BARÜ Science Café Discusses the Future of Higher Education in Gaza
16 Eylül 2026
At the Science Café event held by Bartın University (BARÜ), the effects of the war in Gaza on higher education and students’ struggle to continue their education were discussed, while the importance of academic solidarity was emphasized.
As part of the “Science Café for Gaza” events launched under the leadership of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) on the occasion of World Peace Day on September 1, a program was organized by the BARÜ Office of Science Communication. At the event titled “A Struggle for Existence: The Future of Higher Education in Gaza,” the current state of higher education in Gaza and the steps that can be taken to rebuild and strengthen educational and scientific infrastructure were discussed.
Attention Drawn to the Educational Dimension of the Destruction in Gaza
The program, held at the Çeşm-i Cihan Conference Hall at BARÜ, featured Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Akkaya and Prof. Dr. Mahmud Kaddum from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences as speakers and began with the screening of a short film on the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza. Speaking afterward, Prof. Dr. Mahmud Kaddum stated that many people have been displaced in Gaza since October 7, 2023, and that civilians and living spaces have suffered extensive destruction.
Prof. Dr. Kaddum said, “The destruction in Gaza cannot be considered merely physical destruction. Damage to a society’s academic heritage, scientific memory, and educational infrastructure directly affects that society’s future. It is extremely difficult for a society without lawyers, scientists, researchers, and engineers to move forward again. Serious efforts are currently being made to enable education to continue in Gaza. There is data indicating that campuses have been partially or completely destroyed. At this point, Türkiye’s initiatives to strengthen higher education in Gaza constitute an unparalleled example of solidarity. As the child of a Palestinian mother, I am not merely an academic watching Gaza from afar; I am also a witness to your support.”
Rector Akkaya: “The Destruction of Education Means the Destruction of a Society’s Future”
Rector Akkaya began his speech by referring to the words of YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar: “This time, Science Cafés will make the voices of Gaza’s students, academics, scientists, and universities heard across all corners of Türkiye.” He then recited Mehmet Akif İnan’s poem “Al-Aqsa Mosque” and drew attention to the severe destruction faced by higher education in Gaza. He said, “Israel’s attacks on the Palestinian education system are explained in academic literature through various theoretical concepts. United Nations experts use the term ‘scholasticide’ to describe the systematic destruction of an education system. This word refers to a situation carried out consciously and deliberately, in which a region or nation is deprived of its efforts toward the future and deliberately denied access to educational opportunities.”
“As Scientists, We Must Make Gaza’s Voice Heard”
Drawing attention to the profound impact of the loss of human life in Gaza on the higher education community, Rector Akkaya said, “If a country’s higher education system is destroyed, its knowledge base, technology, and culture of coexistence are essentially destroyed as well. What can we do as universities? We should publish studies addressing Gaza, including publications indexed in WoS and Scopus. As academics, we should raise awareness through what we write. We should tell the story of Gaza everywhere. We organized many events on this issue last year, and we continue the boycott activities across our University’s units. Our doors are always open to students coming from Gaza. We must keep sensitivity toward Gaza alive on international platforms.”
At the program, a plaque was also presented to Rector Akkaya by a student attending on behalf of the Palestinian Students Association. The Science Café event titled “A Struggle for Existence: The Future of Higher Education in Gaza” concluded with the hope that the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza would come to an end and that education and science would flourish once again.
BARÜ Communications Coordination Office
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