The 5th Ahi Evran International Congress on Scientific Research, jointly organized by Kırşehir Ahi Evran University and the Institute for Economic Development and Social Research, took place in Dubai between May 16–18, 2025. The congress brought together scientists, researchers, and academics from 26 different countries, including Dr. Abdulla Khalfan Saeed Al Kindi, Deputy Minister of the UAE Ministry of Health, and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kazankaya, a faculty member of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University. The event featured original academic studies and discussions on current developments in various fields, such as social sciences, educational sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, and technology.
The opening speech of the 5th Ahi Evran International Congress on Scientific Research was delivered via video conference by the Honorary President of the Congress and Rector of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil. Providing information about the congress, Prof. Dr. Karahocagil stated that the Ahi Evran International Congress on Scientific Research had previously been held three times in Kırşehir and once in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. He emphasized that this year’s congress in Dubai was also held with a high level of participation. Prof. Dr. Karahocagil continued his speech as follows: “This hybrid congress is organized to bring together prominent scientists, researchers, and academics from around the world to present their research, share knowledge and ideas, and discuss original academic studies and current developments in the fields of social sciences, educational sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, and technology. At the 5th Ahi Evran International Congress on Scientific Research, a total of 245 papers will be presented either in-person or online—131 of them from 26 different countries and 114 from Türkiye. The presentations will be delivered in Turkish, Azerbaijani Turkish, Russian, and English.”
Rector of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil, also provided participants with an overview of the university. He stated that the university, named after Ahi Evran-ı Veli, was established in 2006 and currently operates on five campuses. He continued: “Our university comprises 10 faculties, 3 schools, 7 vocational schools, 3 graduate institutes, and 24 research and application centers. With a student population of approximately 22,000—around 2,500 of whom are international students—our academic and administrative processes are carried out by about 1,000 academic and 700 administrative staff members.” Prof. Dr. Karahocagil also provided detailed information about the university’s quality assurance initiatives, which have positioned Kırşehir Ahi Evran University as a role model in Turkish higher education despite being a young institution with the motto “On the Path of Ahi Tradition Towards Excellence.” Highlighting the development of internal quality assurance systems, he noted that the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS), developed by the university and sold to 20 higher education institutions, enabled the university to obtain the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certificate for all its units. He concluded his remarks by stating:
“In 2022, KAEU received a 5-year Full Institutional Accreditation from the Institutional Accreditation Program conducted by the THEQC. In 2023, we also implemented the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model across all units and were honored with the EFQM 5-Star Recognized for Excellence Award.”
In addition to the university's quality initiatives, Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil noted that Kırşehir Ahi Evran University was designated as a specialized university in the fields of agriculture and geothermal energy as part of the regional development-focused specialization project carried out by the Council of Higher Education (CoHE). He stated that six major projects have been implemented under this scope: Clustering in Thermal Greenhouses Roughage Production Walnut-Oriented Development and Growth Geothermal-Based Rehabilitation Center Traditional and Complementary Medicine Sports Medicine Research, Application, and Thermal Rehabilitation Projects At the end of his speech, Rector Karahocagil extended his heartfelt thanks to all the scientists who participated in and contributed to the 5th Ahi Evran International Scientific Research Congress. He expressed his hope that the congress would be productive and successful.
At the congress, held with a high level of participation, Congress Chair Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kazankaya gave a presentation about the Ahi Evran International Scientific Research Congress, which has become a well-established academic brand.
The congress continued with various sessions until May 18, 2025.