First Step Taken for the Turkish-German University to Be Established in Berlin!

As a first step toward the Turkish-German University to be established in Berlin, our university has set up its Berlin Liaison Office.

On Monday, 15 February 2010, our university opened the Bahçeşehir University Berlin Liaison Office in order to strengthen its relations with universities and educational institutions in Germany and across Europe, carry out joint education programs and research projects, contribute to the integration of the Turkish population in Europe into the cultures and systems of the countries they live in, and closely pursue the work for the German-Turkish University to be established in Berlin.

The opening of the Liaison Office in the Wissenschaftsforum building was attended by Enver Yücel, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Bahçeşehir University; Gisela von der Aue, Berlin Senator for Justice; Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan, President of Bahçeşehir University; faculty members; Cem Özdemir, Co-Chair of the Green Party; Günter Piening, Berlin State Commissioner for Integration and Migration; Mustafa Pulat, Consul General of Türkiye in Berlin; Mahmut Evkuran, Director General of Research and Training at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye; Berlin State Parliament members Bilay Öney and Özcan Mutlu; and many Turkish and German guests.

Delivering the opening speech, Berlin Senator for Justice Gisela von der Aue began by conveying the greetings and best wishes of Klaus Wowereit, Governing Mayor of Berlin. Aue continued: "Bahçeşehir University transcends the boundaries of scientific work in many ways. In doing so, it changes not only international academic institutionalism but also the content of academic research through multifaceted research projects. The university's scientists work on migration and integration and are planning vocational training programs for young Turks with a migrant background. Berlin needs this work as well." She also spoke of the deep and traditional ties between German and Turkish scientists.

"If permission is granted, the Turkish-German University could start admitting students very soon, this September"
 

Taking the floor after the German minister, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Bahçeşehir University Enver Yücelexplained that work on Bahçeşehir University's Liaison Office had begun six months earlier and stated that their goal was to open a school of applied sciences in Germany. Noting that they had for some time wanted to open a higher education institution in Europe, and particularly in Berlin, Yücel said: "We have launched an initiative to establish a school of applied sciences in Berlin. In fact, not just an initiative; we have taken concrete steps. The necessary infrastructure work is progressing rapidly. Within 2-3 months we will apply to the Berlin government for the school of applied sciences. If permission is granted, the Turkish-German University could start admitting students very soon, this September."

Yücel stated that they would take important steps here to educate young people of German origin, of Turkish-German origin and from Türkiye, and that they also wished to benefit from Germany's considerable experience in vocational education.

Pointing out that the idea of establishing a Turkish-German University had existed in Türkiye for 30 years, Yücel said: "To date, this problem has not been overcome. I believe the law on the establishment of the Turkish-German University by YÖK in Türkiye has either recently been passed or is about to be. But we do not know when it will become operational, and we need to move quickly. Together with "F+U", which is dedicated to education in Germany just as we are in Türkiye and has carried out important projects in vocational education, we have started a project. Within the next 2-3 months, we want to apply to the Berlin senate to transform the "IBA International School of Applied Sciences", established in Berlin three years ago, into the "F+U – BU School of Applied Sciences".

Stating that they would carry out research and development on improving Turkish-German cooperation and resolving various social problems related to integration, Yücel said: "Today we are taking a small step, but a big one for tomorrow."

"We want to explain Türkiye to Germany and Germany to Türkiye"

Next to take the podium, Bahçeşehir University President Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan began her speech by saying: "Those who tear down the rigid walls of paradigms in the world manage to build new worlds for themselves." Prof. Arıboğan said: "Just as light rose from the east, light has begun to return to the east." Stating that Europe needs to cooperate with others in order to keep up with this development, Arıboğan said: "We see ourselves as part of Europe. At the same time, we are also part of Asia. We can draw from the same source of light from both the East and the West. In this respect, we believe Türkiye is positioned at a very important point."

Noting that the founders of the modern university concept in Türkiye were Germans, Arıboğan said: "As Bahçeşehir University, we are happy to be here. Bahçeşehir University also has social responsibilities that it advocates in Türkiye. We are not talking about a university confined within its own campus boundaries. We are also an institution that takes on the role of transforming our own society." Arıboğan continued: "In surveys conducted 25-30 years ago, Germans were seen as the people Turks liked most. However, the constant criticism Türkiye has faced in recent years during the European Union process has also caused disappointment toward Germans in Türkiye, because Germans were always a people we regarded as friends and felt were on our side." President Arıboğan said: "We believe this cooperation is necessary to refresh relations, guide societies correctly and convey the truth to them accurately."

Arıboğan concluded her speech with the words: "From now on, you will see Bahçeşehir University in Germany very often, and we also want to see our German friends at Bahçeşehir University very often. We want to explain Türkiye to Germany and Germany to Türkiye."

Intercultural Dialogue

At the opening ceremony, a panel was also held on intercultural dialogue, one of the main reasons for establishing the Office. At the panel, Tübingen University faculty member Prof. Dr. Karl-Josef Kuschel addressed "Global Ethics and Intercultural Dialogue" and its importance today. While the presentation by Bahçeşehir University Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences faculty member Prof. Dr. Esmer Yılmazon the behavioral patterns of the East and the West attracted great interest, Dr. Kaan H. Ökten explained that the concept of "interfaith dialogue" is not sufficient and that the term intercultural dialogue should be preferred.

Berlin Liaison Office

Bahçeşehir University's student and faculty exchange programs, summer schools, dual-degree undergraduate and graduate programs, research projects, arts and cultural events, and academic activities such as conferences and panels will be carried out from Berlin, one of Europe's most important capitals, as well as from Istanbul.

Developing intercultural dialogue requires not only reconciliation and sharing between the cultures of two countries but also taking into account migrant populations who carry a completely different culture to a foreign country, as well as conflicting cultures within the same country. In this context, Bahçeşehir University will also carry out work with the discipline of a research center at the Berlin Liaison Office to contribute to the integration of the Turkish population in Europe into the cultures and systems of the countries they live in. Practical matters such as organizing education programs for young migrants of Turkish origin, cooperating with non-governmental organizations and the business sector for this purpose, and conducting large-scale research projects aimed at producing solutions on migration and integration will also be among the center's activities.