The Rector of Alma Mater Europaea, Prof. Dr. Ludvik Toplak, presented the key challenges and opportunities facing higher education in the future at the Conference on the Future of Education in Istanbul. The Conference, organized by the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) in cooperation with UNESCO, was attended by numerous international experts and academics.
Prof. Dr. Toplak emphasized that higher education must adapt to the rapid changes in society, technology, and the needs of future generations. He highlighted that "the renewal of curricula, which must be aligned with these changes, is a crucial step in ensuring the quality of education in the future." He also noted the necessity of incorporating "modern technological discoveries into the learning process, as this will enable better adaptation of educational systems to the challenges of global development."
"Reorganization of universities is also key," Toplak added. "Universities must become dynamic institutions capable of tracking global scientific progress and transferring this knowledge to students, guiding them into practice." In this context, he stressed the importance of education at all levels, as good teachers are the foundation of quality education.
Prof. Toplak also noted the need for legislative reform to promote international knowledge exchange and the importance of utilizing all research and educational potential for progress in these fields. "Our task is to ensure the quality of education, which can be validated through competition and employability of graduates, while also promoting interdisciplinarity and transnationalism," he emphasized.
The Conference also featured the presentation of the Vision for a Global Peace Offensive document, signed in October this year by World Academy of Art and Science President Garry Jacobs and President of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts Klaus Mainzer. The document highlights the importance of global collaboration and building bridges between cultures, nations, generations, and scientific disciplines to achieve international peace.
Rector of Alma Mater Europaea University, Prof. Dr. Ludvik Toplak, and Vice-Rector of Istinye University in Istanbul, Prof. Dr. Hatce Gülen.