"YÖK's diploma report that will give İmamoğlu a headache"

25.02.2025 12:42

A report from the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) has emerged regarding the investigation launched against Ekrem İmamoğlu, based on the claim that his university diploma is fake. The report states that the processes related to recognition, horizontal transfer, horizontal transfer quotas, announcement periods, and acceptance of horizontal transfers by the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Business Administration at Istanbul University were not conducted in accordance with the decisions and procedures of the Council of Higher Education.

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The investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the allegations that İmamoğlu's bachelor's degree is fake is ongoing. Details of the report prepared by YÖK and sent to the prosecutor's office have been reached.

"THE UNIVERSITY IN CYPRUS DID NOT HAVE EQUIVALENCE AT THAT TIME"

The report states that İmamoğlu studied for 2 years in the English Business Administration Program at the University College of Northern Cyprus (UCNC) during the period he transferred laterally, and that his overall grade point average from all courses was 2.50, and it was recorded as follows:

"It is understood that he meets the conditions specified in Article 5 of the regulation on lateral transfers at the associate and undergraduate levels among higher education institutions, however, it was also noted that in 1990, when the individual made the lateral transfer, the University College of Northern Cyprus was not one of the universities recognized by YÖK, and the recognition of the relevant university was only decided by the Higher Education Executive Board in 1993. It has been understood that UCNC was not among the universities where lateral transfers could be made in 1990."

"LATERAL TRANSFER WAS NOT CONDUCTED PROPERLY"

In the report, which refers to the letters from YÖK dated 1988 and 1992, it was stated that only Eastern Mediterranean University was recognized among the higher education institutions operating in the TRNC, and it was expressed that "Considering the aforementioned correspondence, it is understood that the condition of recognition of higher education institutions abroad is sought in lateral transfer transactions, therefore, it has been seen that the lateral transfer transactions made from UCNC, which has no recognition, were not conducted in accordance with the decisions of the Higher Education Council by the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration at Istanbul University."

QUOTA NUMBERS INCLUDED IN THE REPORT

The report included information that in the decision numbered 2 of the meeting numbered 22 of the Management Board of the Faculty of Business Administration at Istanbul University dated June 27, 1990, the lateral transfer quotas were 15 for the second year, 10 for the third year, and 10 for the fourth year for the Business (Turkish) Department, and 10 for the second year, 5 for the third year, and 5 for the fourth year for the Business (English) Department, totaling 55 students.

In the announcement published in the Milliyet newspaper by the Istanbul University Rectorship on July 30, 1990, it was stated that for the Business Turkish program of the Faculty of Business Administration at Istanbul University, there were 15 for the second year, 15 for the third year, and 10 for the fourth year, and for the Business English program, there were 10 for the second year, 5 for the third year, and 5 for the fourth year, totaling 40 quotas for the Business Turkish program and 20 quotas for the Business (English) program. It was emphasized that the announcement in the relevant newspaper stated that lateral transfer applications could be made until the end of official working hours on September 14, 1990.

The report stated that in the decision of the Management Board of the Faculty of Business Administration at Istanbul University dated September 12, 1990, the total quota of 60 announced separately for the Business Turkish and Business English programs was increased by one-third for lateral transfers from universities abroad, raising it to 80.

"WHY WAS A DECISION MADE BEFORE THE APPLICATION DATE ENDED?"

It was stated that the quotas for the Business Turkish and Business English programs were combined in the Business English program, and in the decision of the faculty management board meeting dated September 12, 1990, it was reported that the lateral transfer applications of 51 students who applied for the Business English program from higher education institutions abroad were accepted. The report included the following statements:

"From the documents obtained and sent to us by the relevant university rectorship, it could not be determined how the university determined the lateral transfer quotas for Business Turkish and Business English under the relevant legislation, how the quota transfer and increase between the Business Turkish and Business English programs were carried out, why 51 of the determined quotas were used for the Business English program, and why the Faculty Management Board made a decision regarding the evaluation of lateral transfer applications in its meeting dated September 12, 1990, despite the announcement stating that applications would be accepted until the end of official working hours on September 14, Friday. There is no legal justification for these issues. Based on all these evaluations, it has been concluded that the issues of recognition, lateral transfer, lateral transfer quotas, announcement periods, and the processes related to the acceptance of lateral transfers were not conducted in accordance with the decisions and procedures of the Higher Education Council by the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Business Administration at Istanbul University."

WHAT HAPPENED

The investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the allegations that İmamoğlu's bachelor's degree is fake and the findings regarding the falsity of his diploma in the report prepared by the Higher Education Council is ongoing.

As part of the investigation, İmamoğlu, who was called to give a statement to the prosecutor's office on February 26, stated that he could not attend due to his public duty and submitted an excuse letter.

It has been learned that the prosecutor's office has given İmamoğlu a deadline to give a statement until March 5.