Spring semester has started in universities. Last week, YÖK's announcement on applied education in the new period opened the door to face-to-face education at universities. Istanbul Kültür University Vocational School Director Assist. Prof. Sinan Kesici who noted that the hybrid education model will turn into an advantage with effective planning and technological infrastructure in vocational schools based on applied education, suggested that the candidates of associate degree who will decide where to receive education in the new normal to research the digital education systems of universities. Assist. Prof. Sinan Kesici who noted that even if everything becomes normal again after the pandemic, the transition to face-to-face education will not be the same, summarized a year of vocational education under the shadow of the pandemic as follows:

“Above all, with the pandemic, the importance of education management was once again understood and new paradigms emerged. Apart from the classical understanding, there was also an approach to search for a method. In the vocational schools, which provide 2-year education and where applied education on the basis of programs and courses are predominant, education administrators, program directors and lecturers who are responsible for applied courses also turned to new search and teaching methods in this process. In programs based on the acquisition of basic manual skills, they used virtual reality and cloud computing solutions in addition to online lessons in order to increase the productivity of vocational education. Universities that are suitable for distance education and that can be rapidly moved to a virtual environment, with these solutions, have managed to minimize the learning losses especially for students who are at the graduation stage. In addition, virtual activities other than online lessons also contributed to this situation.”

Hybrid Education Can Become An Advantage For Associate Degree Programs

Assist. Prof. Kesici who noted that distance education systems that provide 24/7 access to educational content and resources for Vocational School students are important, also talked about the hybrid education process in associate degree:

“Apart from the applied courses that require students to be at school, hybrid education can be used in vocational education in higher education. Co-ed not only benefits working students, but also allows professionals to increase their knowledge and skills while working. Lessons given in technologically supported hybrid classrooms can also eliminate the concerns and disadvantages of distance learning. Experiences related to basic manual skills can be fulfilled in the face-to-face part of the lesson planned as hybrid with a concentrated method. However, it is very important that the university's information systems and technologies infrastructure, its digital culture and planning for applied courses are done correctly. Otherwise, hybrid education may turn into a disadvantage. "

R&D Period in Vocational Education

Assist. Prof. Kesici who remarked that the ultimate goal of vocational education at higher education is to educate graduates with the professional competence required by the sector, noted that sector-oriented needs analysis are important in determining associate degree programs and quotas. Our teacher who pointed out that the Vocational Education Research and Development Center (MEAGEM), whose foundation works have been completed in IKU, will meet an important need on the basis of analysis, summarized the mission of the center in the field of vocational education with the following words:

“The center aims to take vocational education to a higher level through sector-university cooperation. The definition and equivalence of applied vocational education within the scope of the framework regulation will also be provided. With this application, which will pave the way for vocational training in the workplace, the sector will be able to close the employment gap with the real professionals called qualified. The center, which will open its doors to Applied Vocational Education courses to the fullest, will benefit both vocational school students and graduates and the business world in search of expert human resources. "

Recommendations for Associate Degree Candidates

Assist. Prof. Sinan Kesici who drew attention to the role of universities in the change in the perception that education in vocational schools cannot be given remotely, said:

“With the pandemic, there has been a perception that vocational education cannot be provided remotely. Universities play an important role in changing this perception. Sharing technical facilities, infrastructures and applied distance education methods with the principle of transparency can fix the perceptions regarding vocational education.”

Assist. Prof. Kesici who noted that concepts such as modeling and simulation applications, virtual reality, modular workplace applications, cloud computing and data analysis should be passed on to candidates who want to receive vocational training, also gave recommendations to the young people who will prefer an associate degree program in 2021:

“It is predicted that 25 percent of today's professions will no longer be performed by people in the next 5 years. I recommend that associate degree candidates consider this prediction in their preferences. In their preferences, they should definitely make researches and preferences related to Digital Vocational Education by foreseeing the world of the next 5 or 10 years. In addition, the pandemic experience has shown that even if everything becomes normal, the answer to the question "How to Move to Face-to-Face Education?" will be “Not like before”.  Vocational school candidates should therefore look for digital education opportunities as well as the university's connections with the business world and its staff in their program and university preferences. Associate degree candidates should be able to ask the following questions while researching their university preferences: 'Does the university use its own solution in distance education?', 'How is information investments?', Are its classrooms suitable for hybrid education?', 'Can they access courses 24/7 from digital?' 'How are digital exams conducted?', 'How is the teacher-student dialogue established  in distance education?' Are there sectoral meetings to support teaching during the education period? "Each of these questions is very important for the students who will make their associate degree preferences in the new normal."

Istanbul Kültür University Women and Social Research Unit (IKU-KAD), organized an e-seminar titled “Studying Media Correctly: Beauty and Worry in Youngs” on February 25, via Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application. In the event, in which Lecturer Yasemin Alpınar who studies about Healthcare Communications was the speaker; an informative presentation “beauty standards” forced by media especially to women, women’s unhealthy weight-loss habit and its dangerous aspects due to anxiety of not being liked, self-confidence among individuals, being comfortable in one’s skin. The seminar aimed to inform the attendants and raise awareness also the examples were given in order to differ the misleading messages in the context of studying/reading the media correctly and especially healthcare communications.

In collaboration with IKU Family Business and Entrepreneurship Application and Research Center (AGMER) and the Management Consultants Association, a webinar titled “Transformation into the Future in Family Businesses” organized on February 24, 2021, Wednesday. The event, in which Unified Mind Network Moderator Tınaz Titiz, Management Consultant Prof. Dr. İlhan Erdoğan and Hürriyet Newspaper columnist Ergi Şener were speakers, moderated by Dünya Newspaper Director Hakan Güldağ. In the event, the definition of family businesses, divisions in family businesses, the building blocks of family businesses, the advantages and disadvantages of family businesses, the future of family businesses and digital transformations of family businesses were discussed.

The first guest of the "Life Culture Academy - Mental and Physical Health Workshop", which was held by the Kültür Point on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, on Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application, was Prof. Dr. Önder Kavakcı.

Prof. Dr. Kavakcı asked the participants about their experiences related to the earthquake at the beginning of the event. Participants talked about some of their traumas during the earthquake and the ones that still continue.

Making a presentation titled "Earthquake and Trauma", Prof. Dr. Önder Kavakcı also gave examples from his own life.

Stating that earthquake experiences come at the beginning of traumatic events, our teacher said that traumas have increased three times in the last 50 years and reached millions. Prof. Dr. Kavakcı stated that traumatized people mostly gather in poor and developing countries.

In the event, what can be done psychologically after the disaster, how the first intervention should be and in this context, the 8-step psychological first aid model was explained to the participants, and the physical and psychiatric diseases that may occur in people after the earthquake were also explained in detail.

It was also underlined that what happened after the 1999 earthquake in Istanbul and that no lessons were taken from this situation. Finally, participants were reminded of the possible Istanbul earthquake.

Head of Women and Social Studies Unit (IKU-KAD) & Head of Department of Communication Arts Prof. Dr. Işıl Zeybek gave a training titled " Introduction Of Girls To Science At School Age " on Wednesday, February 10 at 14:00 in the "STEM Robotics OPEN LAB Project for Girls" held within the scope of the Direct Aid Program of Istanbul Büyükçekmece District Directorate of National Education and Australian Embassy. Touching on the vocational choices of girls in education and their relations with science, Prof. Dr. Işıl Zeybek gave important information to the participants about the encouragement of girls to scientific studies.

An e-seminar titled "’Secret of Stealth Airplanes’ From Young Fashion Designer" was held by Istanbul Kültür University Vocational School on Saturday, February 20, 2021. In the event where 2018 Koza Young Fashion Designers Competition Finalist & Shyz Wear Founder and Designer Seydullah Yılmaz was a speaker, all stages of design competitions and their impact on career planning were evaluated. Then, young designer Seydullah Yılmaz, who shared his experiences about industrial and future themed designs, answered questions of our students.

An e-seminar titled “First Step to Your Career with Kariyer.net” was held on Monday, February 22, 2021 in cooperation with the Istanbul Kültür University Vocational School Program of Business Management and the Human Resources Club. Where Business Management Program Director Lecturer N. Gözde Bircan and HRC Club Consultant Lecturer Kübra Mertel were the moderators of the event, Kariyer.net Career Consultant Tuba Karadağ İyiokur participated as a speaker. Iyiokur, who gave detailed information about recruitment criteria, tips on preparing effective resumes and cover letters, and what human resources experts attach importance to in the resume, also answered the questions of our students.

A live broadcast titled "On Volunteering" was held on Instagram on Sunday, February 21, 2020 by IKU Young Tema Club. Working on nature as a speaker for years; Mehmet Alp, a volunteer of the non-governmental organization TEMA Foundation and also the TEMA Foundation's Küçükçekmece Cumhuriyet District Officer, attended the event as a guest. Alp conveyed to the participants the concept of volunteering, what volunteering has contributed to him, and the need for people to take an active role in an organization that does useful work, in a project and in similar formations.

Istanbul Kültür University Vocational School Program of Public Relations and Publicity organized an e-seminar titled "Catching The Perfect in Communication" on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. The guest of the event in which Public Relations and Publicity Program students Sevgi Rabuş and Bengisu Ankara were moderators, was the Founder of POZITIF PR Agency Serap Durak. Durak started her speech by explaining the importance of ethical values ​​in business life and the values ​​adopted by the agency. Durak who emphasized the bidirectional benefit, also talked about the importance of internalizing the way of doing business and acting within the framework of ethical values ​​in order to be successful. She explained the agency's ethical values ​​as "long-term relationships focused on mutual trust".  Durak who talked about the importance of listening for good communication, talked about the importance of always being clear, being aware of the agenda and practicing in order to be a good communicator. The e-seminar, which progressed within the framework of various subjects such as communication, ethics, social responsibility activities, reputation management, ended after the questions of the students answered.

In collaboration with İKÜ IEEE and MEF IEEE, 10-session “4th Science and Career Day ”event was held on 20-21 February 2021. Sector representatives and entrepreneurs mainly attended the event, which was held over the Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application. In the event, which aims to get to know the entrepreneurship ecosystem where different disciplines co-exist, to benefit from the experiences of the speakers and to have an idea about business development, an active idea environment was provided with the participants and a new perspective was added to the sector.

Post-Event Satisfaction Survey Report:

%48,8 (21 responses) : 5 (highest) satisfaction score
%48,8 (21 responses) : 4 satisfaction score
%2,3 (1 responses) : 3 satisfaction score

Event registration link:

Part 1 - Part 2

Kültür Point organized a webinar titled “An Effective Way of Networking: Linkedin” to inform our 3rd and 4th grade students on issues such as creating a profile on the Linkedin platform, the way to be active in career steps, how to create a successful profile in the eyes of employers. The event, where professional Coach Emine Sever was a speaker, was held on Friday, February 19 at 14:00 on Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application.

A seminar, which was coordinated by one of our academicians from the Department of Architecture Assoc. Prof. Yasemin Erkan Yazıcı, was given by Master Architect Elif Araç about the rail system projects on February 24, 2021, Wednesday at 09.00 in the context of “MIM0080 Kirazlı Transfer Centre” diploma project, conducted by Assist. Prof. Asiye Akgün Gültekin, Assist. Prof. Gamze Özkaptan Alptekin and Research Assistant Dilara Gür.

Graduated from Yıldız Technical University, Department of Architecture, Master Architect Elif Araç, completed her master’s program at ITU Program of Project and Construction Management. Specialised in rail system projects conducted with Building Information Modeling (BIM), the architect took place in various rail system projects design and construction processes in Istanbul since 2015. Araç also takes place in The Westlink rail system (infrastructure) project conducted in the context of intercity railway development in Sweden as BIM architect since 2020.

Kültür Point organized a workshop in the context of “Culture of Life Academy Now and in the Future”, titled “How to Develop Digital Learning Skills?”

In the workshop, administrated by Unit Vice Head of Kültür Point Mücella Ezgin, the subjects such as the digital requirements in the world that changes with the digital technologies and lack of digital talent in the world.

In the workshop, which emphasized that digital skills will constitute the most important step for a successful career in the 21st century, students were shown digital applications that will increase the efficiency in both their education and business life. In the light of the latest research reports, the most needed digital competencies were introduced all over the world, applications were carried out and recommendations were made on how to improve our competencies.

Department of Communication Arts hosted Krombera Digital Agency Director Fatih Dinçel and Social Media Team Leader Gizem Erbaş, one of the most important agencies of the Digital Advertising world, on February 24, Wednesday. The event, which was organized at Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application, the students of the Module of Public Relations and Advertising had the opportunity to listen to the developments in the sector by asking questions to the guests. Krombera Digital Agency managers, who conveyed the developing trends in the sector and successful advertising campaigns, gave important advice to the students in order to be successful in the sector during and after the education process.

In the context of “Today’s Architecture and Famous Architects” course, coordinated by Assoc. Prof. Yasemin Erkan Yazıcı, Çağla Öz, one of the students from the Master Program of IKU Architectural Design organized a seminar titled “Questioning the Architect-Identity Relationship in the Context of Today’s Architecture” on February 25, 2021, Thursday. In the context of the seminar, Öz shared her analysis and evaluations on Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid’s architectural language to students.

Student Life Career Alumni Counseling Unit (Kültür Point) shares “Culture With Kültür Point- Our Suggestions This Week on Art Tour” every week.

Kültür Point's recommendations this week:

Book: Sevmek, Sevinmek İyi Şeyler Üstüne (Yaşar Kemal)
Documentary: Saz
Film: Ford v Ferrari
Theater: Nilüfer Municipality City Theater “Romeo & Juliet”
Click to watch the theater...
Virtual Museum: Louvre Museum (Paris)
Click to visit the virtual museum ...
Application: RealCalc Scientific Calculator

Through the Talent Gate Platform founded by the attempts of the Presidental Human Resources Office, all job and internship postings and events across Turkey continue to be shared with Istanbul Kültür University students and alumni by the Kültür Point. 

This week, 5 jobs and 2 internship announcements were announced to our students and graduates at the Talent Gate.

Job and Internship Announcements

Kültür Point has added 2 more posts this week to its web page where it shares job and internship postings by evaluating the e-mails from various companies. 

Details: https://kulturnoktasi.iku.edu.tr/tr/staj-ilanlari

Internship Mobilization Program Starts!

Internship opportunities continue to be offered to our students through the Career Gate Platform established by the initiatives of the Presidency Human Resources Office. Application dates were announced to our students on our social media accounts.

The Fine Arts Application and Research Center (GSUAM) will organize the "Art Therapy Workshop" in order to enable individuals to discover their inner world and themselves by using artistic materials such as painting collage or clay. The event, where Expert Psychologist Volkan Demir will be a speaker, will be held on Saturday, February 27, at 13:00 on Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application.

In cooperation with the Accounting and Auditing Club and the Program of Business Management, a webinar titled "Career Journey in Accounting, Finance and Taxes" will be organized to inform students about the difficulties, conveniences and career advantages of the profession through a real career story. The event, where Revenue Expert Hakan Demir from the Ministry of Treasury and Finance will be a speaker, will be held on Saturday, February 27, at 19:00 on Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application.

Asimov Technology Club will organize a webinar titled "Journey to the Space Age" in which life in Space, one of the greatest dreams of humanity, will be discussed. The event, in which Lecturer Mücahit Muslu from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics of Kastamonu University and Assoc. Prof. Hasan Hüseyin Esenoğlu from the Department of Astronomy and Space Sciences of Istanbul University will be speakers, will be held in 2 sessions on Sunday, February 28, 2021, at 19:00, via Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application.

It is necessary to fill the form to participate in the event. The event link will be sent to the e-mail addresses.

Express Science Club will organize a webinar titled “Digital Career and New Competency Sets” to inform participants about the digital market and career. The event, where BNCInsight Founder Emre Tuna Aydın will be a speaker, will be held on Tuesday, March 2 at 18:00 on Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application.

Department of Economics will organize a webinar titled "Why Can't We Succeed?" in order to teach the students, the transformation of Turkey's economy in the 1980s and reflections on economic policy. The event, where former Finance Minister Kaya Erdem will be a speaker, will be held on Tuesday, March 2 at 20:00 on Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application.

Express Science Club will organize a webinar titled “Redesigning the Career Design in the Digital World” to inform the audience about the digital career. The event, in which Mücella Ezgin Unit Vice Head of the Kültür Point is the speaker, will be on March 3, Wednesday, at 17.00 via Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application.

The training titled “How to Develop Leadership Speciality with AIESEC?” in collaboration with Kültür Point and AIESEC will be organized. The event in which Berna Yazıcı, AIESEC Director of the Department of Marketing is the speaker, will be on March 3, Wednesday, at 17.00 via Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application.

Istanbul Kültür University the Department of Architecture continues to introduce famous architects of the world online with students and the environment of the department in the 2020-2021 Spring Semester. The event, whose first guest is famous architect, writer, academician and designer Juhani Pallasmaa, will be on March 3, Wednesday 2021, at 20.00 via Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application.

Women and Social Research Unit (IKU-KAD) will organize an e-seminar titled “Discourse of Women in Communication” in the context of “March 8 International Women’s Day.” The event, in which actress Sema Özcan, is the speaker, will be on March 4, Thursday, at 14.00 via CATS.

The event titled “Job Interview Simulation” in collaboration with Kültür Point and AIESEC will be organized to support students’ career planning process. The event in which Berna Yazıcı, AIESEC Director of the Department of Marketing is the speaker, will be on March 4, Thursday, at 15.00 via Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application.

In collaboration with Effective Communication Club, New Media and Communication Club, the Department of New Media and Communication, the Department of Communication Arts and Program of Public Relations and Publicity, the webinar titled “Transferring Ideas with Digital Entrepreneurship and Presentation” will be organized to support students’ career planning process. The event, in which Barış Korkmaz Co-Founder of Earnado is the speaker, will be on March 4, Thursday, at 20.00 via CATS.

IKUMED will organize an interview titled “Being a Woman.” The event, in which Lawyer Nazlı Gülce Başak, a graduate of our Department of International Relations (2017) and Faculty of Law (2018) will be on March 4, Thursday at 20.00 via @ikumezun Instagram account. The event will be moderated by one of our graduates in the Department of Communication Arts (2009) Ömür Kınay.

The Faculty of Education will organize an e-seminar in order to increase the knowledge of the instructors on how to design synchronous and asynchronous course design in distance education and to increase their awareness with examples of theory and practice. The event, in which Social Media and Digital Security Education, Application and Research Center (SODIGEM) Deputy Director Assoc. Prof. Aras Bozkurt is a speaker at the event, which will be held on Friday, March 5 at 10:00 on Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application.

Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) Student Life, Career and Graduate Counseling Unit (Kültür Point) continues to organize the "Philosophy of Mathematics and Thought Workshop" in order to discuss the ways of reaching results without questioning the unthinkable. The training, which will be instructed by the IT & Management Consultant Numan Aydınoğlu, will be held on Friday, March 5 between 16.00-18.00 via CATS.

Vocational School will organize a webinar titled “Markets, Psychology and Following the Trends: Courses After Lehman Milestone” to inform the students. The event, in which Işık Ökte, the strategist will be the speaker, is on March 5, Friday at 20.00 via Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application. The event will be moderated by Head of the Evening Program of Banking and Insurance Lecturer A. Berrak Köten.

Can you briefly describe yourself? Who is Res. Asst. Dr. Özge Rencüzoğulları with 2-3 sentences?

I have been living in Istanbul since 2007 as a classic Hatay native, who has the habit of traveling in the colony brought by being born in Samandağ-Hatay and eating with parcels. In 2007, I was placed 2nd in the first student group of IKU Department of Molecular Biology; actually I was a student who wanted to study medicine.

How has your participation in the Kültür Family developed?

After completing my undergraduate education, I continued my master's degree in molecular cancer with Prof. Dr. Narçin Ünsal and Prof. Dr. E. Damla Arısan, who are the founders of IKU MOBIGEN Department and laboratories. With the support of my dear professors such as Prof. Dr. Narçin Ünsal, Prof. Dr. Çimen Atak, Prof. Dr. E. Damla Arısan, Asst. Prof. Atok Olgun, Prof. Dr. Ajda Çoker Gürkan, Prof. Dr. Özge Çelik and Assoc. Prof. Pınar Obakan Yerlikaya, I was appointed as a Biologist and then a Research Assistant at our university. As I am grateful to my teachers for including me as one of the first graduates of our school, I continue to work with heart and soul for the development of our department.

What are the things that IKU adds to you?

IKU means being cultured! I defend this everywhere; because I had the chance to participate in theatre, opera and concerts as never before in my university life when I started at the age of 17. What was missing for me was the inability to continue handball. Apart from that, I have always felt that I have a privilege with the quality of the education I received and the Erasmus opportunity. While I was continuing my doctorate process at Yeditepe University, I was able to make presentations at many international publications and international congresses with the financial and moral support I received from our university and the help of my teacher Prof. Dr. E. Damla Arısan. We are a department with plenty of activity. Thanks to this, I had the opportunity to improve myself in seminar organization and organization issues. In addition, I can follow the demands of the students more closely with club consultancy. It is also a nice feeling to be a bridge between students and our department. Most importantly, we became like a family with my assistant friends Res. Asst. Pelin Özfiliz Kılbaş and Res. Asst. Burcu Ayhan Şahin. I cannot imagine İKÜ MOBİGEN without them.

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