Advancing Strategic Partnership and Academic Mobility Between OMÜ and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMÜ) consistently pursues initiatives designed to foster academic, scientific, and cultural cooperation with higher education institutions across the Turkic world. A prominent milestone in this ongoing journey is the advancement of international academic mobility under the esteemed Orhun Exchange Program, which opens new avenues for inter-institutional integration. Within this framework, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gulnara Taimanova from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, a leading higher education institution in Kazakhstan, has officially commenced her academic engagement at OMÜ.

On the first day of her visit, the OMÜ International Relations Office hosted a comprehensive orientation and informational program. During these productive sessions, the guest scholar was introduced to the university’s overall structure, advanced campus research facilities, and the rich historical and cultural potential of the city of Samsun. Both sides reviewed the core objectives of the Orhun Exchange Program and outlined the upcoming collaborative academic framework, establishing a solid baseline for fruitful cooperation.

Dr. Taimanova's itinerary features an intensive series of practice-oriented educational activities. Based at the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, she will deliver advanced lectures for undergraduate and graduate students. The primary focus of these sessions will be "Fundamentals of Quality Systems Auditing in Enterprises (ISO 9001:2015)", addressing contemporary quality management models and process reliability safeguards. Additionally, the curriculum covers "Auditing of Quality Management Systems and ISO 19011", focusing on certification standards, conformity assessment, and independent audit methodologies, alongside integrated enterprise standards such as environmental management (ISO 14001) and energy management (ISO 50001).

Beyond classroom instruction, a series of strategic meetings with faculty members and department leadership are scheduled. Key discussion areas include establishing integrated management systems, expanding long-term academic partnerships, and implementing joint research initiatives. A major anticipated outcome of these talks is the development of a double diploma program at the master's level, alongside the optimization of secondary academic advisory mechanisms for students. This comprehensive set of measures aims to elevate bilateral institutional cooperation to an unprecedented level, securing maximum synergy between the educational and scientific capacities of both brotherly nations.

Such comprehensive international endeavors contribute significantly and directly to global Sustainable Development Goals. They actively promote inclusive and equitable quality education (SDG 4), foster sustainable economic growth and efficient industrial standards (SDG 8), and strengthen robust long-term partnerships and networking across universities in the Turkic world (SDG 17).

We extend our sincere gratitude to OMÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın and the entire university administration for their continuous support, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to the success of the Orhun Exchange Program.