The VIIth International Turkic World Congress on Science and Engineering (TURK-COSE 2025), organized under the leadership of Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University (NOHU-Türkiye) and in cooperation with the University for Business and Technology (UBT-Kosovo), Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU-Azerbaijan), Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University (KTMU-Kyrgyzstan), and Ahmet Yesevi University (AYU-Kazakhstan), was successfully held in Pristina, Kosovo, from 13–15 November 2025.
The opening ceremony was attended by UBT Rector Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi, NOHU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Uslu, KTMU Rector Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan, AzTU Rector Prof. Dr. Vilay?t M?mm?d oğlu V?liyev, AYU Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Naci Genc, representatives from Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, and senior academic and institutional officials from Europe, Asia, and Africa.
In his opening speech, UBT Rector Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi highlighted that the congress provides an important platform for academic cooperation and scientific interaction between Turkic World countries and the Balkan region:
“We are very pleased and honored to host such a prestigious international event as TURK-COSE 2025 at UBT. This congress aims to bring together the brightest minds in science, technology, engineering, and innovation to build new international collaboration bridges. It will contribute to UBT’s commitment to excellence as a center where theory meets practice, education meets industry, and academic vision meets societal development.”
NOHU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Uslu emphasized the congress’s role in strengthening scientific ties between countries:
“The gathering of distinguished scholars from the Turkic World and different regions in Pristina holds great significance for academic interaction. I believe the congress will make important contributions in areas such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, nanotechnology, smart cities, and renewable energy.”
Rector Uslu also highlighted the recent achievements of NOHU:
“Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, a shining star in higher education and science in Anatolia for nearly half a century, has achieved remarkable progress in the past four years. Our university is the only public university in Türkiye specialized in hydrogen and fuel cells and among 11 pilot universities for sustainable and climate-friendly campus initiatives, as well as the recipient of the Best Zero Waste Practice Award. Last year, we ranked 293rd in the Greenmetric World Green Campus Ranking. In TÜBİTAK student projects, we were 4th among 208 universities in Türkiye. Additionally, we ranked among the top 500 worldwide in the Interdisciplinary Science Ranking by Times Higher Education (THE), one of only 45 Turkish universities included. Our university continues to hold leading positions in many national and international rankings.”
He underlined NOHU’s strong internationalization strategy and emphasized its pioneering role as a bridge of science, culture, and art across the Turkic and cultural geography from Turkistan to the Balkans, following the principle of unity in language, thought, and action.
Finally, Rector Uslu expressed his gratitude to the partner universities — UBT, AzTU, KTMU, and AYU — and wished that the congress contributes to the Turkic World and science.
KTMU Rector Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan highlighted the transformative role of science and technology in the age of artificial intelligence:
“We live in an era where science does not only observe nature but creates systems that can learn and think. AI has become the common language of all sciences. Such congresses are idea laboratories where future discoveries are born and bridges of collaboration between generations of scientists are built.”
AYU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Naci Genc emphasized the congress’s role in fostering regional and international cooperation:
“Events like TURK-COSE not only facilitate the sharing of academic knowledge but also strengthen friendship and partnership between our countries. I believe the ideas, presentations, and collaborations arising here will positively contribute to the scientific and technological development of the region.”
Prof. Dr. Murat Barut, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Director of the Kazakh Culture and Education Research and Practice Center at NOHU, responsible for the academic organization of the congress, stated that the 2025 program included 14 thematic sessions covering Architecture, Agricultural Sciences, Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer, Electrical-Electronics, Environmental, Food, Geological-Mining, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, and Medicine. A total of 278 papers were presented — 131 from Türkiye and 147 from Kosovo, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Germany, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, North Macedonia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Somalia, South Korea, Spain, Sudan, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
Prof. Dr. Barut also noted that NOHU has awarded 25 PhD degrees to scholars from Kosovo — 15 in Science and Engineering, 10 in Social Sciences. He expressed his pleasure in reuniting with the graduates from Science and Engineering — Besian Sinani, Fitim Zeqiri, Kenan Maxhuni, Valon Veliu, Arben Avdiu, Halil Demolli, Labinot Topilla, Riad Morina, Shkelzen Shabani, Osman Fetoshi, Albulene Emini, Fitore Gashi, Astrit Shala, and Flamur Salihu — and congratulated them for their dedication and success during their PhD studies. Special thanks were given to Assistant Prof. Dr. Besian Sinani at UBT for his significant contributions to the successful organization of the congress.
Prof. Dr. Barut concluded by stating that TURK-COSE 2025 is a symbol of unity among our nations, and expressed his hope that such gatherings, where science and friendship know no borders, will continue to strengthen mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation, thanking all rectors and participants for their support and contributions.