Turkish institute to open 100 offices worldwide by 2023

The culture and education organization of the Yunus Emre Institute has laid out a 15-article road map for its 2023 goals during a recent advisory meeting in Ankara.

The meeting, attended by the institute's advisory board, prominent academics, bureaucrats and representatives from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), set forth that the institute will strive to establish 55 centers on five continents by 2017 in efforts to strengthen communicative ties with the international community.

The Yunus Emre Institute, which was established in 2007, has developed projects in 34 countries with 42 cultural centers since 2009. The centers two main goals are teaching Turkish abroad and promoting Turkish culture and the arts.

Yunus Emre Institute President Şeref Ateş told the attendees that the fundamental principle of the organization is to convey Turkish culture and its significance to the world. Culture and Tourism Ministry Deputy Secretary Ali Şahin also said that the Yunus Emre Institute has become an important actor in Turkey's cultural diplomacy. Attendees of the advisory meeting decided to increase the number of centers to 55 on five continents by 2017 and 100 centers worldwide by 2023.

Another crucial topic in the meeting was the institute's focus on expanding its activities throughout the Americas, Africa and Central Asia as part of Turkey's political course. In line with efforts to further Turkish education and promote universal use of the Turkish language, the institute will establish Turkology departments in various countries and provide support to countries where such departments already exist. Attendees also agreed on the establishment of active working groups which will establish sustainable, interdisciplinary and intercultural projects.