A New Era in Teacher Education

The "University at School" education model, which brings an innovative approach to the teacher training model in Türkiye, was introduced with its first implementation at BJK College. In the model, implemented for the first time by the Bahçeşehir University (BAU) Faculty of Educational Sciences, teacher candidates spend part of their education on the university campus and later semesters at schools together with primary, secondary and high school students. With the project, which will start a new era in teacher education, teacher candidates complete their education at schools, the workplaces where they will work in the future.

Speaking at the introductory meeting where all the details of the "University at School" education model implemented by the Bahçeşehir University (BAU) Faculty of Education were shared, Bahçeşehir University Chair of the Board of Trustees Enver Yücel said: "Today we are happy to realize another of our ambitions. We have brought to Türkiye a model we have been working on for a long time. The world is getting smaller and borders are disappearing. As always, I would like to underline today that education lies at the foundation of everything. We must now implement an education model that teaches living together without othering people. The world has become a small village and information is now available everywhere. What is needed is a new model that uses this information correctly. Why does the doctor training model in medical education not exist in teacher training? We must question this. With the 'University at School' education model, we are bringing a breath of fresh air to teacher training in Türkiye. We will contribute to teacher training education." Stating that they received consultancy from the deans of education faculties of many leading universities around the world, Enver Yücel said: "We will change teacher education and its understanding in Türkiye. Just as in medical education, we have developed a model in which teacher candidates receive education together with practice in their fields of work. Thanks to this model, the problem of inexperienced teachers will disappear. There are 97 faculties of education in Türkiye. Our aim is not to be the 98th; we aim to be a faculty that sets an example for the world."

In his speech, Ministry of National Education Director General of Teacher Training and Development Ömer Balıbey said: "The University at School model will bring a breath of fresh air to teacher education in Türkiye. It will also be an exemplary model for the Ministry. This model is a game changer in our education system. Education is not a whiteboard to be written and erased. We have shortcomings, but our search to remedy them continues. The 'University at School' education model is a result of this search. We must bring better, more equipped and more qualified teachers into classrooms. We stand behind this model and those who developed it."

Council of Higher Education Member Mehmet Şişman, who attended the introductory meeting, expressed his thoughts as follows: "The biggest problem of education in Türkiye is quality. Efforts to improve education continue without interruption. We have tried many models for teacher training so far. The 'University at School' education model puts most of my thoughts on this subject into practice. There should be a master-apprentice relationship in teacher training. The 'University at School' education model will set an example for our teacher training efforts, shed light on them and make important contributions."

WHAT IS UNIVERSITY AT SCHOOL?

With the project, implemented as an alternative model in teacher training, the university is brought to schools with the scientific research and knowledge of its faculty members. Thus, teacher candidates receive their education at their workplaces, that is, in school classrooms. With the"University at School"model, prepared as a first in Türkiye with the sole aim of training professional teachers, education faculty students, after the basic education they receive at the university in the first two years, attend classes in the third year as "Assistant Teachers" together with a teacher selected from partner schools.

Having gained experience, the "Assistant Teachers" are promoted to "Candidate Teacher" status alongside another teacher in the final year of their university education. Now in their journeyman period, the "Candidate Teachers" begin teaching in classrooms one day a week and, as they gain experience, teach full time.