Experience of Being a Faculty Development Program Research Assistant at a Large University in Turkey

• In Event: 72.035 - Graduate Preparation and Faculty Development

Abstract

With the rapid increase of universities in Turkey in, raising qualified academicians for these universities became a necessity. To address this need, a faculty development program (FDP) was initiated at the national level. The program aims to train research assistants in developed universities on behalf of developing universities. This study aims to examine the experience of being a FDP research assistant through a phenomenological exploration. Three focus groups were conducted at a large university in Turkey with 17 participants. The results indicate that the phenomenon is experience as having access to graduate education in a highly prestigious university as a student from a developing university. Implications of the findings in relation to issues of justice in higher education are discussed.

Authors

• Gokce Gokalp, Middle East Technical University

• Omer Caliskan, Middle East Technical University

• Merve Zayim, Okan University

• Hasan Yucel Ertem, Middle East Technical University

• Sevgi Kaya Kaşıkcı, Middle East Technical University

• Ridvan Cinar, Middle East Technical University