Between April 28 and May 2, 2025, Kadir Has University (KHAS) in Istanbul hosted International Staff Week 2025, a landmark event aimed at facilitating the exchange of experience and boosting professional development in the sphere of global higher education. The Technical University of Moldova was represented by Associate Professor Dr. Dinu Țurcanu, Vice-Rector for Digitalization, who emphasized UTM’s strong commitment to internationalization and innovation—key themes at the heart of the week’s agenda.
The event began with a welcome address by KHAS Rector, Prof. Dr. Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz, who captivated the audience with highlights of the university’s achievements. Notably, KHAS holds a prestigious position in international rankings. According to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, it ranks 8th nationally in Turkey and falls within the 801–1000 bracket globally. Particularly impressive is its performance in research, where it ranks 5th in Turkey and 440th globally, despite having a relatively small student population of 5,687 across all academic levels. KHAS also appears in the 551–600 range in the QS European University Rankings 2025.
Although KHAS is a private institution based in Istanbul, it sets itself apart through its emphasis on modern educational methods, especially Project-Based Education, which departs from traditional models. Internationalization is a cornerstone of its strategy, alongside robust partnerships with the business and technology sectors.
Rector Feyiz also highlighted KHAS’s dedication to cultivating practical skills and critical thinking. This philosophy is reflected in the small group sizes—no more than 25 students per class—allowing for personalized learning and close collaboration on interdisciplinary projects, often conducted with industry partners.
Research is a major focus for KHAS, proving that academic excellence and global impact are attainable even with a limited student body. The university hosts numerous research centers covering a wide range of fields, including European studies, human rights, artificial intelligence, and sustainable energy. The institution’s international character is another defining strength, with most programs offered in English and around 500 international students currently enrolled. KHAS is also an active participant in the Erasmus+ program and has established bilateral agreements with universities across Europe, the United States, and Asia, including UTM.
A highlight of the week was a presentation by Prof. Dr. Hasan Dağ, Vice-Rector for Research and Director of the KHAS Center for Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection (KHAS_CCIP). He presented the university’s remarkable ascent in research, pointing out its top ranking in Turkey for the proportion of publications in Quartile 1 journals (about 75%), over 140 projects in 2024, and an impressive average of 2.2 publications per faculty member—figures that speak volumes.
As a successful case study, the CyberMACS program (Master of Applied Cybersecurity) was presented. This two-year Erasmus Mundus-funded international master’s program is coordinated by KHAS in collaboration with SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (North Macedonia). CyberMACS includes winter and summer schools focused on critical infrastructure protection, OSINT, malware, and AI. These events feature expert-led lectures, hands-on workshops, CTF competitions, and industry visits.
The structure of the CyberMACS program allows students to spend their first year at KHAS, where they receive core training in cybersecurity, attend international events, and complete a mandatory two-month internship. In their second year, students choose a specialization and continue at either SRH Berlin (for Advanced Technologies in Cybersecurity or Cyber Security Management) or UKIM Skopje (for Web & Cybersecurity or Cryptology). The program concludes with a master’s thesis. Prof. Dr. Hasan Dağ serves as both general and academic coordinator of the program at KHAS.
Participants benefited from interactive sessions and presentations, exploring new paths for international collaboration. Among the key takeaways were the close integration of KHAS with the private sector, the quality of its academic programs, and its focus on applied research—all seen as best-practice models.
UTM Vice-Rector Dr. Dinu Țurcanu praised KHAS as a model of academic excellence and international cooperation. He extended appreciation to Mr. Okan Mergen, Erasmus and Exchange Office Manager, and his team for their warm hospitality and in-depth presentation of the university. In a brief presentation of UTM, he outlined its strong profile in engineering, IT, and applied sciences, its reputation for fostering innovation and interdisciplinary research, and its leadership in digital infrastructure and sustainable technologies in Moldova—all of which reflect its commitment to academic and scientific excellence.
Dr. Țurcanu also congratulated Prof. Dr. Hasan Dağ on KHAS’s research achievements and expressed strong interest in initiating collaborative efforts between UTM—particularly through the National Institute for Innovation in Cybersecurity “Cybercor”—and KHAS in the field of cybersecurity. He concluded that UTM’s participation in International Staff Week 2025 at KHAS marks an important step in strengthening international relations and opening new opportunities for academic and research collaboration.
