Karabuk — A delegation from the University of Darussalam Gontor visited Karabuk University on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. The delegation consisted of Prof. Dr. Amal Fathullah Zarkasyi (President of UNIDA), Prof. Dr. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi (Rector), Ahmad Saifulloh, Ph.D. (Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine), and dr. Ilyu ‘Ainun Najie’, M.Kes. (Head of the Medical Education Program).
Karabuk University is one of UNIDA Gontor’s strategic partners in Turkiye, with a longstanding collaboration in the fields of education, research, and community service. Currently, three lecturers of UNIDA are pursuing doctoral studies at Karabuk University, alongside dozens of Gontor alumni enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programs there.
The visit began with a tour of the Faculty of Medicine, where UNIDA delegation was warmly welcomed by the Dean, Prof. Dr. İsmail AK. During an engaging discussion, Prof. Hamid explained that UNIDA’s Faculty of Medicine was recently established and is actively seeking to learn from world class institutions such as Karabuk University. To enhance the quality of education, international collaboration is essential. In this context, the Deputy Dean and Head of the Medical Education Program presented seven research proposals to be jointly developed with faculty members from Karabuk’s Faculty of Medicine. The proposals were well received, and the Dean expressed readiness to coordinate with his faculty to follow up on the initiatives.
Following the discussion and a visit to several laboratories—including microbiology, histology, and anatomy labs—the UNIDA team proceeded to the rectorate for a meeting with Karabuk University leadership. They were received by Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Hasan Solmaz and Prof. Dr. İsmail Rakıp Karas. After deliberating on several potential collaboration programs, both institutions signed a renewal of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was nearing expiration.
The visit concluded with a meeting at the Faculty of Ilahiyat (Theology), where UNIDA Gontor delegation engaged with the dean and several faculty members. The meeting resulted in agreements for future collaboration, including involving UNIDA lecturers in dissertation proposal examinations and supervising doctoral students at the faculty.
Author: Ahmad Saifulloh
