News of coronavirus-related university closures has arrived. Following reports of COVID-19 cases in Turkey, Istanbul Kadir Has University announced it is suspending in-person education. Bahçeşehir University also stated that it will continue instruction online. The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) has called an emergency meeting in Ankara at 18:00 tonight for rectors from 207 universities to assess the situation.
In the United States, leading institutions such as Harvard and MIT announced they will suspend on-campus education through the end of summer because of the coronavirus. After these international developments and the first confirmed case in Turkey, Kadir Has University became the first Turkish university to decide on a temporary closure. The university informed students and faculty that in-person activities are suspended until March 20, 2020, and the campus will remain closed until that date.
Bring the Second Midterm Break Forward
Bahçeşehir Education Institutions’ chairman Enver Yücel recommended moving up the planned midterm break. He suggested that the one-week break the Ministry of National Education planned for April 2020 should begin immediately due to coronavirus concerns. MEF University announced it is restricting faculty travel abroad. Staff who nonetheless travel internationally will be required to undergo 14 days of quarantine upon return before being allowed back on campus. MEF also decided to expand online instruction to all faculties starting Monday.
Around 100 Schools Have Shifted to Online Education
Bahattin Durmuş, honorary president and founder of Kavram Education Institutions, reported that vocational colleges and schools across the country—more than 100 in total—have opted to move to online instruction because of the coronavirus. He added that the decision has been communicated to all students and teachers.
The Council of Higher Education President Yekta Saraç is expected to clarify how all universities should respond during the emergency meeting with the 207 university rectors at 18:00. Depending on the meeting’s outcome, it is possible that a wider suspension of university activities could be announced.