“Academic Gathering and Vision Workshop” Held at IZU

The “Academic Gathering and Vision Workshop,” organized by the İlim Yayma Foundation (IYV), was held with the participation of Constitutional Court Member Prof. Dr. Ömer Çınar, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın, Chairman of the IYV Board of Trustees Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, IYV General Director İdris Tankut Küsmezer, as well as rectors and academics from IZU, Atatürk University, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Hitit University, Kars Kafkas University, and Kocaeli Health and Technology University.

Organized by the IYV Academic Advisory Board, the “Academic Gathering and Vision Workshop” took place at the Historical Building Museum Hall of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University. The program, attended by Constitutional Court Member Prof. Dr. Ömer Çınar, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın, President of the Council of Forensic Medicine Dr. Hızır Aslıyüksek, Chairman of the IYV Board of Trustees Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, IZU Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Cevat Acar, Atatürk University Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hacımüftüoğlu, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Cengiz Köseoğlu, Hitit University Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Osman Öztürk, Kocaeli Health and Technology University Rector Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Elmas, Kars Kafkas University Rector Prof. Dr. Hüsnü Kapu, IZU Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. İsmail Küçük and Prof. Dr. Erhan İçener, IYV General Director İdris Tankut Küsmezer, and academics, began with a breakfast.

AYDIN: WE SHOULD TAKE PRIDE IN REVERSE BRAIN DRAIN
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın highlighted the progress Türkiye has made in science and technology. In his speech addressing the questions “What does TÜBİTAK do, and why does it do it?”, Aydın emphasized the importance of R&D activities, noting that needs have diversified and increased in the age of technology. Stating that “TÜBİTAK has a guiding and supportive role in the national science ecosystem,” Aydın said that the recent phenomenon of “reverse brain drain” demonstrates the progress Turkish academia has made over the past twenty years, adding: “What is often complained about as brain drain actually points to a picture we should be proud of. Those who leave take positions in developed countries and quickly adapt to their environments thanks to the education they received in our country. Such rapid adaptation would not have been imaginable twenty years ago.”

ERDOĞAN: WE MUST ENCOURAGE PROMISING YOUTH TO ACADEMIA
Chairman of the IYV Board of Trustees Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan recalled that the foundation has served with the aim of educating people since its establishment. Stating, “We carry out our graduate and doctoral scholarships, IYV Awards, and other major initiatives with this motivation. Through project and publication support, as well as international support programs, we aim to encourage academics and promote scientific studies,” Erdoğan also mentioned new regulations introduced on the occasion of the Year of the Family. Emphasizing that successful high school students should be encouraged toward academia, Erdoğan underlined that these efforts are at least as important as supporting current academics.

ACAR: IZU HAS MAINTAINED AN UPWARD TREND FOR 15 YEARS
Expressing his satisfaction at hosting the meeting, IZU Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Cevat Acar spoke about the history of the university and the academic activities carried out over its 15-year journey. Stating, “We have been on a continuous upward trend for 15 years. We also expect contributions to our university from academics working at different universities,” Acar addressed current issues faced by academia, noting that academia must produce answers to questions such as, “How can we use distance education effectively and efficiently under changing technological conditions? How can we adapt artificial intelligence to education and research processes?”

BALİN: WE NEED HUMAN RESOURCES THAT THINK WITH THEIR OWN VALUES
Chairman of the IYV Academic Advisory Board Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abit Balin began his remarks by stating that since 1973, IYV has sought to serve in line with educating people, encouraging knowledge production, and supporting social development. Saying, “Human resources that think and produce with their own values are more important today than ever. Education and academia are among the fields where our local and national voice must be strongest,” Balin expressed his hope that the Academic Gathering would serve this goal.

In the afternoon session of the program, a workshop was held with the participation of academics who are graduates of Vefa Yurdu. Participants held consultations on academia, the İlim Yayma Foundation, and collaboration potential. The outcomes of the meeting will be evaluated in a final report.