National Intelligence Academy (MİA)

The National Intelligence Academy is a higher education institution established within the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) of the Republic of Türkiye, aiming to provide graduate education and conduct scientific research and publication activities in the fields of intelligence and national security. The Academy has been structured with the objective of transferring Türkiye’s institutional knowledge in intelligence to the academic level, enhancing strategic capacity, and systematically treating intelligence as a field of science.

Establishment and Legal Basis

The National Intelligence Academy was established under Article 7 of the Law No. 7437 on Amendments to the Higher Education Law and Certain Other Laws, published in the Official Gazette No. 32099 on 9 February 2023, and pursuant to Additional Article 3 appended to Law No. 2937 on State Intelligence Services and the National Intelligence Organization. The Academy commenced operations on 6 January 2024, a fact announced by MİT President İbrahim Kalın on 10 January 2024 during the Organization’s 97th anniversary.

Institutional Vision and Mission

The vision of the National Intelligence Academy is to create a qualified Turkish intelligence community open to global interaction within the competitive environment of a multipolar world, to shape intelligence efforts in Türkiye according to the nation’s unique needs, and to foster an understanding that provides strategic foresight and guides transformation.

The mission is to contribute to Türkiye’s strategic vision, conduct scientific research in intelligence and security, develop academic education modules that promote analytical thinking and original research, train qualified personnel in this direction, and enrich international literature with Türkiye’s security expertise.

Structure and Academic Organization

The National Intelligence Academy consists of two main institutes and various research centers:

1. Institute of Intelligence and Security Studies

The Institute implements graduate programs in fields such as intelligence, security, and regional studies. Its programs aim to enhance students’ knowledge of theory, methods, and concepts, strengthen their analytical thinking capacity, and equip them with the skills to contribute meaningfully to their respective fields.

• Intelligence Studies Program: Aims to provide students with a broad perspective through courses in economics, sociology, psychology, and international relations alongside intelligence theory and methodology.
• Security Studies Program: Focuses on hybrid threats, terrorism, migration, strategy, and geopolitics.
• Regional Studies Program: Aims to develop strategic analysis capabilities based on local languages and field research in regions such as Africa, the Turkic World, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, the Balkans, and Europe.

2. Institute of Engineering and Natural Sciences

Established to understand and guide the rapidly evolving intelligence and security ecosystem through new technologies. The Institute implements graduate programs in strategic areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, cryptography, satellite and space technologies.

• Computer Engineering Program: Focuses on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data science.
• Electrical-Electronics Engineering Program: Aims to build technical capacity through modules such as cryptography, digital design, and power electronics.

Research Centers

The research centers established within the National Intelligence Academy conduct scientific studies aligned with Türkiye’s security priorities.

• Regional Research Center: Analyzes regions identified as strategic priorities for Türkiye and the global power balances within them. The Center employs a multidisciplinary approach integrating international relations, sociology, economics, culture, and history.
• Intelligence and Security Research Center and Cyber and Electronic Intelligence Research Center, according to the statement of Academy President Prof. Dr. Talha Köse, were the first centers to become operational. These centers support strategic analysis production through scientific workshops and symposia.

Academic Staff

The Academy’s academic staff consists of expert faculty members in their respective fields.

• President: Prof. Dr. Talha Köse
• Vice Presidents: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yenal Göksun, Lecturer Dr. Hakkı Uygur
• In addition, Prof. Dr. Nurşin Ateşoğlu Güney, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sarısaman, Prof. Dr. Ali Özgün Ok, Prof. Dr. Mevlüt Tatlıyer, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erhan Akkaş, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serdar Şahabettin Güner, Lecturer Dr. Merve Önenli Güven, and other academics serve on the faculty.

Institutional Identity and Emblem

The MIA logo is designed in white on a “Turkish red” background. The sharply defined “MIA” form symbolizes naturalness, simplicity, and continuity. The elongated “İ” letter refers to determination and persistence. An alternative version of the logo in white on a black background is also available.

Areas of Activity and Events

In addition to education, research, and publication activities, the National Intelligence Academy organizes various workshops, panels, and congresses. These include the “International Intelligence Studies Congress,” the “MIA Lectures” series, the “Republic and Intelligence” event, and the “Artificial Intelligence, Society and Security Workshop.” The Academy also publishes strategic reports such as “The 12-Day War and Lessons for Türkiye,” “Artificial Intelligence, Society and Security,” “Intelligence Sharing in the Turkic World,” and “Far-Right Movements in Western Countries.”

Academy President Prof. Dr. Talha Köse

Prof. Dr. Talha Köse graduated from the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Boğaziçi University (2000). He completed his master’s degree at Sabancı University (2002) and his doctorate at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University (2010). He has served as department head at Istanbul Şehir University and Ibn Haldun University, and held directorships of the Public Table and Brussels Table at SETA. His research covers conflict resolution, peacebuilding, Turkish politics, identities, and radicalization.