Rector, Prof. Dr Erdal DURSUN graduated from Çankaya University, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering. He started his professional career at Bilkent University Technology Development Zone in 2008. In 2009, he received his master’s degree in his field, and in 2014, he received his doctorate. He carried out his post-doctoral studies at Southern University Institute of Management, Business and Law.
Between 2009 and 2013, he served in public service as an Electronics Engineer and Technical Auditor at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). He received various operational trainings in Türkiye and abroad. He served as the Founding President of the Aviation Safety Institution (HEK) Association. As a result of the successful project studies he prepared before the Ministry, he was awarded an Official Certificate of Appreciation. He pioneered the capacity building, sectoral cooperation and global market access activities of various higher education institutions.
In 2013, he served as Rector’s Advisor at the University of the Turkish Aeronautical Association (THK). In 2015, he was appointed as a faculty member and served as the Director of the Vocational School. Subsequently, he was appointed as Secretary General of Istanbul Rumeli University and then Secretary General of Istanbul Esenyurt University. To contribute to the visibility of the National Transport and Logistics Policies of the Republic of Türkiye, he worked as a writer and page manager in Türkiye Newspaper. He worked as General Manager at Expert Aviation Flight Academy and as an Adviser to a 27th Term AK Party Member of Parliament at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).
He carried out many institutional activities in Europe, the Balkans, the Turkic Republics and Arab regions. In 2019, within the scope of the Turkish Academic and Scientific Cooperation Project (TABIP) under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a cooperation protocol was signed between the Yunus Emre Institute and the Institute of International Students (IOIS). In line with the “350,000 international students target” of the President of Türkiye, Yunus Emre Institute carried out transnational visibility, awareness and recognition activities for higher education. He participated in many education programmes broadcast live on A Haber, CNN Türk, NTV, 24 TV, Bloomberg HT and Akit TV, guiding and mentoring young generations on their career journeys.
He performed expert witness and consultancy duties in various public sector processes, primarily within the Ministry of Justice. He took part in legislative working groups of institutions. As a result of his orientation towards law, he completed the Justice diploma programme at Anadolu University and obtained the title of justice professional staff. Subsequently, he completed the Legal Counselling training at Fatih Sultan Mehmet Foundation University.
He was appointed as President of the Executive Board of the Global Power Union (GPU), Vice President of the Flight and Ground Safety Inspection and Evaluation Board of the Turkish Air Sports Federation (THSF) under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Vice President of the Internationalisation and Development Foundation for Higher Education (YUGEV). On 14 May 2023, he became a candidate for Ankara 3rd Region AK Party Member of Parliament in the 28th General Elections.
As a result of the evaluation of 2 books, 6 book chapters, 12 scientific articles (9 international and 3 national) and 6 academic papers according to international criteria, he was awarded the title of professor in 2023. He was appointed as the Founding Rector of the International Science and Technology University, established to support the policies of the United Nations and the Council of Europe for Disabled and Disadvantaged Groups.
