A university transformed by Erasmus: Anadolu’s international face

Anadolu University’s educational ties with the European Union, which were established in 2003 thanks to Erasmus, have been emphasized by the Director of Anadolu University International Relations Unit, Lecturer Dr. Zekiye Doğan. Anadolu University became one of the pioneering universities in Turkey by starting its educational ties with the European Union in 2003. The process of establishing cooperation took off with the Erasmus program and became the university’s biggest step towards internationalization.

Selennur Kurugöl

A small office became the center of a big change

In 2003, with the establishment of the National Agency of the European Commission in Ankara, Erasmus Coordinatorships were established in universities in Turkey, as in all EU member states. The International Relations Unit at Anadolu University also began to serve as the Erasmus Institutional Coordinator. This unit took the first step in the field of international relations, which did not yet have an official framework in Turkey in those years.

With participation in the Bologna Process meeting organized at Mustafa Kemal University in 2003, Anadolu University’s integration into the European higher education system accelerated. Applications such as the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), diploma supplement, and qualification framework were implemented. ECTS training was provided in all faculties, and credit calculations were made for 17 thousand courses.

Anadolu University became the first university in Turkey to fully adopt the ECTS system

In the 2004–2005 academic year, Anadolu University completed the implementation of the diploma supplement along with the ECTS system, becoming the first in Turkey in this field. The university participated in international fairs for Erasmus agreements and established cooperation with more than 1.200 universities within three years.

Lecturer Dr. Zekiye Doğan served as the Coordinator of the International Relations Unit and Erasmus Institution Coordinator from 2004 to 2011. Anadolu University ranked first among Turkish universities in terms of the number of students sent abroad with Erasmus. In addition to sending many students abroad, Anadolu University also welcomed 300–350 international students each year.

The university was not limited to student mobility. It took part in the management of the European Erasmus Coordinators Association, provided training to other universities in Turkey, and participated in projects such as Erasmus Mundus and Erasmus Plus. The impact of Erasmus programs on faculty and students has left lasting and meaningful traces, not only academically but also in terms of cultural and social transformation.

Over time, the lack of English courses at Anadolu University had a negative impact on collaborations. By 2025, the number of agreements with foreign universities had dropped from over 1.200 to 350. Anadolu University aims to rise again through alternative programs such as study abroad and K2.

Today, although Erasmus numbers have declined due to low grants, Anadolu University’s internationalization process is being sustained through new strategic partnerships. Support organizations such as ARİNKOM TTO aim to develop European Union projects and pave the way for new collaborations.