IIM Kozhikode terminates ties with Turkey's Sabancı University

Kozhikode/Kerala: Citing national interest, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Kozhikode announced that it has annulled its agreement with Sabancı University, Turkey, with immediate effect, reports The Indian Express (TIE).

Originally signed in 2023, the agreement was for a period of five years, outlining academic collaboration in the area of student exchange between the two educational institutions.

A statement issued by the IIM said that it unilaterally decided to nullify the agreement and terminate all associated academic engagements, citing national priorities, viewing the recent developments in the ties between India and Turkey.

IIM said that it has also communicated the decision to Sabancı University and has requested the immediate removal of IIM Kozhikode’s name from all official records, websites, and platforms affiliated with the Turkish university.

Director of IIM Kozhikode, Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, said in a statement, “At IIM Kozhikode, we place utmost importance on aligning our global engagements with the national interest. The decision to annul the MoU with Sabancı University has been taken after careful consideration and is in keeping with our institutional responsibility to uphold the values and priorities of our nation. We remain committed to fostering international collaborations that reflect mutual respect, strategic alignment, and shared national values,” TIE quoted.

The institution based in Kerala reiterated its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and to engaging with global institutions that resonate with India’s strategic and educational values.

IIM Kozhikode’s decision followed similar moves made by prominent Indian universities like Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Lovely Professional University (LPU) and IIT Roorkee.