17-05-2025
Sharda University ends MoUs with Turkish institutions amid diplomatic row
Sharda University has officially ended its academic collaborations with Istanbul Aydin University and Hasan Kalyoncu University in Turkey. The move comes after the increasing diplomatic freeze between India and Trkiye, with the university attributing alignment with Indian national interest as the rationale for the suspension puts an end to student exchange programmes, collaborative research activities, and joint academic programmes. A number of Turkish students pursued studies at Sharda University each year under these programmes. The university, however, has put an end to all such initiatives action joins other Indian universities -- like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia, and Lovely Professional University (LPU) -- which have also pulled out of joint initiatives with Turkish change in position is a response to Turkey's strong voice for Pakistan amid the escalating tension between India and its neighbour, especially in the aftermath of India's cross-border raids against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Kashmir occupied by OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY MEA ON MoU'SAlthough there has been no formal directive from the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of External Affairs, colleges and universities in the country seem to be re-examining global academic connections, especially with countries that are seen as not being supportive of Indian strategic and security move comes against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, under which India's air defence forces are said to have de-activated more than 600 aggressive drones launched from the other University officials stated that the move is indicative of its "institutional commitment to national priorities" and further stated that students already pursuing joint ventures would be counselled on a case-by-case basis.
