Girne American University (GAU) Founding Rector and Chancellor of Board of Administrators Serhat Akpınar referred that the current campus has been enlarged in a way that 20 thousand students would take education and they have entered into a different period in which Karpaz Life Campus will be put into practice. Akpınar who answered the questions of Nazmi Pınar in the program called “Ada Raporu” which is broadcasted in Ada TV, stated that they have undertaken a very different missions and in addition to being a world university and having a worldwide acceptance, they have also carried Cyprus Universities Association (CUA) into practice and continued;

“As our sense of responsibility for our university is very strong, we are organizing many programs to enlarge our extent of representation and to increase and develop our reputation around the world. The steps we take at the moment deliver very successful results; this has a great importance for us, our university and TRNC.”

Master Plan for 2020

Akpınar who pointed out that a master plan has being prepared for 2020 and strategic development program is almost completed, stressed that “We take firm steps forward being the strongest university in the island and being the best in academic reputation”.

Akpınar explained that they have entered into a period which will provide Kyrenia to be the center of attention and to be structured in the fields of health and technology and stated that “We continue our preparation not only in health and technology but also in cultural centre, we expect it to be completed one and a half months later and it will provide the opportunity to organize the activities which have never been done up to today.”

Greatest Accomplishment of GAU

Akpınar explained the reason, although they have different companies, why they give particular importance to education by expressing “You need to understand your own reality, and share your thoughts with your workmates, and they need to understand you. This is the biggest accomplishment and unique attitude of GAU that we all appreciate, people, who participate in and create the holistic pieces of this family and who embrace our university is what brought us to these points.”

“Everything starts with an idea”

Akpınar: “Everything starts with thought and it was not possible for us to know how far we could go with this thought, however, today I realize that in such a development journey, we are open and hungry for many different developments. Now, I can confidently say that the following years will bring us to even better points.”

Importance of positive approach

Akpınar emphasized that he always questions himself about GAU and never thinks that they will fail in organizing any thought or project and “I always attach importance to positive thinking. It is really important” Akpinar says.

State should treat equally

Akpınar answered the question of “Does government has any contribution to you or did you come to this point with your own efforts?” by underlining that the government should treat all universities equally and the steps they take for the development of the universities should be equal, however, this year they came up against some approaches that fall afoul with this view. Akpınar emphasized that the government should develop an equal attitude against the departments which are planned to be opened by the current universities in TRNC and equal opportunities should be given to all universities.

GAU holds an international recognition

Serhat Akpınar, who indicated that higher education sector has been started to develop in Cyprus and it will continue to grow, referred that “As GAU, the biggest investment that we are making and have made is to provide our university to have an international recognition”. Akpınar mentioned about GAU taking a part in the social and institutive processes which many universities could not participate in, and referred the followings; “If equivalence and acceptability of our university can be seen by many countries and if students from these countries come to our university, it can be said that this is the biggest investment we have ever made”.