Information released from the hospital said his family was with him at the time of his death. Ceremonies will be held for the deceased professor at Hacettepe University and Bilkent University on Saturday. He will be laid to rest the following day in the cemetery of Doğramacızade Ali Paşa Mosque after a ceremony at YÖK. Doğramacı had been hospitalized and treated in the intensive care unit for more than three months.
He was born in Arbil, a city in northern Iraq, in 1915. Having graduated from İstanbul University’s faculty of medicine in 1938, Doğramacı worked at several universities. He was the rector of Ankara University between 1963 and 1965 and the rector of Hacettepe University between 1967 and 1975. He also founded Turkey’s first private university, Bilkent University, in 1985. Four years later he became the president of YÖK, a seat he held for 11 years. Awarded the Republic of Turkey Medal of Eminent Service, Doğramacı knew English, French, German, Arabic and Farsi. He had three children including Professor Ali Doğramacı, who is currently the rector of Bilkent University.
Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertuğrul Günay released a statement after his death and expressed his sadness over Doğramacı’s passing. “Professor Doğramacı played a major role in the advancement and institutionalization of education in our country. He led establishment efforts for and significantly contributed to the promotion of Turkey through the positions he held in international institutions,’’ read Günay’s statement.
The late professor is known for the key role he played in the establishment and growth of universities in Turkey. YÖK, the controversial board he founded, has been harshly criticized by civil society in Turkey for its practices that have led to wide-scale discontent in the country. Being a product of the military administration years, YÖK made headlines with undemocratic moves even after the junta stepped down after multiparty elections were held in 1983. The much-denounced coefficient scandal affecting the lives of thousands of students and depriving them of their right to education was implemented by the board. In spite of efforts of the new YÖK head, Yusuf Ziya Özcan, and his team as well as popular backing, the unfair practice cannot be changed since the Council of State has abolished a regulation to get rid of the coefficient system.
