Turkey is aiming to treble the number of international students at its universities.

The country¡¯s?president, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, has announced that he wants to attract about 350,000 foreign students by 2022, up from the current 115,000, which would?put Turkey?in the world¡¯s top-five study abroad destinations.

¡°We not only open up our schools to visiting students, but our hearts as well,¡± said?Mr Erdo?an at the 11th International Students Gathering in Istanbul, the?reported.

He added that ¡°all students will get health insurance without waiting three months¡± and?that he would examine ways to retain highly skilled foreign graduates.

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¡°In the past, hundred[s of] thousands of guests have been educated in our country, and they have returned to their home countries. We have not established a mechanism for continuing the relationship with these students,¡± said Mr Erdo?an, who added that ¡°no matter where they are coming from, we would like to continue our relations with them in the future¡±.

The announcement comes amid Turkey¡¯s ongoing crackdown on political dissent, which has led to the dismissal of almost 6,000 academics and 151,000 public servants over their alleged links to the banned G¨¹lenist group, which?Mr Erdo?an blames for the failed military coup of July 2016.

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Last month, 16 academics from the Istanbul Technical University, one of Turkey¡¯s top universities, were jailed over membership of the G¨¹lenist group, which is viewed as a terrorist organisation, according to the website.

Five of the academics were sentenced to six years and three months in jail, while eight academics were jailed for seven and a half years. Other sentences ranged?from three to four years.

The trial for a further 19 accused academics continues.

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com