The 12th TURKCESS International Education and Social Sciences Congress, hosted by Near East University and lasting three days, brought together 467 researchers from 9 countries and 98 universities. The congress was also attended by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of National Education, Murad Aktuğ, and the President of the Interuniversity Council (ÜAK) and Rector of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Erenoğlu.
The 12th TURKCESS International Education and Social Sciences Congress, which hosts international academic meetings in the fields of education and social sciences, was held in Cyprus, hosted by Near East University. The congress, organized under the theme “Inclusion, Sustainability and Transformation in Education in the New Century”, was attended by 467 researchers representing 98 different universities from 9 countries, ranging from Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to Azerbaijan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Kosovo, Italy, Nigeria, and Germany.

The congress, which continued with an intensive academic program for three days, concluded with 340 presentations, 12 invited talks, and 8 workshops. During the congress, current research, academic studies, and new approaches in various disciplines of education and social sciences were shared with the participants, while researchers from different countries had the opportunity to bring together their knowledge and experiences.

The opening ceremony of the congress was attended by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of National Education, Murad Aktuğ; the President of the Interuniversity Council (ÜAK) and Rector of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Erenoğlu; the Rector of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ; and the Congress Organizing Committee Chairs, Prof. Dr. Umut Akçıl and AI-based academician from Near East University, and each gave a speech. Prof. AI DUX said, “I believe that this congress, which brings together esteemed scientists from different countries, universities, and academic disciplines, will make significant contributions to the development of scientific thought, the emergence of new ideas, and the strengthening of international academic collaborations.”

The Turkic World Service Award and plaques of appreciation were presented…
Within the scope of the TURKCESS International Education and Social Sciences Congress, the “Turkic World Service Award” and plaques of appreciation were presented. A plaque of appreciation prepared in the name of the Minister of National Education, Nazım Çavuşoğlu, was presented to the Undersecretary of the Ministry of National Education, Murat Aktuğ, for his contributions to the congress. Plaques of appreciation were also presented to the Rector of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, who hosted the congress, and the Rector of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Erenoğlu, one of the congress stakeholders.

At the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Ramazan Korkmaz, who was deemed worthy of the “Turkic World Service Award” this year for his contributions and work to the Turkic world, was also honored. Ramazan Korkmaz’s award was accepted by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Engin Deniz, as he was unable to attend the ceremony due to his health problems. The award was presented by the Rector of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ.

Transformation in Education Evaluated from Various Perspectives!
The first day of the congress continued with a panel evaluating the transformation of inclusivity and sustainability in higher education, following the opening ceremony. Throughout the day, invited talks were given on learning engineering, inclusive education, parenting, mathematics education, and education policies, while workshops were held on functional perfectionism and out-of-classroom education. Studies were shared through simultaneous oral presentations in various fields such as artificial intelligence and education, student well-being, psychological sustainability, academic life, mathematics, STEM, digital literacy, teacher training, inclusive education, family, and social sciences.

On the second day of the congress, the academic program continued with presentations of invited guests, workshops, and parallel presentations. Invited guests’ talks addressed sustainable academic writing, forgiveness, trauma, social studies education, inclusive education, and pedagogical approaches in higher education. The workshops focused on positive psychology, acceptance and commitment therapy, psychotherapy, drama, family therapy, and the use of animation in education. Simultaneous oral presentations in eight halls addressed diverse topics including artificial intelligence and education, teacher training, sustainability, climate and environment, digital citizenship, special education, psychological counseling, psychotherapy, family and parenting, trauma, digital addiction, mathematics and Turkish language education, higher education, education policies, culture, literature, and economics.

On the third day of the congress, a social and cultural program was organized for participants. This included a trip to Famagusta and the fenced-off area. Thus, the congress, which brought together different disciplines of education and social sciences, concluded with a program that enriched participants’ cultural interaction and experiences in addition to scientific sharing.

Murat Aktuğ: “Knowledge multiplies when shared, and collaboration transforms into value.”
Stating that the future of education can be shaped through collaborative efforts and scientific solutions, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of National Education, Murat Aktuğ, said that the congress’s theme, “Inclusivity, Sustainability, and Transformation in Education in the New Century”, is important in terms of the contemporary understanding of education. Aktuğ said, “The education of the future must be one that leaves no individual behind, is open to change, sustainable, and centers the human being.”

Aktuğ stated that sharing the scientific studies that will emerge from the congress with the Ministry of National Education will contribute to education policies, and invited academics to examine the Ministry’s 2030 education vision. Saying, “Science has no limits. Knowledge multiplies as it is shared, collaboration turns into value, and application transforms into the future”, Aktuğ stated that the ideas presented at the congress will provide important contributions not only to the academic world but also to students and teachers.

Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Erenoğlu: “I see this congress as an important part of the effort to design education today within the Turkish higher education vision.”
The Chairman of the Interuniversity Council and Rector of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Erenoğlu, in his speech at the congress, beginning his speech by conveying the greetings of the President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, stated that the theme of the congress coincides with the fundamental issues of our time, and that the understanding of education needs to be re-evaluated in light of developments such as artificial intelligence, technological transformation, climate change, migration, social inequalities, and cultural diversity. Noting that the vision Turkey presented within the scope of COP31 largely coincides with the theme of the congress, Prof. Dr. Erenoğlu emphasized the importance of cooperation between academia, young people, the private sector, and civil society in the fields of science, technology, innovation, green transformation, and sustainability.

Stating that higher education institutions should be inclusive, innovative, and forward-looking structures that develop solutions to global problems, Prof. Dr. Erenoğlu said, “Universities must not only follow developments in the world but also contribute to shaping the future.”

With this approach, Prof. Dr. Erenoğlu emphasized that TURKCESS is not merely a scientific meeting. Erenoğlu said, “I see this congress as an important part of the effort to design education today within the vision of Turkish higher education.” He also indicated that the results of the congress would be brought to the agenda of the Interuniversity Council and the Council of Higher Education (YÖK).

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “The fundamental issue for the world of education in the face of artificial intelligence is much bigger than catching up with technology.”
Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ stated that the transformation in education requires universities to reconsider their role, and that universities should support the development of students through science, art, and sports. Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ noted that Near East University is structured on three fundamental pillars: science, art, and sports, and that the university has published over 7,500 scientific publications in the last five years, receiving over 100,000 citations. He emphasized that in addition to scientific production, they also attach importance to the transformation of knowledge into social value. Şanlıdağ said, “We believe that universities should not only be institutions that produce knowledge, but also institutions that transform knowledge into social value.”

Touching upon the transformation that artificial intelligence is creating in education, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ emphasized that universities should further strengthen human qualities in the face of technological advancements, saying, “The fundamental issue for the world of education in the face of artificial intelligence is much bigger than catching up with technology.” Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said that human qualities such as curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, ethical decision-making, and empathy will become even more important in the future. Stating that conferences are not merely events where papers are presented, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “This is an academic meeting place that brings together people working in different fields around the same questions, allowing new ideas to come into contact with each other.”

Prof. Dr. Umut Akçıl: “Individual development is shaped by society, and societal change is shaped by education.”
Prof. Dr. Umut Akçıl stated that the common goal of education and social sciences is to understand humanity and society and to build a better future. Umut Akçıl said, “Individual development is shaped by society, and societal change is shaped by education.” Recalling that the congress was held under the theme “Inclusion, Sustainability, and Transformation in Education in the New Century,” Prof. Dr. Akçıl noted that developments such as artificial intelligence, climate change, migration, social inequalities, and cultural change are creating significant transformations in education and society. Emphasizing that these problems should be addressed not only from a technological or economic perspective but also from their human and social dimensions, Prof. Dr. Akçıl drew attention to the importance of inclusivity, saying, “Inclusivity is about embracing differences instead of trying to change what is different.”