The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) is working on a new regulation regarding the duration of undergraduate education in universities.
YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, who was a guest on the Hakan Çelik ile Hafta Sonu program on CNN Türk, made evaluations regarding the planned changes in university education.
YÖK President Özvar announced that preparations are underway to enable four-year undergraduate programs to be completed in three years.
Stating that educational programs must be adapted to today's scientific and technological developments, Özvar emphasized the simplification of curricula, the reduction of the number of courses, and the integration of artificial intelligence into educational processes. Expressing that university education should establish a stronger relationship with employment, Özvar shared the details of the model aimed at reducing undergraduate education to three years.
Key highlights from YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar's statements are as follows:
“When we talk about transformation, the changes that have occurred in the fields of science and technology in recent years have begun to affect all aspects of life. Education is also among the areas affected. Educational institutions are also being influenced by this transformation. Educational institutions are institutions that graduate students with diplomas. Along with new technologies, the knowledge and skills expected from our students are slowly beginning to change. For instance; using computer programs for a semester was an important achievement. Now, just using these programs is not enough. Graduating from any department is not a guarantee of this.
Simplifying the content of the curriculum is not just about reducing the number of courses. In addition to this, the latest developments need to be integrated into the entire curriculum. Artificial intelligence must definitely be added to the curriculum. In addition to program transformation, there is the issue of updating this curriculum.
The issue of universities and employment did not use to go hand in hand. Now, universities must look at this issue.
There are programs with easy employment. Departments where graduates are not employed are being closed. The number of newly opened programs has reached nearly 80. Outdated programs are being removed from the system.
"CURRICULUM SHOULD BE SIMPLIFIED"
“(Call to universities for curriculum) The curriculum in educational programs should be simplified. The number of courses should be reduced. In Turkey, 60 courses are taught at the undergraduate level, while 20-25 courses are taught in Europe. Course contents should be updated. University administrations should also take steps in this regard. Artificial intelligence should be included in the course. Digital skills and artificial intelligence literacy should be developed.
Development occurs when the budget increases. Turkey has risen from 35th to 13th place in scientific publications worldwide. We have risen to 13th place in scientific publications. In the 2000s, Turkey was in 35th place here.
There is Turkish engineering success in defense. There are 20 state and 3 foundation research universities in Turkey.”
3-YEAR FORMULA FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES: WE ARE PREPARING OUR UNIVERSITIES
“In Europe, undergraduate education is on average 3 years. In some programs, a 3+2 model is used. This is for gaining special competence, such as in architecture or engineering. We say that we can formulate our undergraduate credits within 180 credits. We can complete this in 3 years. We have been preparing our universities for this issue for a year. For a young person in secondary education, we have 12 years of compulsory education with the 4+4+4 system. With 4 years of undergraduate education, the time spent in official educational institutions is 16 years. If it is a male student, the age of starting life with military service, internships, and job hunting reaches 26-27. Our population is in a downward trend. Fertility rates have fallen. The age of marriage has been postponed. Inevitably, Turkey's population is very critical. Let the courses continue, but let our students be involved in life with an emphasis on practice.”
News Source: 12punto
