Joint Declaration of the Second Eurasian Silk Road Universities Convention
Convened in Erzurum on June 3-6, 2011.
We, the 141 participants from 24 countries of 93 Universities, assembled at Atat�rk University in Erzurum for the Second Eurasian Silk Road Universities Convention �from 3 to 6 June, 2011. The first had �participants from 18 countries of 59 Universities, totally 221 participants from 28 countries of 115 Universities.
The Conference mainly focused on the following key themes

• Institutional Autonomy and Academic Freedom
• The role of Higher Education in the international and social relations
• Challenges in Higher Education
• �International cooperation
• Globalization in Higher Education and Role of Eurasian Universities
• The importance of reforms in Higher Education
• Governance in Higher Education Institutions.
• Model of Modern University

Participants analyzed and discussed the trends and new perspectives that have arisen as a result of social, economic, political and cultural changes and the impact of these trends on higher education.
The main focuses were university cooperation, scientific and cultural bridges in higher education. Additional goals were to increase the internationalization of Higher Education institutions and to formulate ESRUC Consortium.
Consortium
As a result of two successful ESRUC conventions initiated by Atatürk University, we had the pleasure of declaring the establishment of the ESRUC consortium here at Atatürk University, Erzurum/Turkey. The attended institutions of the first and second ESRUC are the founding institutions of ESRUC Consortium.
ESRUC Consortium Headquarters and Secretariat are located at Atatürk University, Erzurum/Turkey. The President of ESRUC Consortium is Professor Dr. Hikmet KOCAK and the secretary general is Professor Dr. Sebahattin TÜZEMEN. The executive board consists of the president, the secretary general and 7 other representatives of founding institutions.

Therefore, the Executive Board of the Consortium is as follows:

• Prof.Dr. Hikmet KOCAK, Atatürk University, Erzurum-Turkey

������ President of ESRUC Consortium

• Prof.Dr. Mumtaz AHMAD, International Islamic University, Pakistan
• Prof.Dr. Alessandro MARTIN, University of Padua, Italy
• Prof.Dr.Timur-Ochir SANJBERG, National University of Mongolia
• Prof.Dr. As�lbek AYDARALIEV, International University of Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan
• Prof.Dr. Jafar Jafarov, Azarbaijan Tourism Institute, Azarbaijan
• Prof.Dr. Mohd. Saleh JAAFAR, University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
• Prof.Dr. Zurab VADACHKORIA, Tbilisi State Medical University, Georgia
• Prof.Dr. Sebahattin TÜZEMEN, Atatürk University, Turkey

Secretary General of the Consortium
Taking into account the recommendations, ESRUC Consortium commits itself  to  promote the transformation of higher education institutions and to define the role of universities accordingly.

Also believing that international co-operation and exchange are major avenues for advancing higher education throughout the world.
Providing the First ESRUC conclusions are also valid, ESRUC Consortium intends to;
- establish the links between higher education,
- facilitate innovative educational approaches by way of critical thinking and creativity,
- strengthen co-operation with the world of studies and analyze societal needs.
- share knowledge across borders and continents
- achieve the mentioned  goals  by recasting the curricula, using new and appropriate methods, so as to go beyond cognitive mastery of disciplines.
Criteria
To be eligible for ESRUC Membership, you must be:

• Higher Education Institution,
• observing the ethics norms of the ESRUC Consortium,
• on the Silk Road which is a network of routesacross the Eurasian continent, connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean world, as well as North, East and North-Africa and Europe,
•  The membership is realized on a voluntary basis and institutionally.

Membership
The principle of solidarity and true partnership amongst higher education institutions worldwide is crucial for education and training in all fields that encourage a global understanding .
The practice of faculty and student exchange programmes and institutional linkage to promote intellectual and scientific co-operation should be an integral part of all higher education systems.
Membership amongst teaching and related staff, researchers and students, and administrative and technical personnel in institutions of higher education is a powerful force in managing change. Membership based on common interest and mutual respect and credibility, should be a prime matrix for the renewal of Higher Education.
Academic networks
It is through network-building that the region's institutions of higher education can unite and share the scientific and cultural potential they possess for analyzing and proposing solutions for strategic problems.
We, the members of the �Eurasian Silk Road Universities Convention Consortium , adopt this Declaration and hereby undertake to attain these objectives – within the framework of our institutional competencies and taking full respect of the diversity of cultures, languages, national education systems and of University autonomy.
We pledge to act together within the frame of our individual and collective responsibilities, by taking all necessary measures in order to realize the principles of higher education.
We decide to meet annually in a member institution in order to assess the progress achieved and the new steps to be taken. The first annual meeting after the establishment of the Consortium, i.e  the 3rd ESRUC should be conducted by Atatürk University to strengthen the institutionalization.