"Excellence in International Education Award" for Enver Yücel

Bahçeşehir University Chair of the Board of Trustees Enver Yücel was deemed worthy of the "Excellence in International Education" award by the international association of American educators Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) for his achievements in designing and implementing innovative and personalized education and training programs and for his contributions to international education. The award was presented to Yücel by Dr. Lind K. Patterson, President of the New York University (NYU) Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa (PDK), and Vice President Gene J. Mann.

 

Before inviting Enver Yücel to the podium to receive his award, Dr. Patterson gave information about Yücel's innovative and personalized education and training programs in both Türkiye and the international arena. Emphasizing that, as an educator, Enver Yücel had spread K-12 schools and test preparation centers across Türkiye, and that the non-profit Bahçeşehir University had become one of the leading international universities within a short time since its foundation, Dr. Patterson said: "Yücel offers ESL programs for international students from all over the world. He founded Harriet Fulbright College in Washington DC, which hosts seminar and certificate programs for various departments of the university. He has established vocational education institutions in Eastern European and Central Asian countries. All these educational institutions offer lifelong learning programs to more than 120,000 students, starting from the age of 3. Yücel serves as President of the Association of All Private Education Institutions (TÖDER). He has pioneered many educational projects, including the Global Citizenship Curriculum."

 

The award ceremony, held at New York University's (NYU) Torch Club, was attended by Turkish and American academics who have carried out important and successful work in their fields.

HE RECEIVED THE AWARD ON BEHALF OF UĞUR EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

 

Following his speech, Dr. Patterson presented Enver Yücel with the"Excellence in International Education Award". Saying that he received the award on behalf of Bahçeşehir Education Institutions, Yücel handed his award to Ferhan Öz, Member of the Executive Board of Bahçeşehir Colleges, who has served as general director of 20 high schools.

 

In a speech following the award ceremony, Enver Yücelfocused on the "personalized education model" . Stating that it was a privilege for him to speak at the Torch Club, Yücel explained that "torch" means "meşale" in Turkish and that the torch is the symbol of education.

 

Yücel continued his speech with the following words:

 

"I am glad that such an institution, which has been working on the quality of education and excellence in education since the early 1900s and which rewards those who work in this field, exists in our world. I thank them very much for considering me worthy of such an award. I receive this award on behalf of Bahçeşehir Uğur Education Institutions. I lead them, but for me the people who put things into practice are very important. Education is a difficult job. I owe this award to my wife, Semra Hanım, who has always supported me. I applaud her."

 

"In a globalizing world, education is the locomotive"

 

Yücel stressed that he attended primary and secondary school in a village with no roads and that receiving an award from NYU was a great honor for him, while participants shared information about their work in the education sector. Saying that he was in the company of very distinguished academics, Yücel expressed his hope to have them by his side in his future endeavors. Yücel said: "Everything has become globalized: the economy and so on. Education is the locomotive for all of these to be sustainable. If we can achieve global education, establish global dialogue and create shared world citizens, we will all live together in a more peaceful world. The way to do this is equal opportunity in education and ensuring that quality education reaches every child. I am working for this in my country. My aim in founding the World Education Entrepreneurs Association is the formation of world citizenship. For all this to happen, quality education is always needed."

 

"DIFFERENT INTELLIGENCES SHOULD NOT BE EDUCATED WITH THE SAME METHODS"

 

Emphasizing that he has adopted the personalized education model and system, Yücel stated that he was influenced by the multiple intelligences theory of its theorist Howard Gardner. "I asked myself: if people have different types of intelligence, why should they learn with the same method? I decided to introduce this practice at Bahçeşehir Colleges, and I have been applying this method for 5 years. I have observed that achievement has increased greatly and that students are happier. So what we did was right," said Yücel, expressing his wish for the personalized education model to spread around the world.

 

Stating that he sees the personalized teaching model as a small step, Yücel explained that education and teaching must undergo a paradigm shift. Yücel said: "Education and teaching cannot continue with this understanding and this culture. We educators strive to teach students something. We try to offer something within existing buildings and molds. This situation must now change, and the education sector must be at the forefront of this change. We must question whether teachers can educate students properly. I opened the faculty of education at my university for this purpose. Psychologists, sociologists and educators must work harder."