Secretary General

Nihat YILDIZ was born in Çorum in 1963. He graduated from the Faculty of Political Sciences of Ankara University in 1988. He attended the English preparatory programme at Middle East Technical University and holds a Master's degree (with thesis) in Public Administration from the Public Administration Institute for Turkey and the Middle East (TODAİE).

Between 1990 and 2004 he served at the Ministry of Interior as Local Administrations Controller, Chief Controller and Deputy Head of the Board; between 2004 and 2008 as Deputy Mayor of Ankara Mamak Municipality; between 2009 and 2018 as Deputy Mayor of Ankara Keçiören Municipality; and between 2019 and 2022 as Deputy Secretary General of Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality.

He has three published research studies and books: “External Administrative Audit of Municipalities in Türkiye – 1998”, “Transfer of Urban Traffic Services to Municipalities – 2001” and “Basic Information for Mayors and Municipal Council Members – 2004”. He has also published dozens of articles, studies and reviews — some of them peer-reviewed — on public administration, public audit and local services in various journals and publications.

He has delivered legislative training to mayors, municipal council members, and ministry and local government staff and managers in more than 100 programmes organised primarily by the Ministry of Interior, as well as by the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, governorships, metropolitan, provincial and district municipalities and other local administration unions.

He has carried out observations, research and studies on administration, auditing and local services in many countries, including EU member states, the USA, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

He has been serving as the Secretary General of our University since December 2022. He speaks English well. He is married and the father of two children.