WELCOMEWELCOME Prof. Dr. Kadri YamaçProf. Dr. Kadri Yamaç

RectorRector

Gazi UniversityGazi University

• It is a great pleasure for me to It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you on the occasion of the welcome you on the occasion of the Valorisation Meeting of Valorisation Meeting of MODULARTE Project contracted by MODULARTE Project contracted by Gazi University. Gazi University.

• As known, Bologna Process had a great impact As known, Bologna Process had a great impact on the educational systems of the European on the educational systems of the European countries in the recent years.countries in the recent years.

• Thus, almost all European countries started to Thus, almost all European countries started to change their national system of university change their national system of university education towards a common international education towards a common international comparable system, promoting European comparable system, promoting European dimesion and cooperation in quality assurrance dimesion and cooperation in quality assurrance and establishing a system of credits. and establishing a system of credits.

• As well as that, lifelong learning, As well as that, lifelong learning, involvement of students and involvement of students and enhancing the attractiveness and enhancing the attractiveness and effectiveness have been emphasized effectiveness have been emphasized as the important elements of the as the important elements of the European Higher Education Area. European Higher Education Area.

Outlined Education-Training targets of Lisbon Outlined Education-Training targets of Lisbon Strategy: Strategy:

Modernisation of the educational systemsModernisation of the educational systems

Increasing the quality of education and Increasing the quality of education and becoming the leader in the worldbecoming the leader in the world

Cooperation towards common targets Cooperation towards common targets

Mutual confidence and recognition in Mutual confidence and recognition in EducationEducation

• GU is very decisive and ambitious in fulfilling GU is very decisive and ambitious in fulfilling the requirements of the Bologna Process to the requirements of the Bologna Process to which Turkey became a party in 2001.which Turkey became a party in 2001.

• Quality improvement of educational Quality improvement of educational programmes by continuous updating programmes by continuous updating according to progresses in according to progresses in national/international higher education, national/international higher education, economic developments, requirements of the economic developments, requirements of the country and business world, employability of country and business world, employability of graduates etc. is encouraged. graduates etc. is encouraged.

• Gazi University considers Bologna Gazi University considers Bologna Process as an important opportunity Process as an important opportunity for the continuous improvement of for the continuous improvement of educational programmes in terms of educational programmes in terms of degree structure and learning degree structure and learning outcomes and as a value that will outcomes and as a value that will increase the employability and increase the employability and mobility of mobility of the the graduates. graduates.

• As the consequence of the As the consequence of the internalisation policy; Gazi internalisation policy; Gazi University is the member of University is the member of European Universities Association European Universities Association (EUA) (EUA) since 2005 and since 2005 and got the got the Institutional Evaluation of EUA in Institutional Evaluation of EUA in 2007. 2007.

• OurOur university also university also very active and very active and exhibits a exhibits a great interest on EU Life Long Learning great interest on EU Life Long Learning ProgrammeProgramme since the involvement of Turkey into since the involvement of Turkey into the Programme in 2004the Programme in 2004..

• EU Life Long Learning Programme is EU Life Long Learning Programme is considered as very important source to provide considered as very important source to provide the cooperation among European Institutions the cooperation among European Institutions and Organisation in for improving the quality, and Organisation in for improving the quality, recognition and transparency of education and recognition and transparency of education and training programmes. training programmes.

•

• Gazi University had the first place Gazi University had the first place among Turkish universities as among Turkish universities as regards to projects supported by regards to projects supported by LdV Programme LdV Programme since 2004since 2004. .

• The amount of input from LdV The amount of input from LdV projects to the university projects to the university along that along that periodperiod has been around 4 million has been around 4 million Euros. Euros.

• As most of you know, the nucleus of Gazi As most of you know, the nucleus of Gazi University was established as a “teacher University was established as a “teacher training institute” in 1926 by Mustafa Kemal training institute” in 1926 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of Turkish Republic. Atatürk, the founder of Turkish Republic.

• Thus, “teacher training” is one of the Thus, “teacher training” is one of the traditional missions of our university. traditional missions of our university.

• Currently, aCurrently, at the national levelt the national level, our , our university university still continues to meet the teacher still continues to meet the teacher demand of Turkey demand of Turkey with its 5 educational with its 5 educational facultiesfaculties..

• Nevertheless, the required level in Nevertheless, the required level in terms of recognition, tranparency, terms of recognition, tranparency, comparability and easily readability comparability and easily readability have not been achieved in some have not been achieved in some teacher training programs. teacher training programs.

• This issue has been stressed in the This issue has been stressed in the Institutional Evaluation Report of Institutional Evaluation Report of the European Universities the European Universities Association (EUA). Association (EUA).

• Thus, enhancing the international Thus, enhancing the international cooperation and intesifying on re-cooperation and intesifying on re-structuring of the teacher training structuring of the teacher training programmes basing on the quality programmes basing on the quality assurrance and employability has assurrance and employability has been the specific concerns of our been the specific concerns of our University in the recent years. University in the recent years.

• ““New Approaches in Technology New Approaches in Technology Training” project promoted by the Training” project promoted by the Department of Industrial Technology Department of Industrial Technology Education is the first completed pilot Education is the first completed pilot project of Gazi University in EU Life Long project of Gazi University in EU Life Long Learning Programme. Learning Programme.

• As well as that, we are proud of this As well as that, we are proud of this project for being included in the project for being included in the Compendium of 50 successful Compendium of 50 successful projects of projects of EU LdV Programme among 1710 projects. EU LdV Programme among 1710 projects.

• I feel sure that, the results of this project I feel sure that, the results of this project will provide a European added value to will provide a European added value to the “Industrial Technology Education the “Industrial Technology Education Programme” of Gazi University that is Programme” of Gazi University that is already comparable and readable in already comparable and readable in international level. international level.

• Also, I sincerely hope that, the results of Also, I sincerely hope that, the results of this project will lead towards common this project will lead towards common degree programmes in the field of degree programmes in the field of technology education as a short term technology education as a short term impact. impact.

• Another important point of this meeting for our Another important point of this meeting for our University is that; for the first time an updated University is that; for the first time an updated curriculum of an undergraduate programme will be curriculum of an undergraduate programme will be subjected to peer review by international experts. subjected to peer review by international experts.

• ““International peer review of the new and updated International peer review of the new and updated curricula” has been stressed by the Evaluation team curricula” has been stressed by the Evaluation team during the Institutional Evaluation of EUA in during the Institutional Evaluation of EUA in September. September.

• The updated curricula of the “Industrial Technology The updated curricula of the “Industrial Technology Education Programme” basing on the results of the Education Programme” basing on the results of the Project will be reviewed by international experts on Project will be reviewed by international experts on this field. this field.

• I am very proud that concrete steps I am very proud that concrete steps are taken towards the translation of are taken towards the translation of the project results into action and the project results into action and implementation. implementation.

• I feel sure that, these concrete steps I feel sure that, these concrete steps will encourage all related parties will encourage all related parties and national authorities in partner and national authorities in partner countries for the perfect countries for the perfect dissemination and exploitation of the dissemination and exploitation of the results. results.

• In consequence; I believe that, the project has In consequence; I believe that, the project has fulfilled its mission and committments through its fulfilled its mission and committments through its activities and outcomes for providing the frame in activities and outcomes for providing the frame in technology and design education basing on the technology and design education basing on the current needs. Besides, it has made a considerable current needs. Besides, it has made a considerable contribution to both European collaboration and to contribution to both European collaboration and to technology education. technology education.

• I sincerely congratulate the Project Steering I sincerely congratulate the Project Steering Commitee for their high level of management, Commitee for their high level of management, planning and achievements. As well as that, I planning and achievements. As well as that, I appreciate the great contribution of the European appreciate the great contribution of the European and National experts on the project. It is actually a and National experts on the project. It is actually a great success to obtain such a comprehensive study great success to obtain such a comprehensive study and products within two years period and with 7 and products within two years period and with 7 partner countries. partner countries.

• Follow-up stage of the project is also Follow-up stage of the project is also extremely important. I sincerely hope that, all extremely important. I sincerely hope that, all the partner countries will take an active role the partner countries will take an active role for the valorisation of the results and for for the valorisation of the results and for determining the furher aspects of European determining the furher aspects of European collaboration to be established on this collaboration to be established on this infrastructure. By this means, all labor, time infrastructure. By this means, all labor, time and money spent for this issue will pay off and money spent for this issue will pay off with its added value. with its added value.

• All of us know that, quality is a process of All of us know that, quality is a process of continuous improvement. continuous improvement.

• Today, we also take the opportunity to Today, we also take the opportunity to share the results of the project with the share the results of the project with the authorities of the Turkish Ministry of authorities of the Turkish Ministry of National Education. National Education.

• I believe that, we will establish a strong I believe that, we will establish a strong mutual collaboration towards sustainable mutual collaboration towards sustainable quality assurrance in “technology and quality assurrance in “technology and design education” and reflect the design education” and reflect the approaches of this project to our national approaches of this project to our national education system. education system.

• I shall once again thank you for I shall once again thank you for attending and hope the results attending and hope the results will translate into action soon. will translate into action soon.