IIM Kozhikode ends academic ties with Turkey’s Sabancı University, citing national interest

IIM Kozhikode has cancelled its academic partnership with Turkey’s Sabancı University, citing national interest as the primary reason.

The decision comes just months after the two institutions had signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September 2023, focused on student exchange and joint academic programs.

The Indian Institute of Management announced that the collaboration has been unilaterally and immediately terminated.

It has also formally asked Sabancı University to remove all mentions of IIM Kozhikode from its websites, digital platforms, and institutional records.

“This decision wasn’t taken lightly,” said Professor Debashis Chatterjee, Director of IIM Kozhikode. “At IIM Kozhikode, we place utmost importance on aligning our global engagements with the national interest.”

The development follows a growing trend among Indian universities reviewing or ending collaborations with Turkish institutions over concerns related to strategic and diplomatic alignment.

Recently, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Lovely Professional University, and IIT Roorkee have also taken similar actions.

On May 15, Jamia Millia Islamia suspended all MoUs with Turkish universities, stating on X, “Due to national security considerations, any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and any institution affiliated with the Government of the Republic of Turkey stands suspended with immediate effect, until further orders.”

JNU and Kanpur University have also cut ties with Turkish counterparts.

JNU ended its partnership with Inonu University, declaring, “JNU stands with the nation,” while Kanpur University withdrew from its agreement with Istanbul University, calling Turkey a “strategic ally of Pakistan.”

Chatterjee emphasized that while international collaboration remains a key objective, IIM Kozhikode will pursue it only “where there is mutual respect and strategic alignment.”

The move signals a broader shift in India’s higher education landscape, where global partnerships are being increasingly scrutinized through the prism of national interest and geopolitical considerations.