3rd International Higher Education Studies Conference (2018 IHEC)...

The 3rd International Higher Education Studies Conference (2018 IHEC), which was organized in collaboration of Abdullah Gül University (AGU) and the Association for Higher Education Studies (YÖÇAD), was held at the Rectorate Conference and Seminar Halls on the Sümer Campus.

More than 120 guests from over 60 institutions based in 12 countries, most of whom were academics, and among them more than 80 speakers joined the conference, organized with the aim of creating a common ground for joint studies on the higher education.

During the conference, presentations were made on new trends, research outcomes, theoretical perspectives emerging in the higher education studies and opinions were discussed.

Rector Prof. İhsan Sabuncuoğlu delivered the opening speech of the conference and highlighted the fast-changing world which also affected the higher education system.

Education methods, students and academics' roles also changed, said Prof. Sabuncuoğlu and added, at the present time higher education institutions had to go beyond traditional teaching methods with interdisciplinary research and answer to the needs of the community.

Assoc. Prof. Fatma Nevra Seggie, President of the Association for Higher Education Studies, expressed that higher education was evolving around the world as a study and research area.

Assoc. Prof. Seggie said they observed reflections of that development and added: "We see many academics, researchers working in this field around the world and in Turkey. For the last 10 years, the number of universities has been increasing rapidly.  Number of academics and researchers focusing on the higher education has also been increasing substantially. As an association, we want to create an international platform to form a community focusing on higher education and go beyond the local."

Afterwards, Prof. Ulrich Teichler, keynote speaker of the conference from the International Centre for Higher Education Research of Kassel University, made a presentation entitled "The Contribution of Higher Education to Graduate Employment and Work."

Prof. Teichler touched upon basic functions of the higher education, relations between universities and businesses, international mobility, graduate education, employment. He further stressed that the role of higher education institutions was limited with regard to shaping competences and future careers of students.

The conference continued with parallel sessions and hosted a total of 6 panels and 95 presentations for three days.