The Director of Elabuga branch of KFU, Ms. Yelena Merzon, is in Safranbolu (Turkey) in a business trip. There was a Cooperation Agreement signed between our University and Karabuk University on the 25th of March with a view to establish, develop and broaden academic cooperation.

The following activities are planned to be carried out in the framework of this agreement: bilateral exchange of and cooperation between teachers, research workers and students; joint research project implementation; organizing of academic programs, courses, seminars, scientific conferences; exchange of literature, textbooks, university publications and periodicals.

Safranbolu, which is translated from Turkish as “Saffron city”, is a small historical town located in two-hour drive from the capital of Turkey, Ankara. For successful attempts to preserve its heritage as a single whole Safranbolu has been included in UNIESCO World Cultural Heritage List: it is extremely rich in constructions demonstrating a nice pattern of Turkish architecture, which have been well preserved in their original environment.

In January, 2009 Elabuga and Safranbolu became twin towns, and it’s not an occasion, as these towns have much in common: a historical past, well preserved cultural heritage memorials (and it is not for nothing that both Elabuga and Safranbolu are called “museum in the open air”) and ample opportunities for tourists. Safranbolu is very popular with tourists: in spite of the fact that this town is not located on the shore, especially loved by Russians, over three hundred thousand tourists from all over the world annually visit it, despite the fact that its population makes a bit more than 50 thousand people.

There are 180 universities in Turkey at the moment. Universities use a standard training system consisting of 3 stages: Bachelor’s Degree Program, Master’s Degree Program and post-graduate studies (doctoral studies). Turkey is one of the Bolognese Agreement countries, and many of Turkish universities take an active part in a student exchange program.

Karabuk University is a state institution of higher education. It was founded in 2007 as one of the 17 new Turkish universities of that period. The motto of this University is: “Your Home for Contemporary Education”.

Karabuk University comprises 4 institutes (the Institute of Social Sciences, the Institute of Medical Sciences, the Institute of Natural Sciences, the Institute of Metallurgy), 12 departments (over 70 profiles), 3 colleges, 7 technical vocational colleges, higher and vocational schools (for instance, Higher School of Elderly Care, Nutrition and Dietology School, Higher School of Business Management). Today 22 thousand students study here.

The meeting ended with a bilateral cooperation agreement signing, exchange of presents and “Friendship Trees” planting in the Botanic garden.