The “14th Türkiye Graduate Studies Congress,” organized by ILEM and hosted by IZU, brought together researchers from different universities across Türkiye. During the three-day congress, young researchers will share their studies on a wide range of topics, from digitalization and artificial intelligence to social sciences and urban studies, with the academic world.
The first-day sessions of the “14th Türkiye Graduate Studies Congress,” organized by the Association for Human Sciences and Education (ILEM) and hosted by Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, began. At the congress, which brought together graduate students, young researchers, and academics from different universities across Türkiye, presentations will be delivered on a wide range of topics, from digitalization and artificial intelligence to theology, sociology, international relations, architecture, and urban studies. Within the scope of the three-day program, a total of 107 papers will be presented in 24 sessions chaired by expert academics in their fields.
The opening of the program, held at the Nizamülmülk Conference Hall located in the historical building of our university, was attended by IZU Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Küçük, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Nihat Erdoğmuş, ILEM Chairman of the Board Prof. Dr. Ramazan Tiyek, as well as academic and administrative staff.
TİYEK: “KNOWLEDGE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FORCES OF OUR TIME”
In his opening speech, ILEM Chairman of the Board Prof. Dr. Ramazan Tiyek stated that ILEM carries out activities supporting academic studies, especially for undergraduate and graduate students. Noting that capital became the main source of power after the Industrial Revolution, but that knowledge holds a much more decisive position today, Tiyek said, “Today, we see that knowledge is one of the most important forces.” Stating that the process, which first began in 2007 under the name “Young Academics Meeting,” has today turned into a major academic organization held in different cities across Türkiye, Tiyek noted that 1,557 papers have been presented in the 13 congresses held so far. Drawing attention to digitalization as an important issue transforming human life, Tiyek stated in his speech, “Technological developments are meaningful only as long as they serve humanity.”
KÜÇÜK: “SOCIAL SCIENCES DIRECTLY TOUCH SOCIETY”
IZU Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Küçük stated that social sciences are an indispensable field for understanding society and expressed his pleasure in hosting such an organization together with an institution like ILEM, which has made significant contributions to the field of social sciences for many years. Stating that although social sciences are sometimes seen as secondary, they play a fundamental role in understanding social change, problems, and transformation, Küçük said they value ILEM’s efforts in raising social awareness. Saying, “Social sciences are a very important field that directly touches the individuals of society,” Küçük drew attention to the importance of studies in this field for understanding the social structure.
DIGITALIZATION WAS DISCUSSED FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES
The opening panel of the congress was held under the theme “Digitalization as a Field of Research: Opportunities, Problems, and Solution Tools.” In the panel moderated by Prof. Dr. Hediyetullah Aydeniz, Assistant Professor Alaattin Aslan discussed the new tendencies and solution efforts emerging from digitalization; Associate Prof. Dr. Eyüp Al drew attention to the social and cultural crisis areas deepening with digital transformation. Dr. Psychologist Ayşe Beyza Bıçakçı evaluated the effects of the digital age on individuals’ self-perception, attention processes, and addiction mechanisms. During the panel, it was emphasized that digitalization is not merely a technical transformation, but a multilayered issue affecting many areas from human relations and educational processes to psychology and social structure.
THE AGENDA OF SOCIAL SCIENCES WILL BE DISCUSSED IN 24 SESSIONS
At the congress, which will continue between May 7–9, sessions will be held in various fields such as theology, sociology, philosophy, history, law, communication, political science, business, education, psychology, architecture, and urban studies. Current issues such as artificial intelligence, digital surveillance, transhumanism, climate migration, city diplomacy, education policies, international law, modernization, religious thought, cultural memory, and social transformation will be discussed from the perspectives of different disciplines. Within the scope of the congress, young researchers will have the opportunity to present their studies for evaluation by expert academics in their fields.