Orientation Meeting of the Faculty of Culture and Social Sciences Held on 17 September 2025
The Orientation Meeting of the Faculty of Culture and Social Sciences was held on 17 September 2025 in the conference hall of the School of Foreign Languages at the Turkish-German University.
The event began with the opening speech delivered by the University’s Vice-Rector and Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Dr. Aysel Uzuntaş. Prof. Dr. Uzuntaş emphasized that the primary aim of the orientation meeting was to bring students together with the faculty’s academic staff, support their adaptation to undergraduate programs, and provide them with comprehensive information regarding the educational structure of the faculty. She further highlighted that the meeting not only facilitated the academic development of the students but also eased their integration into university life, enabling them to experience a multifaceted adaptation process on social and cultural levels. In this way, she noted, students would be able to embark on their university journey with greater awareness and strength.
Following this, the Faculty Coordinator, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rainer Schmidt, underlined the strategic value of Turkish-German academic cooperation and drew attention to the importance of providing opportunities that support students’ academic, cultural, and personal development. In this context, he stressed the significance of fostering students’ research competencies, deepening their critical thinking skills, and equipping them with an interdisciplinary perspective.
Subsequently, detailed information on the structure and functioning of the faculty’s programs was provided by the Head of the Department of Culture and Communication Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Süreyya İlkılıç, and the Head of the Department of Sociology, Asst. Prof. Dr. Anlam Filiz. Participants were also informed about the FEDEK accreditation process led by the Department of Culture and Communication Sciences, the ongoing double-degree program initiatives within the faculty, as well as various student activities. In addition, the course structures and academic operations of the Departments of Culture and Communication Sciences and Sociology were presented.
The students also received information on international exchange programs from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Elif Posos Devrani (Erasmus Coordinator, Department of Culture and Communication Sciences), Asst. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Sait Duran (Mevlana Coordinator, Department of Culture and Communication Sciences), and Asst. Prof. Dr. Eylül Tuğçe Alnıaçık Özyer (Mevlana Coordinator, Department of Sociology). Regarding internship opportunities, information was provided by Asst. Prof. Dr. Başak Kaptan Şiray (Department of Culture and Communication Sciences). Furthermore, Dr. İpek Kesici (Tutor Program Coordinator, Department of Culture and Communication Sciences) and Asst. Prof. Dr. Ladin Bayurgil (Tutor Program Coordinator, Department of Sociology) shared guiding information on the organization of the tutor program.
The orientation meeting concluded in a productive atmosphere enriched by the valuable contributions of faculty members and research assistants, creating an environment that facilitated the adaptation of new students to academic life and encouraged them to feel part of the university community.
