellor; Prof. Dr. Yawar Hayat Khan, Deputy Vice Chancellor; M. Nauman Mansoor, Head of the International Office; and Prof. Dr. Abdulhamit Birışık, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH).

The development marks an important step in Riphah's ongoing efforts to expand its global academic footprint and establish meaningful partnerships with internationally recognized institutions. The University's growing network of international collaborations is intended to create opportunities for its students, faculty, and researchers to engage in cross-border academic and research activities.

The newly established partnerships with Turkish universities also create a foundation for long-term institutional collaboration and cross-border innovation, supporting Riphah's broader commitment to internationalization, research development, and globally connected higher education.

Through these partnerships, Riphah International University continues to strengthen its position as an institution focused on developing meaningful international academic relationships that can contribute to learning, research, innovation, and institutional growth.