Tag: study in Turkey

Balkan students, universities benefit from Turkish scholarships

Turkey simplifies scholarship application procedures, attracts students from across the region.

By Klaudija Lutovska for Southeast European Times in Skopje — 11/04/13

Many students from the Balkans are studying on scholarships at Turkish universities. [University of Istanbul]

The availability of scholarships and an easy online application process have led an increasing number of university students from the Balkans to pursue their studies in Turkey.

There are more than 35,000 foreign undergraduate and postgraduate students at Turkey’s universities, including 13,000 on scholarships.

Zivko Gacovski, dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at St. Kliment Ohridski University in Bitola, said students are showing great interest in the Turkish scholarship programme. He added that the university will benefit as well, citing plans to partner with the veterinary programme at Uludag University in Bursa, Turkey.

“Soon we will officially visit Turkey to sign a memorandum for bilateral co-operation, with which we will begin exchanging experiences, faculty and jointly working on projects. This is of great value for the development of our school, which began three years ago. It will strengthen instruction and scientific programmes, as well as the school’s capacity,” Gacovski said.

Sein Cardak, Turkey’s Balkan co-ordinator for higher education, told SETimes that the scholarships total $450 (344 euros) per month for undergraduates and $575 (440 euros) per month for doctoral students. The scholarships also cover two meals per day, health insurance and transportation costs.

There are 500 courses of study available at 175 Turkish universities. Students also are able to obtain a free year of instruction in the Turkish language in addition to their chosen course work.

“The amount of the scholarship is the most attractive part of this offer,” Cardak said.

Turkey annually provides 4,000 grants to students from 150 different countries. Last year, scholarships totaled $1.2 billion (917 million euros).

“In Turkey, we have a quote that says, ‘If my neighbour does not have money for food, I can’t sleep.’ This is a symbol of our character,” Cardak said.

Rector Zlatko Zhoglev (left) and Macedonian Minister of Education Pance Kralev (second from left) participate in the diploma celebration for law faculty students at the University St. Kliment Ohridski in Bitola. [Klaudija Lutovska/SETimes]

Students from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, Slovenia and Greece are currently on scholarships in Turkey.

Adem Gunaydin, a co-ordinator with the Turkish scholarship programme, said 80 students from BiH will continue their education in Turkey during the 2013-14 academic year. This year’s application period for master’s and doctoral scholarships closed on March 31st, but undergraduate students can apply via the internet starting in May.

Previously, an entrance exam was required, but it was abolished last year. Selected applicants will be invited to an interview in Sarajevo, after which a list of scholarship recipients will be announced.

Merisa Sultanovic, a 22-year-old student from BiH, said she found out about Turkish scholarships on the internet.

“I study economics in Turkey, a country with a remarkably developed economy,” she told SETimes. “I expect to take the experience and knowledge gained here back to BiH.”

Students from Turkey also pursue studies in the Balkans. Macedonia welcomes more than 300 Turkish students a year, and there are Turkish students at universities in Bulgaria and BiH.

Ankara University students will be able to continue studying at the University of Bitola under a recent agreement.

“There is a group of students from Turkey who have completed two years of high school, and they want to come here to complete a further three years to gain a college degree, especially in the sciences or electrical engineering,” Zlatko Zhoglev, rector at the University of Bitola, told SETimes.

“Collaboration will happen even in the field of philological sciences. There is interest in Macedonia to open a department of Turkish language. Their centre for Turkish language in Ankara is one of the strongest.”

Prospective students can apply for Turkish university scholarships at www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr and www.trscholarships.org .

What advantages do you think a Turkish university education would provide? Share your thoughts in our comment section.

This content was commissioned for SETimes.com.

via Balkan students, universities benefit from Turkish scholarships (SETimes.com).

April 12, 2013
Despite US embassy attack in Turkey Feb. 1, the Turkey venture to continue

A suicide bomber set off an explosive at one of the security check points outside of the US embassy in Ankara, Turkey, killing a Turkish security guard and wounding three others Feb. 1, according to a White House press briefing. King’s has been sending international venture groups to Turkey since 2010, and despite the attack, the Turkey venture is still on for this summer.

Photo from tkc.edu.

“A suicide bombing on the perimeter of an embassy is, by definition, an act of terror,” Press Secretary Jay Carney said at the briefing. The afternoon attack, which took place at approximately 1:15 p.m., prompted The White House to issue a warning for Americans to temporarily avoid diplomatic posts in Turkey and to exercise caution in crowds.

“I’ve been in communication with my contacts at the embassy and Turkish government, and this is not going to be something that changes the plans of the trip,” Anthony Randazzo, King’s graduate and director of economic research at the Reason Foundation, said via email.

Randazzo once lived in Turkey and now works closely with the Turkey venture.

According to Randazzo, early information suggests the terrorist group was known and has been threatening toward the US military presence in the Middle East without attacking. He added that the incident was “very sad” but will not endanger or deter the Turkey venture team.

The 40-year old bomber, Ecevit Sanli, was identified as a member of the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party, a leftist organization responsible for various attacks and assassinations since the 1970s, the Washington Post reported.

The attack on Friday dredged up recent and vivid memories of the September 2012 attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which took the lives of four Americans, including the US ambassador, Chris Stevens.

“We have an excellent tracking system where we’re learning what’s going on around the world when it comes to crises so that we’re able to respond to it right away,” Elijah McCready, The King’s College Global Engagement coordinator, said.

Although Press Secretary Carney condemned the attack, during the press briefing he said, “Turkey remains one of our strongest partners in the region, a NATO ally. We have worked shoulder to shoulder with the Turks to counter terror threats and this will only strengthen our resolve.”

McCready explained that the goal of the venture trip is for students at The King’s College to build a partnership with rising leaders in Turkey. This goes hand in hand with the mission of The King’s College which “seeks to transform society by preparing students for careers in which they help to shape and eventually to lead strategic public and private institutions.”

On the Turkey venture, students attend a five-day business conference where they discuss business ethics, Turkish-American trade, and commerce with students from top private universities in Turkey who are among the wealthiest, most connected and most likely to rise to leadership positions.

This past January, The King’s College hosted its first conference for the Turkish students.

“I think it’s neat to be sharing ideas with the students in Turkey and hear their thoughts on capitalism, democracy, Islam and other things,” Nicole Rosales (’15, Business Major), said. Rosales went on the international venture to Turkey in 2012 and plans to return this summer.

Tags: Elijah McCready, International Ventures, Jay Carney, NATO

via Despite US embassy attack in Turkey Feb. 1, the Turkey venture to continue.

February 8, 2013
Do you want to be part of Turkey’s future?

November 14, 2012

This post is also available in: Turkish

Did you know that 41,000 brilliant students from around the world have studied in the UK since 1983 under a terrific scholarship programme run by the UK Government? And it’s available in Turkey.

The Chevening programme in Turkey is designed to create lasting positive relationships with future leaders and decision makers. It’s aimed at young professionals who have already displayed outstanding leadership talents, to study in the UK typically for a one-year post-graduate Masters degree.

After completing their courses, students return to their home countries where many assume positions of leadership and influence while maintaining links in the UK.

I’ve met Chevening scholars in many countries round the world and they are some of the most outstanding high achievers in society. They include politicians, academics, economists and journalists.

If this sounds like you, you can apply on-line now for 2013/14 Chevening Scholarships. Applications are open until 2 January 2013. If you want to be part of Turkey and Britain’s future, don’t delay.

via Do you want to be part of Turkey’s future? – Leigh Turner.

November 15, 2012
Turkey: A Look Into Its Culture and History

Written By: Humzah Nasir

Turkey is a beacon of both democracy and stability in the tumultuous Middle East; its social and political model successfully combines Islam and Western influences. Turkey is a Muslim country, a democracy, and it has a booming economy. It’s a state that spans two continents, and it’s a place with thousands of years of fascinating culture and history. I sat down with my friend, Evangeline Outzen ‘14, to talk about this important but little-known country.

Outzen spoke with me about her experiences, her political opinions and the historical facts about the beautiful and unique country that is Turkey. Outzen is half Turkish and lived in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, from the ages of nine to eleven. She has been back to the country seven times, and has studied Turkish politics and foreign relations as an intern in Washington, DC. During her time in Turkey, she had the fortune to visit many amazing cities including, but not limited to: Istanbul, Izmir, Eskisehir, Antalya, Erzurum, Cappadocia and Kayseri. “Turkey is a large country – slightly bigger in geographic area than Texas – but I’ve been lucky to have traveled around a lot,” Outzen said.

On a more personal note, Outzen told me about some of her most memorable moments in Turkey. “When I was ten, my family took a trip to Cappadocia. That trip is especially impressed on my memory for a few reasons, including that it was probably the first time I began to seriously think about different religions, and how they interact with each other. One night, my family and I went to dinner and watched a performance of whirling dervishes – it was a profoundly peaceful and beautiful sight. The next day, we visited the Kaymakli underground city, which is an intricate series of tunnels and rooms built during the early years of the Roman Empire, when Christianity was an entirely new religion. Early Christians in Cappadocia built the city as a place to hide because Christianity wasn’t accepted at the time. I ran and climbed excitedly through the tunnels, trying to imagine what it was like for people not only to actually live there, but to live in fear and have to hide because of their religious beliefs. Also, the city of Cappadocia itself is made up of unusual geographic formations called “fairy chimneys’, which look like something out of a surrealist painting, so the entire place has a strangely serene atmosphere. It is a must-see for anyone who wants to travel to Turkey.”

In Turkey, a dish called ‘Dolma,’ which comes from the Turkish word ‘Dolmak,’ meaning to stuff, is very popular. “It consists of stuffed vegetables. You can use rice and meat to stuff tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini and other vegetables. Stuffed grape leaves, called ‘yaprak dolmasi,’ are the most common iteration and can be found all across the Middle East,” said Evangeline. In Turkey, two drinks reign supreme: Turkish çay and Turkish coffee. “Turkish çay is drunk a few times a day and is often accompanied by biscuits or nuts. It’s more popular than the coffee because Turkish coffee is very strong,” she said. And of course, the ubiquitous Baklava is the most popular dessert in Turkey and the Middle East.

Outzen also enlightened me about the history of Turkey and how much Turkey has changed, including the effects to maintain a delicate balance between Islamic and Western ideals. “The Ottoman Empire – called the ‘Sick Man of Europe’ during the later years – began to seriously lag behind Europe technologically and struggled to maintain authority over the vast territory and numerous ethnic groups that were part of the empire. The Ottoman Empire had lasted for 600 years, but during World War I these various factors came to a head as the Ottomans fought on the losing side of the War with Germany. A man named Mustafa Kemal — later called Ataturk, father of the Turks — emerged as the leader of the Turkish nationalists. He would help establish the Turkish Republic in 1923. Seeking to Westernize and modernize Turkey, he undertook various social, political, economic, and other reforms from 1924 to 1934. He radically transformed the country to be oriented to Europe from the top down. For example, Ataturk replaced Arabic script with the Latin alphabet and removed a lot of Arabic and Farsi words from the Turkish language. Ataturk wanted Turks to think of Turkey as a European country, and for a long time they did. Today, the situation is a bit different. Although Turkey remains technically secular, the ruling Justice and Development Party, which has been in power for over a decade, is taking the country in a more Islamist direction. Seeing as Turkey’s population is 99.8 percent Muslim – most of them Sunni, although there are Shiites and Alevis too – it will be fascinating to observe how the way Turkey identifies itself changes,” Outzen said.

Our discussion shifted to politics as Outzen explained the European Union’s relationship with Turkey. Turkey first applied for EU membership over 50 years ago, and in 1963 the parties signed an association agreement stating that Turkey would “one day” become a member. In the 1970s, Turkey was offered membership but declined; Ankara was under a far left regime that did not want any part in the “capitalist club.” In 2005, the EU accession process became more complicated when the EU divided the requirements for membership into 35 chapters, which allowed for each chapter to be opened and closed with the consent of each of the 27 members. A few countries including Cyprus and France, strongly oppose Turkey’s membership. The process has effectively halted. “Personally, I think the EU has made a mistake by making it so difficult for Turkey to join. It used to be that Turkey needed the EU more than the EU needed Turkey, but now things have changed and Turkey is booming where Europe is stagnant. The failure of EU membership talks has helped contribute to a re-orientation of Turkey’s foreign policy eastward.”

Outzen on a more pensive note: “I think that Turkey has been neglected in public discourse and as a subject of study in American schools. It is unfortunate because Turkey is a rapidly growing economy with increasing geopolitical significance, but also because it is a beautiful country and culture. Turkey has been the crossroads of Eastern and Western civilization for thousands of years. It would behoove American policymakers to pay closer attention to Turkey, and on an individual level, it would also benefit Americans to study how and why [the] East and West have met successfully in Turkey.”

October 23, 2012
Turkey Grows as Destination for International Students

Turkish universities are becoming an increasingly popular destination for students from around the globe, signalling the importance of the growing education sector for Turkey. Between the 2005-2006 and the 2011-2012 school year, the number of international students attending Turkish universities more than doubled, from 15,481 to 31,170.

The growth of foreign students has been matched by the expansion of higher education in Turkey, where 50 public universities and 36 private foundation universities were established between 2006 and 2011, bringing the total number to 165. The same period witnessed an increase of 40 percent in the number of Turkish students attending university.

Students come from 155 countries to study in Turkey. In 2011-2012, Azerbaijan had the largest representation with more than 4,200 students, followed by Turkmenistan with 4,110 and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with about 3,800. Europe also showed strong numbers, with both Germany and Greece sending more than 1,300 students.

The experiences foreign students gain during their time in Turkey are of lasting value for foreign and Turkish students alike, helping to deepen ties between individuals that span national borders and erase stereotypes.

The motivation to pursue higher education in Turkey varies from student to student. For some it is the prospect of an inexpensive and quality education. For others it’s the opportunity to learn Turkish and receive an education in one of the many English language universities.

Desantilla Hasanaj came from Albania to study political science and public administration at Fatih University in Istanbul. She chose to study in Turkey “because the education here is much better than Albania.”

For Mohamed Bachir from Niger, who is in his second year studying Business Administration at Bahcesehir University in Istanbul, the opportunity to learn a new language and culture made Turkey his first choice.

Wazir Ali, from Pakistan, who is studying at Zirve University in Gaziantep, was drawn by the prospect of learning Turkish and improving his command of English by studying in a programme that uses English as the language of instruction.

But it is not just the international students who benefit from studying in Turkey. Foreign students add to the character and quality of education for Turkish students as well.

Michael Brownfox has taught at numerous Turkish universities and was a founding partner of StudyinTurkey.com, a programme run by the Turkish Universities Promotion Agency, a private organization devoted to attracting students to Turkey.

Brownfox told SES Türkiye universities benefit from attracting international students to their student body, not only in financial terms, but also in the new opportunities and ideas that come from educating students who bring a different perspective on the world.

Having international students “really helps Turkish students to see both how big and small the world is,” Brownfox said. “This is a major benefit,” he noted, pointing out that the dynamic created by a global classroom better prepares all students, foreign and Turkish, to succeed in the global marketplace.

One of the most successful student exchange programmes is the EU’s Erasmus programme, which is open to 33 countries, including Turkey, and facilitates the process of student exchanges.

Since Turkey began participating in 2004, nearly 15,000 students have come through this one programme alone, according to data published by the European Commission.

Liam Murray, who came to Turkey from England as an Erasmus student, wanted the opportunity to see the world from a different perspective and made Turkey his first choice over universities in North America or Europe.

Now beginning his fourth year living and working in Turkey, he remarked how the difference in ideas and background of the students at Middle East Technical University in Ankara added to the educational experience and drew him back to Turkey after graduation.

When students study in Turkey their education extends beyond the classroom as they get first-hand exposure to Turkish culture through their everyday interactions in Turkish society.

For the Albanian student Hasanaj, her time studying in Istanbul for her bachelor’s degree, and now a master’s degree, has given her a unique vantage point to observe the intricacies of Turkish society.

“After I got to know their past history and people, now I can better understand the complexity in which this society lives,” she said.

Creating a new generation of international students with exposure to Turkish language and society is in part a reflection of Turkey’s dynamic and proactive foreign policy over the past decade. Many of the students who come to study can use their knowledge of Turkey and connections to build bridges between Turkey and their home country.

Education as an arm of diplomacy can be seen in relatively new foreign policy areas like Africa, where until the mid-2000s Turkey had only a handful of embassies, but plans to have at least 33 by the end of 2012. A total of 1552 students from 44 African countries studied in Turkey in 2011-12, over a four-fold increase compared to 2005-06.

Jalil Abdallah, from Ghana, studied in his home country as well as in Egypt, and worked in a high school before he decided to pursue a graduate degree in international relations in Turkey.

Abdallah said the reconceptualisation of Africa within Turkish foreign policy prompted him to study in Turkey. With growing trade, diplomatic, educational and cultural ties between Turkey and Africa, he said studying in Turkey was the first step toward learning Turkish language and culture in order to pursue a career in diplomacy or an international organisation.

“The valuable thing is language and culture,” Abdallah told SES Türkiye. “‘The limit of my language,’ as said by Ludwig Wittgenstein, is ‘the limit of my world’.”

Another African student, Abobakar Tshilomba, studies economics and hopes that upon graduation he will be able to work in a business that connects his home country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Turkey. Having studied as an undergraduate in Turkey he will be well placed to facilitate connections and trade between the two countries.
Tuesday, 18 September 2012

SES Turkiye

September 22, 2012
Notre Dame student will study abroad in Turkey

Though there is unrest in the region, Sizemore will not be in harm’s way.

By JERMAINE PIGEE

[email protected]

Instead of learning about Turkey in a classroom, Kayleigh Sizemore will learn first-hand about the country.

The 15-year-old Notre Dame High School sophomore will spend next year in Turkey with the help of the Rotary Club student exchange program.

She was scheduled to leave at the end of August, but there were problems with Sizemore’s documents.

“The Turkish government didn’t approve any of the student visas on time,” said Sizemore, who arrived in Turkey Friday. “I was not the only one who was stuck because of it.”

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Sizemore said she wants to see the country through the eyes of someone who lives there.

“I want to learn the language, the culture, how they make the food, everything,” said the daughter of Ashlee Cockrell and Dean Salsberry.

Instead of going to a more popular country such as Spain, Egypt or Greece, Sizemore wanted to go a different route.

“I asked them to find some place on the Mediterranean where I could go,” she said.

The Rotary Club in Turkey is paying for Sizemore’s trip, so Bob Bartles, youth exchange officer with the local Rotary Club, said he is unsure how much the trip costs.

Regardless of the cost, there is a higher purpose to the program.

“We want to promote peace and understanding between various cultures,” Bartles said.

And though the war in Syria is spilling over into Turkey, Bartles said Sizemore will not be in harm’s way.

“If we thought it wasn’t safe, we wouldn’t have sent her over there,” he said.

Turkish Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate has said more than 80,000 Syrians are staying in Turkey after fleeing their country.

Sizemore will stay with a host family that lives on the Bosphorus, also known as the Istanbul Strait, on the northwest side of the country. The Syria-Turkish border is on the southeast side of the country.

Kemal Deniz, her host father, is a naval officer who speaks fluent English. Her host mother, Kesan, is a secretary.

The family also includes 14-year-old Ada-mert, who will be Sizemore’s host brother.

The host family’s grandfather also lives with them as does a live-in housekeeper.

“I will be one of their children,” Sizemore said. “I will have chores, homework and all that.”

One adjustment Sizemore will have to make is in her schooling. Tenth- through 12th-graders attend college in Turkey, and Sizemore plans to do advanced studies at Doga College.

“My biggest challenge will be the school and the language,” she said. “I will have to concentrate every moment of the eight hours a day I am in school.”

Uniform codes are different in Turkey as well. Sizemore said she will wear long skirts, ties and long socks.

Food also will be different for Sizemore, as meals consist mostly of lamb, fish and many spices.

“The family has lots of fruit trees, and I love fruit,” she said.

She expects to experience some homesickness.

“I’m terrified about leaving home, and I will miss my friends and family, but I’m also excited,” she said. “Very few people get the chance to do this, and I feel very fortunate that I get to do so.”

via Notre Dame student will study abroad in Turkey.

September 16, 2012