Education and Economic Development Conference by Bahçeşehir University and Columbia University Teachers College

With the understanding that education is the key force behind economic development, our university has achieved another first by establishing the Education and Economic Development Unit in cooperation with Columbia University Teachers College.

The first event of the Education and Development Unit, established under Bahçeşehir University Innovative Education Research Center (YEGAM), will be the Education and Economic Development Conference to be held on 14-15 May.

At the conference, which will bring together academics and experts from leading universities in Türkiye and around the world, the relationship between education and economic development will be examined in depth. The challenges Türkiye faces in educating young generations who need to benefit from changes in a globalizing world will be discussed.

Experts from the OECD, Columbia University, the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy and Kobe University in Japan will share with participants the role education plays in countries moving from a production-based economy to a knowledge-based economy. Academics and experts from Hacettepe University, Bilkent University, Istanbul University, Bahçeşehir University, Sabancı University, the Board of Education and the Ministry of Finance will also present the challenges Türkiye faces and their proposed solutions. The opening speeches of the conference will be given by Prof. Dr. Taner Berksoy, Dean of the Bahçeşehir University Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, and Dr. Hilmi Güler, former Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and the closing speech will be given by Enver Yücel, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Bahçeşehir University.

The Education and Development Unit, the newest unit of YEGAM, which aims to carry out research and practices that will contribute to education policies and the development of education at all levels, will continue its work after this first event by regularly organizing conferences, workshops and panels.

Venue: Bahçeşehir University, Beşiktaş Campus

Date: 14-15 May 2010
 

About the International Participants:

Prof. Dr. Rita Asplund
Research Institute of the Finnish Economy

Prof. Dr. Rita Asplund, who received her doctorate from the University of Helsinki, works in the fields of labor economics, investment in education and human resources, and technological development. Prof. Dr. Rita Asplund, who serves as a professor at the University of Helsinki, has also headed many research centers. Prof. Dr. Rita Asplund has more than 100 publications.

Dr. Bernard Hugonnier
OECD

Dr. Bernard Hugonnier, who received his doctorate from the University of Paris, works in the fields of international investment, liberal services and regional development. Before his current position at the OECD, he headed the OECD's Management and Restructuring Unit, Publication Programs Unit and Corporate Communications Unit. Dr. Bernard Hugonnier also teaches at the Sorbonne.

Prof.Dr. Keiichi Ogawa
Kobe University, Japan

Prof. Dr. Keiichi Ogawa, who received his doctorate from Columbia University, conducts research in the fields of economics of education, education finance and educational planning. He has worked as an economist at the World Bank, UNICEF and UNESCO and has carried out work in more than 20 countries. Prof. Dr. Ogawa has more than 60 articles and 3 books. He was presented with the "Distinguished Service Award" by the Government of Yemen for his work in Yemen. He was also awarded the "Best Academic" award by Columbia University.

Prof. Dr. Francisco L. Rivera-Batiz
Columbia Üniversitesi

Prof. Dr. Francisco L. Rivera-Batiz, who received his doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, conducts research in the fields of economics of education and international and regional development. Prof. Dr. Rivera-Batiz, who has also taught at the University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania, has more than 100 articles and more than 10 books. Having headed respected research centers in America, Prof. Dr. Rivera-Batiz has received the "Outstanding Academic Achievement" award from the Association of Latin American Economists and the "Best Faculty Member" award from Columbia University.