‘Community Service in Social Transformation Workshop’ organized by University of Kyrenia took place online on the 16th of May 2020 at 10:00.
The Community Service in Social Transformation Workshop was organized by University of Kyrenia in cooperation with Near East University Community Research and Development Center. The workshop focused on recent research on these issues, and especially on social projects, due to possible developments in the social transformation that occurred during the pandemic process we are experiencing today.
Prof. Dr. Kürşat Çağıltay from the Middle East Technical University and Prof. Dr. Gonca Telli from Maltepe University joined the online workshop as a speaker.
The Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Gökmen Dağlı made the opening speech and talked about the duties of the universities in the transformation of the society during the pandemic, which we are experiencing today. Dağlı stated that University of Kyrenia contributed significantly to the social transformation process with many different projects with the students within the scope of the Community Service Practises course. Dağlı also stated that the workshop held in this respect was very beneficial for both the society and students in terms of development, and also stating that new findings revealed in the workshop will be shared with related institutions. Dr. Gökmen Dağlı thanked the university management and everyone who has contributed to the workshop.
Near East University Social Research and Development Co-Head Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay briefly introduced the invited speakers Dr. Kürşat Çağıltay and Prof. Dr. Gonca Telli. She stated that both speakers are respected people in the world within the field of social service in social transformation and have a lot of projects and awards with their published scientific works. Altınay also stated that they have signed many projects in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Kürşat Cağıltay and Prof. Dr. Gonca Telli for many years in collaboration with the Social Research and Development Center, and continue to work in more collaborative cooperation.
Prof. Dr. Kürşat Çağıltay and Prof. Dr. Gonca Telli started the workshop by stating their happiness and satisfaction for being an invited speaker at University of Kyrenia. Prof. Dr. Gonca Telli shared many up to date data in the context of service to the society in social transformation and also stated that serious systems should be established especially in this transformation process.
Telli explained that after the epidemic in the world, community service practices came to the forefront, they made projects using social media more effectively with students, they developed themselves in communication, and how they did their work to serve the society in order to accelerate social transformation in many areas.
Telli emphasized the education researches in the social transformation and stated that the effect of technology in online data collection and sharing will be quite high. Prof. Dr. Gonca Telli also stated that they take part in projects related to barrier free computing and environment, and they also work in collaboration with both Near East University and University of Kyrenia.
Prof. Dr. Kürşat Çağıltay said that universities has begun to change their structure as they are slowly in Turkey and stated that they are becoming more community oriented. Çağıltay stated that they are working on the education and training fields of universities, research field and service areas. Çağıltay stated that within the scope of the service areas of universities, they are trying to provide services both for the institution and the society. He also mentioned that there has been an acceleration in the subject of providing open courses in some universities in recent years within the scope of the service to the society. He emphasized that TÜBITAK (The Scientific And Technological Research Council Of Turkey ) projects were carried out within the scope of social transformation and many projects have been designed to provide basic and cognitive development using technology enriched learning environments for special education.
Co-Head of Near East University Social Research and Development Center Prof. Dr. Fahriye Altınay stated that they gave great importance to educational projects as a research center in the fields of education and technology both before and after the pandemic. Altınay emphasized that these conferences organized by University of Kyrenia contributed significantly to the training of students and the transformation of the socielty and also stated that the sensitive analysis should be taken within the framework of cooperation by conducting an analysis in the need of service of society and thanked University of Kyrenia.
Academicians and students showed great interest in the conference.