Selçuk University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Emrullah Eken attended the opening program of the "8th International KOP Regional Development Symposium" organized in cooperation with the Konya Plain Project (KOP) Regional Development Administration and the Union of Universities in the KOP Region (UNIKOP).

The symposium, which started at NEVU Culture and Congress Center hosted by Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University (NEVU), will last for 3 days.

2021 UNİKOP Term President and NEVU Rector Prof. Dr. Semih Aktekin, Selçuk University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Emrullah Eken, KOP Regional Development Administration President Mahmut Sami Şahin, university rectors and vice-rectors in the KOP Region, academic staff, sector representatives and guests attended the opening of the symposium.

NEVU Rector Prof. Dr. Semih Aktekin made the opening speech of the symposium, which started with a music concert by NEVU Faculty of Education Music Education Department lecturers.

Prof. Dr. Aytekin said that the Presidency of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), in cooperation with the Ministry of Development, attaches great importance to the specialization of universities in order to both increase the contribution of universities to the region where they are located and to encourage specialization in certain fields. Aytekin said, "We are hosting the symposium where 18 sessions will be held and 90 papers will be presented under the main headings of agriculture, alternative energy resources, global economic security, information technologies and cyber security, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear threats and tourism. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the symposium, which I think will make great contributions to the development move of our region and our country by turning into projects and programs in the coming period."

Mahmut Sami Şahin, President of KOP Regional Development Administration, stated that within the scope of the "Regional Development Oriented Mission Differentiation and Specialization Project" implemented by YÖK, they are carrying out joint projects related to the specialization areas of universities.