Near East University was successfully represented at the 4th International Conference on Lifelong Education and Leadership for All (ICLEL 2018) held in Poland.

According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of Near East University, many academicians and scientists attended the ICLEL 2018 and Assist. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yeniasır, from Department of Turkish Language Teaching of Atatürk Faculty of Education alongside Assist. Prof. Dr. Burak Gökbulut from the Department of Turkish Language and Literature of Faculty of Arts and Sciences successfully represented the Near East University with their studies on “The evaluation of metaphorical perceptions of teacher candidates of the concept of lifelong learning” and “The Opinions and Expectations of Turkish and foreign students pursing their higher education in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on Multicultural Education”. It was also pointed out that the English presentations made at the conference will be published by Thomson Reuters Conference Proceedings Citation Index.

It is highly necessary for teachers to have awareness on the importance of the concept of lifelong learning as this has a big influence on enhancing continuation in education…
Assist. Prof. Dr Mustafa Yeniasır and Assist. Prof. Dr Burak Gökbulut asserted that as individuals who give direction to community life perceptions of teachers on the concept of lifelong learning is highly significant on enhancing continuation in education and therefore as part of their careers, all teachers should internalise lifelong learning themselves as well as promoting this need on others.

It was pointed out that a total of 73 metaphors, of 54 which were different from one another, were put forward by teacher candidates indicating that their perceptions on lifelong learning were positive. According to the study conducted, only 5 of the participating teacher candidates expressed a negative attitude towards the concept of lifelong learning.

There is a need to establish intercultural respect and equal opportunities in education…
The study titled as The Opinions and Expectations of Turkish and foreign students pursuing their higher education at universities in Turkish Republic of Norther Cyprus the fact that there was a need to establish intercultural respect and interaction among students. Additionally, a few Turkish students also indicated that each individual should be provided the opportunity to live freely whereas the foreign students expressed the need for equal opportunities in education.

Students coming from different countries have the chance to easily pursue higher education at universities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus…
As part of the study carried out when the participating students were asked whether they could easily come and pursue their higher educations in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and whether they could make use of classrooms, library, cafeterias, dormitories etc. the students’ responses showed variance such that a high number of Turkish students expressed that foreign students had the opportunity to pursue their higher education easily. On the other hand, foreign students’ answers did not agree with the responses of the Turkish students. While both groups of students did not show utter negative, it was concluded that foreign students could actually find the chance to get their higher education at universities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus without obstacles.