Atatürk University in Erzurum has made the AtaZeka platform available to use generative artificial intelligence in academic and administrative processes and protect data. The approximately 1500-square-meter data center provides infrastructure for local artificial intelligence models with a capacity of 10 thousand servers; expanding CPU-based servers and high-performance computing capabilities is planned. The platform can be used for answering questions, preparing documents and texts, and creating visuals. Questions entered into the system and uploaded documents are stored on the university’s infrastructure and are not taken outside the campus.
With the support of YÖK (Turkey’s higher education regulatory council), the university opened departments of artificial intelligence and data engineering, and data science and analytics. The number of micro-credential programs is targeted to increase to 100 by the end of 2026 and to 1000 by September 2027. Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hacımüftüoğlu said that, in line with the 2026-2030 Artificial Intelligence Action Plan, they were focusing on production, human resources, data, and computing infrastructure. The university’s policy board consists of 27 faculty members, 2 administrative staff members, and 8 student representatives.
Why it matters
AtaZeka’s operation within the university’s infrastructure highlights the principle that information and documents should not be transferred to external systems while academic and administrative users benefit from generative AI. This preference aims to reduce security concerns over who retains control of data, particularly in units working with institutional documents; however, the report does not clarify the platform’s usage limitations or the processes in which it will be rolled out more widely. Addressing the data center investment together with the departments opened in artificial intelligence, data engineering, data science, and analytics shows that the university is moving toward establishing a structure that not only uses tools but also trains human resources in this field. The micro-credential targets also indicate that this capacity is intended to be expanded through different educational pathways; however, their impact on the daily workflows of students and staff is not explained.
Background
The university is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we published a news report mentioning the name in the last 90 days; that article was dated September 2, 2026.