BAU "Local Governments Academy 22" Program Launched

The "Local Governments Academy 22" certificate program, held in collaboration with Bahçeşehir University and Beyoğlu Municipality, has begun. The "Local Governments Academy 22 Program," organized within the Bahçeşehir University International Leadership Application and Research Center (ULMER) - School of Government Leadership, is taking place with new content and format.

The program aims to guide the staff working in local governments in line with the evolving and changing systems of the new world order, as well as to equip individuals who wish to work in local governments, to discuss the problems of local governments and to develop policies that produce solutions to these problems.

The opening ceremony of the program was attended by CHP Istanbul Member of Parliament Emine Gülizar Emecan, Beyoğlu Mayor Haydar Ali Yıldız, Bahçeşehir University President Prof. Dr. Şirin Karadeniz and Bahçeşehir University ULMER Director Prof. Dr. Esra Hatipoğlu, as well as Payas Mayor Bekir Altan, who joined online.

Speaking at the opening of the program, Bahçeşehir University President Prof. Dr. Karadeniz said that they wanted to renew their long-running programs in parallel with the pandemic and all the evolving and changing developments in the world.

"We wanted our young people to be informed and to increase their awareness."

Recalling that this was the 14th Local Governments Academy they have organized, Prof. Dr. Şirin Karadeniz said: "During the pandemic, we held the Diplomacy and Politics School programs on weekends, because that was the most suitable time for the entire audience. We also made use of technology and held them in a hybrid format. We included special sessions on the Russia-Ukraine war in the program. We wanted our young people to be informed about current developments and to increase their awareness. Some guests came from abroad. For example, we held a special workshop on peace with Pakistan. Last weekend, we held our global leadership forum on peace and balance within the principles of neighborliness, with all the features of Davos, and now we are organizing the Local Governments Academy."

"I hope that we will continue these programs, expanding them every year."

Emphasizing that sustainability is very important for universities, Prof. Dr. Şirin Karadeniz continued:

"I hope that we will continue these programs, expanding them every year. I thank our Beyoğlu Mayor; we have worked very well together with him and his team. We have 224 registered students in the Local Governments Academy. They will receive very intensive training over three days. We want them to set high dreams and goals. You will have very valuable academics and mayors with great experience in front of you. Do not hesitate in any way to ask them questions. I am sure you will get an answer to every question. I am also always proud to see our graduates in good positions and alongside us. The happiest moment for a teacher is to see their graduates succeed, in very good positions in life and doing better and better. On this occasion, I fondly remember all our graduates."

"We believe that we can do our best through common will and the exchange of ideas."

Beyoğlu Mayor Haydar Ali Yıldız said that the aim of the program, carried out in collaboration with Beyoğlu Municipality and Bahçeşehir University, is to train the administrators and leaders of the future and to enable young people to develop in science, art and culture, in keeping up with the times and, indeed, in every sense.

Noting that the problems and alternatives related to the structures of historic cities and their ability to keep up with the new age would be discussed in the program, Yıldız said: "As both administrators and young people, we evaluate these issues, and ultimately we talk about people, the city and the future: what can we do for the future of our country and our city? We believe that we can do our best through common will and the exchange of ideas. I thank Bahçeşehir University very much and extend my gratitude to everyone who contributed."

Speaking at the event's first session, the panel on "The Presidential Government System and Local Governments," Yıldız also answered questions from the young participants of the program.