AKP’s Social Policies former deputy head Prof. Dr. Hamdullah Şevli, who was assigned to Van Yüzüncü Yıl University (YYÜ) two years ago by President Recep T. Erdoğan. The president also recently appointed a loyalist rector to Boğaziçi University and has named trustee deans to other departments of the university in Van.

YYÜ is one of the examples in which the government tramples the norms of the academy. The ruling AKP appoints its own cadres in public offices. The appointment of Şevli as rector opened a new chapter in AKP’s trustee’s rule.

The Maritime Faculty, which is unable to provide education to its students, is allowed to be operated by YÖK (The Council of Higher Education) while not technically competent. Persons with non-maritime education were appointed to positions such as vice dean and head of department.

Most of the faculty’s students are sent to Karadeniz Technical University (KATÜ). The entire staff has literally become cash dispensers. Far from research / development, the university is full of pro-government staff members.

Assigned to YYÜ Maritime Faculty as vice deans and department heads, Assoc. prof. Berna Oto belongs to the Faculty of Science, Assoc. prof. Mehmet Şeremet belongs to Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Assoc. prof. Murat Rakap is a member of the Academic Board.