Istanbul Gelisim University - American professor toured 112 countries, moved to Turkey

American professor toured 112 countries, moved to Turkey

International faculty members of IGU, who came from the countries like the USA, India, Hungary and Pakistan told their experiences, Turkish students, how they lecture and thoughts about Turkey. The American professor stated that Turkey has left a mark on him the most saying he served in 112 countries.

The Higher Education Council (YÖK) has renewed the procedures and principles regarding the employment of international faculty members. In recruiting faculty members to work in language preparation classes, the main language criterion will no longer be considered sufficient, and new criteria such as academic background, work experience and international certificates will be sought. The faculty members came from different countries working in Turkey evaluated the criteria to be applied for the proposals to be made as from January 20.

The faculty members who approve the decision of YÖK emphasized that academicians should constantly improve themselves for quality. The international lecturers stated that Turkish students are open to learning and work hard, and expressed that they are here because they loved Turkey especially Istanbul. They emphasized the importance of speaking English mentioning that academic culture in Turkey is well-improved.

QUALIFIED LABOR FORCE IS A MUST TO FULFILL OBJECTIVES

Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) Vice Rector Responsible for Accreditation and Quality Prof. Dr. Nail Öztaş, expressing that new regulations are necessity, said: “Turkey's goals for 2023 to reach 500 thousand international students. There are over 190 thousand international students now. This regulation is essential to Turkey's interests, its vision and our role in the international geography. We need qualified labor force to attract international students and to produce the knowledge and technology we aim to achieve.”

THERE IS A NEED OF LABOR FORCE WITH DOCTORAL DEGREE

Emphasizing that new professions will emerge, Prof. Dr. Öztaş said: “According to the research of YÖK, we are not yet able to train labor force with doctoral degree we need annually. We have 207 universities and these universities need labor force with doctoral degree. The real sector also needs it. Our annual number of our graduate students in the doctorate is around 5 thousand but this number should be 12 thousand.”

“WE NEED A HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE”

Prof. Dr. Öztaş said: “According to the OECD report, 60 percent of the professions in the world will change and disappear in 15-20 years. It is estimated that new professions will emerge. Instead of a reactionary, passive and monitoring higher education policy, we need a higher education system that is proactive, shapes, reveals new professions, creates its programs, determines its content, and shapes the future.”

53 INTERNATIONAL FACULTY MEMBERS FROM 23 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

Explaining that the criteria determined by YÖK should be conducted in order to raise quality in the higher education, Prof. Dr. Öztaş said: “There are 53 international faculty members from 23 different countries at IGU. While recruiting faculty members, we look at whether they graduated from qualified universities or not. Many of our faculty members are our colleagues who have experiences of studying or lecturing at the first thousand universities in the world. Secondly, we already regard their publications, and when they join to the IGU family, we want them to continue their researches and publications.”

PROF. DR. MOSIER: I HAVE MORE THAN 50 PUBLICATIONS AND 2 BOOKS

American Prof. Dr. William Mosier who lectures in the fields of cognitive development, neurology and psychology at IGU expressed that any innovation towards higher quality in higher education are beneficial. Prof. Dr. Mosier said: “If the lecturers’ quality increases, it will also affect the students’ quality.”

Prof. Dr. Mosier stating that he graduated from the Department of Child Development and Counselling at University of Southern California, said: “I have more than 50 publications in various magazines related to my field. I published two books. I especially work on family dynamics, child development, children with autism and disabilities.”

“I WOULD CHOOSE ISTANBUL IF I HAD A CHANCE TO CHOOSE A CITY TO LIVE”

Prof. Dr. Mosier came to Turkey last year, expressed: “I am here because Istanbul is a wonderful city. I would choose Istanbul if I had a chance to choose a city to live. I worked in over 100 countries. My son marks the countries I have been on the map, he knows the exact number, but it can be 112 countries. The most impressive country for me is Turkey. I think Turkey is a beautiful country to visit.”

“I FOLLOW HOLISTIC APPROACH IN MY COURSES”

Stating that he follows holistic approach in his courses, Prof. Dr. Mosier said: “Having a speech is not the only thing in my courses. I create an environment that students and I can discuss together. I make presentations in the courses. I use an interactive method in the presentations. I make the students attend the courses.”

“THE ACADEMIC CULTURE IS WELL-IMPROVED IN TURKEY”

Indian Asst. Prof. Dr. Ashifa Kattur said that the new regulation of YÖK will also make a major contribution for themselves, expressed that they will publish more papers and write books, and continued: “This regulation will encourage faculty members working especially in the social sciences to publish papers and develop themselves more.”

Ashifa Kattur, who graduated from Gandhigram Rural Institute and lectures in the field of social service, articulated her analytic thoughts about Turkish students. Ashifa Kattur stated that the academic culture is well improved in Turkey and continued: “I have been in Turkey for 3 years. I lecture through the collaborative method. I am not the only one who speaks in the courses, I want the students to express themselves in the discussion environment.”

“LEARNING SHOULD BE FUN, NOT EXHAUSTING”

Nigerian Asst. Prof. Dr. Festus Victor Bekun, lecturing on investment analysis and portfolio management, said: “I graduated from the Near East University. I have over 55 published articles. 35 of them are scanned in Web of Science, created by the Scientific Information Institute. 15 of them were published in Scopus magazine. I think learning is two-sided. We need to give qualified education to get a good result from students. I use the interaction model in my courses. Presentations allow students to show themselves through discussions. A lecturer should also motivate the students. I encourage group work on assignments to motivate. I support entertaining education. Learning should be fun, not exhausting.”

SHE CAME TO TURKEY BY ERASMUS ACADEMIC STAFF MOBILITY PROGRAM

Dr. Annamaria Csiszer stated that she came from the Department of Communication and Media Sciences at Hungary Dunaújváros University to IGU by Erasmus Academic Staff Mobility Program and said: “We have common historical roots with Turkey, but I had never been here before so I preferred Turkey. I thought I would stay longer because I had positive impression. Education is an important phenomenon all over the world. Since there is continuous improvement especially in the field of social sciences, those working in this field must constantly improve themselves so that we contribute to the development of young people. I have lectured many students with different ethnic backgrounds in Hungary. I observe cultural differences in Turkey, and I find it very important.”

“TURKISH IS A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY”

Dr. Annamaria Csiszer stating that Turkish students are quite open to learning and said: “In general, their knowledge of what is happening in the outside world is also very high. They are very knowledgeable especially in my field. I work on European researches and public policy. Turkey is a beautiful country, especially with this beautiful city Istanbul. I would like to see the other provinces of Turkey. Its culture and people are interesting.”

“I AM AMONG THE TOP 7 SCIENTISTS IN PAKISTAN”

Pakistani Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shehzad Ashraf from the Department of Computer Engineering said: “I find it very valuable to increase the quality of writing in articles. It is very important to research and improve yourselves for quality in education. It is necessary to research and read constantly. I wrote more than 80 articles. 60 of them were published in journals scanned in Web of Science. My papers received more than 4 thousand citations. I am among the top 7 scientists in Pakistan in functional computer programming.”

Mentioning that Turkey is such a beautiful country, Ashraf who graduated from University of Sialkot continued: “My friends also visited Turkey before. I find Turkish people very friendly and kindly. This country has an incredibly rich history. Therefore, I am here and I feel honored by this decision.”