Number of universities in North Cyprus increasing at an alarming rate - a positive or negative?

A report has it that the number of universities operating in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus has increased significantly, raising a number of questions including how many of these learning institutes can the country accommodate.

Sometime earlier this month, we brought you a report that there had been a 10% decrease in the number of students applying to study in the TRNC. But that report has not stopped potential universities from establishing in the country.

On Tuesday, Turkish Cypriot daily ‘Yeni Duzen’ rolled out a report stating that a large number of private universities in Turkey have begun plans to open a university in the TRNC. 

At present about seventeen universities are currently operating in the TRNC starting from the new academic year beginning in September.

One of the university campus in North Cyprus

And if these huge numbers is added to the current seventeen universities, that may throw the numbers upwards.

According to the paper, two new universities, the Bahcesehir Kibris University and the Arkin University of Creative Arts are the latest additions to the list. And as reported too on Tuesday, the Aydin University has also applied for operating permission.

The same report from another Turkish Cypriots daily, ‘Halkin Sesi’ also expresses its concerns over the increased number of universities established in the TRNC citing that twenty other universities from Turkey have applied for operating permission to the TRNC Ministry of Education.

No doubt universities in Northern Cyprus are the new destination for many foreign students of which majority are from Africa.  

They go to universities in the west hoping for a chance at a better education away from the traditional one back home, but coming here most are often disappointed with what is on offer. (That will be a topic for another day).

There are currently more than 100 000 students in Northern Cyprus, spread over 17 universities with six universities taking the lead which includes: The Girne American, Near East University, Middle East Technical University, European University of Lefke, and Cyprus International University.

So with the increasing number of  universities in the island,

-How will the country deal with the increase in the number of students with limited infrastructure to cope with the demands?
-How will an increasing number of universities in the TRNC help improve the standard of education in the country?
-How competitive can these institutions be? will it be positive or negative?  
-No doubt the increasing number will boost the country's economy but how does it benefit foreign students in the island? 

By Olomo