Global Education Summit ICIER 2026 Brings Together Scientists from 12 Countries in Cyprus

Organized under the leadership of Near East University, “ICIER 2026” brought together academicians from various countries, primarily Turkey and the United Kingdom, in Cyprus to discuss the future of education in the age of artificial intelligence.

The 8th International Interdisciplinary Education Reflections Conference (ICIER 2026), carried out by Near East University, one of the world’s top 500 universities, and lasting two days, was successfully completed with international participation. The conference, held in collaboration with the Atatürk Faculty of Education and the Cyprus Turkish Women Entrepreneurs Association (GİKAD), hosted comprehensive sessions shedding light on the future of education in the age of artificial intelligence.

The conference, which began with a musical performance by Dr. Ilias Abdullin and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cengiz H. Eren from the Music Education Department of Near East University, received applications from 165 participants from 12 countries to present papers this year. The conference, which included panels and workshops, addressed current topics such as the transformation of education in the age of artificial intelligence, social sustainability, equal opportunities in education, technology-based learning approaches, and innovative educational models.

At the opening of the conference, Prof. Dr. Umut Akçıl, Dean of the Atatürk Faculty of Education at Near East University, and Özlem Ratip, Board Member and Academic Coordinator of GİKAD, each gave a speech. This year’s conference, held under the theme of “Social Sustainability in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, brought together academics, researchers, and experts from various countries, primarily Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Prof. Dr. Hafize Keser and Prof. Dr. Nergiz Ercil Çağıltay from Turkey, and Prof. Dr. Gheorghita Ghinea from the United Kingdom, each gave presentations as invited speakers.

Ideas from different geographies met under one roof!

The panels held within the program addressed various dimensions of social sustainability. In the first panel, titled “Solving Social Problems in Social Sustainability”, Dr. Günay Kibrit, President of the Cyprus Turkish Association of Orthopedically Disabled Persons; Alev Ecevit, Director of the Social Services Department; Muhammed Dokuz, Social Service Specialist; Özlem Ratip, Academic Coordinator of GİKAD; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emete Toros, President of the Kyrenia University 60+ Refreshment University, shared their views. In the second panel, titled “The Role of Universities in Social Sustainability”, Prof. Dr. Fatoş Silman, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Member of the Center of Excellence at the International Cyprus University; Prof. Dr. Murat Özgören, Head of the Center of Excellence at Near East University; Prof. Dr. Terin Adalı, Head of the Center of Excellence at Kyrenia University; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eda Yazgın, Member of the Center of Social Responsibility at Eastern Mediterranean University, participated as speakers. The panel focused on the responsibility of universities in social transformation, their knowledge production, and their contributions to sustainable development.

The workshops, ranging from education to psychology, explored the topics of the future…

The workshops, which attracted great interest from teachers and academicians, provided participants with the opportunity to gain practical knowledge on current issues. Prof. Dr. Sinan Saraçlı from Balıkesir University presented on “Basic Statistical Methods in Research”, Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Ataman from Lefke European University on “The Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Education of Gifted Children”, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sertan Kağan from Eastern Mediterranean University on “Psychological First Aid and Crisis Intervention: What Should I Do in Emergency Situations at School?”. Prof. Dr. Sibel Dinçyürek addressed the topic of “Coping with Cyberbullying in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

Awards Found Their Recipients!

The conference also included the first-ever awards ceremony this year, in memory of the late Prof. Dr. Mehmet Altınay, the founding dean of the Faculty of Tourism of Kyrenia University, who also served as the Minister of National Education and Minister of Finance. The “Best Conference Paper” and “Best Student Paper” awards, named after Mehmet Altınay, have been presented. The “Best Conference Paper 1st Prize” went to Aslan Aydoğan; the “Best Conference Paper 2nd Prize” went to Tezcan Muslu, Selin Çakır, Özay Önöral, and Sevcan K. Yılmaz; and the “Best Conference Paper 3rd Prize” went to Sahar Ebadinezhad.

The “Best Student Paper 1st Prize” went to Hatice Hande Şahan Sev and Hüseyin Uzunboylu; the “Best Student Paper 1st Prize” went to Abdullahi Usman Jalingo and Engin Baysen; and the “Best Student Paper 3rd Prize” went to Maryam Samer.

Prof. Dr. Umut Akçıl: “Educational institutions should transform into centers that build a culture of social responsibility, ethical sensitivity, and solidarity.”

Expressing their commitment to working towards the Sustainable Development Goals, which are of close interest to all countries, Prof. Dr. Umut Akçıl, Dean of the Atatürk Faculty of Education and Conference Chair, stated that the Atatürk Faculty of Education has shaped the conference theme within the framework of these goals for the past three years. Referring to Near East University’s international achievements, Prof. Dr. Akçıl said, “This year, we are the only Turkish Cypriot university in the top 500 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Furthermore, we rank 43rd globally in the World University Impact Ranking.”

Prof. Dr. Akçıl also stated that one of the most significant achievements of the Atatürk Faculty of Education is organizing a local education sciences conference, now a tradition on the island, for eight consecutive years. He added, “We achieve this success by integrating with civil society organizations, that is, by engaging with the community.” Emphasizing that education systems should no longer be merely structures that transmit knowledge, Prof. Dr. Akçıl said, “Educational institutions should transform into centers that build a culture of social responsibility, ethical sensitivity, and solidarity.”

Özlem Ratip: “We will leave with valuable data that will guide us, provide new perspectives, and direct our work.”

Stating that seeing so many young academics at the conference gave them hope, Özlem Ratip, Board Member and Academic Coordinator of GİKAD, said, “It is a great honor to participate in such an important conference that will shape the future.” Expressing that the collaboration of universities, civil society organizations, and different stakeholders is of great importance for social development, Özlem Ratip said, “It is a source of happiness for us to leave here with valuable data that will guide us, provide new perspectives, and direct our work.”

Prof. Dr. Hafize Keser: “We hope that the conference will be a catalyst for the birth of new ideas, the development of collaborations, and strong contributions to the academic world.”

Prof. Dr. Hafize Keser, a retired faculty member of Ankara University and the invited speaker from Turkey who delivered the opening presentation of the conference, emphasized that supporting young researchers is critically important for the sustainability of scientific production. Stating that the conference provided an extremely valuable platform from an academic perspective, Prof. Dr. Keser said that bringing together participants from different countries allowed for the emergence of new ideas and the development of collaborative studies. Prof. Dr. Keser added, “Such scientific gatherings are not only an opportunity for sharing knowledge, but also for building a common vision for the future.”