Atatürk University Rector Prof.Dr. Ömer Çomaklı, who went to Ankara to make a series of visits and contacts,  went to Eskişehir to attend the 40th Anniversary of Open Education System organized by Anadolu University.

President of the Council of Higher Education (CHE), Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar taking part in the events, and Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı participated in the "Digitalization in Higher Education After the Pandemic: Expected Change and Transformation Processes" panel organized within the scope of the program.

In the panel chaired by CHE President Prof. Dr Erol Özvar, Atatürk University Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı, Rector of Ankara University Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar, Anadolu University Rector Prof. Dr. Fuat Erdal and Istanbul University Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmut Ak took part as a panelist.

Chairman Özvar: “Our Goal Is To Diversify Open, Distance and Hybrid Models in Education”

Speaking at the panel, Chairman of CHE Özvar stated that the share of open education in 3 universities in Turkey is quite high at both the associate degree and undergraduate level, and pointed out that the share of open education at the associate degree level is 73% in the 2020-2021 academic year. Expressing that the share of open education at the undergraduate level is 52%, Özvar emphasized that the main goal is to diversify open, distance and hybrid models in education.

Addressing the participants as a panelist, Rector Çomaklı stated that Atatürk University Open Education Faculty was established in 2010 with the decision of the Council of Ministers, and said that they are proud to be one of the three universities in Turkey that provide education in the field of open education.

“Our Open Education Faculty Serves Nearly 500 Thousand Students”

Reminding that the Open and Distance Education Faculty gave its first graduates in the 2012-2013 academic year, Prof. Dr. Çomaklı: “Within our faculty, a total of 47 programs, including 13 undergraduate, 4 undergraduate completion and 30 associate degree programs, are carried out with nearly 500 thousand students. Our aim is to offer distance education opportunities to our citizens, adopting lifelong learning with the slogan "Always Forward in the Service of Life", using high technology-based design and innovation techniques, and train qualified individuals. At the same time, it is to be a leading open education faculty that implements education and training methods in international standards with priority and preferable education quality.”

Rector Çomaklı: “We Are Trying To Provide An Accessible Educational Environment For Students”

Reminding that they have continued to serve the country's higher education without sacrificing quality education in the process since the outbreak of the pandemic in our country, Rector Çomaklı expressed that Atatürk University is among the institutions that have made a name for itself in the field of "distance and open education" as in many other fields. Rector Çomaklı, who stated that great efforts were made to provide an accessible education environment for students, said that they are making an intense effort to maintain the success achieved by transferring the experience gained during the pandemic period to the post-pandemic period, and in this context, all teaching staff are in charge of guiding the new period after the pandemic. He underlined that they will continue to contribute to the leading roles to be assumed by Atatürk University and students.

CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE – 13.05.2022