5th International Conference on Social Sciences Education (USBED) Hosted by IGU

Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) hosted an important event that brought together the international academic community. Organized in collaboration with Kastamonu University and USBED, the 5th International Conference on Social Sciences Education was held this year in Istanbul. The event began with an opening ceremony held on the Istanbul Gelisim University campus. Bringing together scholars from around the world, the conference aimed to strengthen academic collaboration and knowledge sharing in the field of social sciences. This year, the conference welcomed 190 participants from 24 countries and featured the presentation of 108 scientific papers.

Academic Solidarity and International Participation

The conference was chaired by Prof. Aytekin Demircioğlu, Prof. Arda Öztürkcan, Assoc. Prof. Emel Tozlu Öztay, Prof. Emilia Aleverdov, and Dr. Tinatin Zhorzholiani. Over the course of two days, numerous presentations, panels, and discussions were held across various areas of the social sciences.
The organizing committee consisted of faculty members from IGU’s Faculty of Applied Sciences, Kastamonu University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and members of USBED.
In his opening speech, Prof. Aytekin Demircioğlu emphasized the academic significance of the event, stating: “This year, we are hosting around 190 participants. A total of 108 valuable papers have been accepted to the conference. I would like to thank all participants for their scientific contributions. I also extend my gratitude to the Board of Trustees and the Rectorate of Istanbul Gelisim University for their kind hospitality.”

IGU’s Role as Host Highlighted

IGU Vice Rector Prof. Arda Öztürkcan expressed his satisfaction with hosting the conference, saying:
“We are delighted to host this conference. We have already proposed to hold the sixth edition of this important event here as well. We believe that all presentations and discussions to be held over the two-day program will make meaningful contributions to the field of social sciences. We hope that this series of conferences will continue to be held regularly in our country and that we will have the pleasure of hosting distinguished scholars at our university in the future.”

Broad Scope in Social Sciences

Addressing the conference’s academic scope, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences Prof. Kamil Kaya stated: “Within the framework of the conference, many valuable and significant presentations will be delivered on topics ranging from globalization to modernization, artificial intelligence to new media, gender studies to the influence of Islamic philosophy on the Western world. Subjects spanning a wide range—from history and literature to economics, law, philosophy, and sociology—will be discussed and debated.”

“Technical Innovation Cannot Be Sustained Without Social Innovation”

IGU Rector Prof. Bahri Şahin emphasized the role of social sciences in development during his speech:
“Every scientific activity conducted in the field of social sciences is a great source of pride for us. We see the three main pillars of civilization as technical innovation, social innovation, and artistic innovation. At our university, we prioritize bringing these three areas together. In this context, we previously established SATMER (Art and Design Application and Research Center), and we are now planning to launch SOSYOMER in the near future.
The progress of civilization is possible through the integration of these three areas. For many years, social and artistic innovation have been left in the background. However, technical innovation cannot be sustainable without social innovation. Every technical innovation has a social reflection. Therefore, I have long emphasized the need to highlight the social sciences even more.
Such scientific activities both make us proud and give us hope for the future.”

Academic Collaboration Strengthened

The 5th USBED Conference brought together academics from different countries under one roof, providing new perspectives on current issues in social sciences. Hosted by Istanbul Gelisim University, the event laid the groundwork for interdisciplinary scientific discussions and further strengthened academic collaborations.