McPherson University Deepens Global Academic Collaboration Through Erasmus+ Exchange With Karabük University

McPherson University, Nigeria, has strengthened its international academic footprint through the Erasmus+ Mobility Exchange Programme in partnership with Karabük University, Turkey, hosting a delegation of scholars for intensive engagements in Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence.

The exchange programme is designed to promote academic cooperation, enhance research collaboration, and foster long-term institutional partnerships between both universities, with additional prospects for reciprocal staff and student mobility.

The Vice-Chancellor of McPherson University, Prof. Francis Igbasan, received the visiting delegation and described the partnership as a strategic step toward deepening global academic engagement. He expressed optimism about sustained collaboration that would allow faculty and students from both institutions to benefit from cross-border academic exposure.

Prof. Igbasan also encouraged students and staff to fully engage with the visiting scholars, emphasising the importance of active participation in lectures and discussions. He noted that the programme would extend beyond McPherson University to include academic engagements at the Federal University of Technology, Akure.

Delivering a keynote lecture, Prof. Caner Özcan of Karabük University’s Faculty of Computer and Information Science spoke on “Big Data, Machine Learning & Applications.” He explained how distributed computing systems such as Apache Spark and Hadoop (HDFS) are used to manage large-scale data characterized by high volume, velocity, and variety.

He also highlighted his research portfolio spanning 2017 to 2025, including TÜBİTAK and TUSEB-funded medical research projects, showcasing applications of deep learning in areas such as early cancer detection, dental anomaly recognition using FDI notation systems, and advanced 3D deep learning models for kidney structure segmentation.

Another presentation was delivered by Prof. Sait Demir of the Department of Software Engineering, Karabük University, who focused on functional brain connectivity and neuroimaging data analysis. He examined how brain networks can be modeled as mathematical graphs using phase synchronization techniques to study neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and Parkinson’s disease.

Prof. Demir also presented a comparative study involving beta frequency band (13–30 Hz) analysis from 36 volunteers engaged in continuous arithmetic tasks. His findings identified a “paradox of focus,” suggesting that high-performing individuals exhibit stronger resting-state connectivity while selectively pruning unnecessary neural connections during cognitively demanding tasks.

The leader of the delegation, Prof. Ismail Rakıp Karaş, Vice Rector of Karabük University, commended McPherson University for its hospitality and the quality of intellectual engagement demonstrated by students during the sessions. He stated that the level of participation exceeded expectations and reflected the institution’s strong academic training standards.

He further praised the university’s serene learning environment and infrastructural development following a guided campus tour.

The Erasmus+ Mobility Exchange Programme between McPherson University and Karabük University is positioned as a strategic platform for advancing international research collaboration, particularly in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and software engineering.

The partnership is expected to expand future exchange opportunities and reinforce both institutions’ commitment to innovation, cross-cultural academic development, and the training of globally competitive graduates.