A comprehensive cooperation protocol was signed between the University of Kyrenia, the first and only university of TRNC specializing only on aviation and maritime studies, and Piri Reis University, which is one of the oldest maritime institutions of Turkey, specializing only on maritime studies.

According to Press and Public Relations Directorate of University of Kyrenia, a comprehensive protocol was signed between the University of Kyrenia, the first and only university of TRNC and Eastern Mediterranean geography specializing only on aviation and maritime studies, and Piri Reis University, which is the only university of Turkey established by Foundation of Turkish Maritime Studies and Chamber of Maritime of Turkey to specialize only on maritime studies. The protocol signed in Nicosia on 7th March 2015. Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu, the President of Board of Trustees of University of Kyrenia, and on behalf of Piri Reis University, Prof. Dr. Oral Erdoğan, Rector of Piri Reis University, signed the protocol.

The protocol signed between University of Kyrenia and Piri Reis University includes comprehensive cooperation on academic, social, cultural and other issues of common interest of both institutions. Profi Dr. Oral Erdoğan delivered a speech at the ceremony and said that today over 85% of the commercial goods of the world, of which the total value has reached up to 20 trillion dollars, are carried throughout the maritime sector and a vast amount of commercial relations of the world are conducted through maritime affairs, and moreover, the need to services of the maritime sector in the world is increasing gradually, and thus, training and educating qualified mariners and developing cooperation amongst the institutions specializing on the same subjects is much important in order to make advances in maritime sciences.

Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu, also delivering a speech at the protocol ceremony, stated that much more and greater contributions will be made to meet the needs of the maritime sector through the cooperation between two subject specialist universities of Cyprus and Turkey, and the studies that will be carried out in cooperation will much contribute to scientific fields and to public needs of both countries. Following the signatures, parties have exchanged rememberance plaques and presents related to maritime life.