(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) >Turkey";s Higher Education Board (YÖK) has suspended four rectors amid a nationwide move against those suspected of having links to the July 15 failed coup attempt.
The rectors of the Yldz Technical, Gazi, Dicle and Yalova universities were suspended for 'the wellbeing of several investigations that are being carried out,” Anadolu Agency reported on July 20.
In a related case, a total of 95 academic personnel were suspended from Istanbul University.
YÖK also suspended all assignments of academics abroad and asked for the academics currently assigned abroad to return to Turkey.
In a written statement sent to both state and private universities, YÖK requested the suspension of the assignments of academics to foreign countries until further notice. It also demanded examinations of the situations of academics working abroad and said they should be called back if no necessity for them to be in a foreign country existed.
In addition, YÖK also asked the rectors of all universities to evaluate the situations of the academic and administrative personnel linked to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Structure (FETÖ/PDY) and take action against them.
The board asked for the results to be sent by Aug. 5.
Meanwhile, YÖK has accepted the resignations of 1,577 deans whom it asked to resign.
'We thank the universities for cooperating on this issue,” a statement released from YÖK on July 20 read, adding that the necessary assignments would be made as soon as possible.
YÖK on July 19 demanded the resignation of 1,557 deans on duty at all private and state universities throughout the country, of which 1,176 are from state universities and 401 are from private universities.