The Evolving Landscape of Education and Educational Research in Türkiye: Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges (Turkish Educational Research Association (TERA-Turkey), Turkey)

• In Event: Worldwide Education Research Priorities and Collaborative Opportunities from the Vantage of Education Research Associations

Abstract

While universities shoulder the primary responsibility for educational research in Türkiye, funding comes from a diverse pool. The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) plays a central role, but the Ministry of Education, universities themselves, and even European Union agencies contribute financially. Notably, the involvement of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in both conducting and funding educational research remains relatively limited. In 2017, Turkish Educational Research Association (TERA) introduced a new grant program to enhance the quality of educational research in Türkiye by providing financial and networking support to the early career scholars and doctoral students. Unfortunately due to the unprecedented financial crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria in February, 2023, TERA had to stop the grant program and other important capacity development projects and activities.

This presentation examines the current landscape of education and educational research in Türkiye, highlighting key research trends, emerging opportunities, and persistent challenges. Türkiye's educational system is undergoing significant transformations, driven by factors like globalization, natural disasters, immigration, technological advancements, and a growing youth population.

Research Trends
• Emphasis on 21st Century Skills: Research focuses on integrating critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills into curriculum design, preparing students for a knowledge-based economy. Particular attention is paid to the results of international assessment programs including the PISA, PIRLS and TIMMS studies.
• Inclusive Education: Inclusive education is becoming an important research topic in Türkiye which serves as a powerful strategy to ensure refugee children particularly from Syrian have the opportunity to thrive alongside their Turkish peers.
• Technology Integration: Research examines the impact of technology in classrooms, with a focus on harnessing its potential to personalize learning and improve student engagement. Particular attention is currently paid to the STEAM education, Computational thinking, AR, VR, AI applications.
• Early Childhood and Special Education: The importance of early childhood and special education is gaining traction, with research exploring its long-term benefits for cognitive development and educational attainment.
• Sustainability: Türkiye is recognized as being at a relatively early phase in developing educational programs infusing the principles of sustainable development. The number of studies focusing on sustainable development has been increased substantially last few years.
• School excellence: TERA plays an active role in conducting a longitudinal and multinational research study on the use of big data and artificial intelligence in evidence-based school evaluation. The project aims to develop an evidence-informed school evaluation model to demonstrate how the use of big data and AI contribute to the quality of public schools as the institutions of serving public good in Türkiye.
• Bologna Process in Higher Education: Privatization of higher education and the Bologna process have an impact on educational research since the language of the market is very dominant in these processes: accountability, performance and quality assessment, entrepreneurship, and university and industry collaborations. Implementation and coordination of the Bologna Process in Turkiye is carried out by the Council of Higher Education. In the name of economic competence and sustainability, the Council openly promotes all forms of research in higher education institutions to be in closer relations with the market. The main consequences of promoting these processes in Turkish higher education institutions are the restraint of academic research space, the standardization of the structure and the curriculum of the academic programs.

Opportunities
• Personalized Learning: Technological advancements (particularly artificial intelligence and big data research) present opportunities for personalized learning platforms, tailoring educational experiences to individual student needs and learning styles.
• Blended Learning Models: Integrating online and offline teaching methods particiularly during the pandemic enhanced learning flexibility and accessibility, catering to diverse student populations in schools and higher education institutions.
• Global Collaboration: International partnerships and exchange programs particularly EU grants and initiatives including ERASMUS + and Horizon programs offer opportunities for Turkish students and educators to share best practices and gain exposure to global perspectives.
• Disaster management and education: Türkiye's location on several fault lines makes disaster management and education, particularly earthquake preparedness, absolutely critical. By prioritizing disaster management and earthquake preparedness education and research, Türkiye aims to improve its resilience in the face of natural disasters, protecting lives, infrastructure, and the overall well-being of its citizens.
• Lifelong Learning: The current emphasis on lifelong learning in policy and research circles in Türkiye creates opportunities for adult education programs and skill development initiatives, catering to a changing workforce.

Challenges
• Ethical issues with the use of AI in education and research: The use of AI in education and research offers a wealth of potential benefits, but it also raises several ethical concerns. Ministry of Education and Council of Higher Education currently working on a responsible use policy for schools and Higher education institutions.
• Standardized Testing: Overreliance on standardized testing restricts curriculum development and limit opportunities for holistic student assessment.
• Academic performance evaluation: the use of an assessment strategy based on Web of Science index ranking to evaluate quality of educational research and individual academicians performances for promotion and tenure is becoming a principal policy in Turkish higher education.
• Rural-Urban / Public-Private School Divide: Unequal distribution of resources and qualified teachers can exacerbate educational disparities between rural and urban areas / public – private school sectors.
• Social, Cultural and Economic Inequality: Socioeconomic and cultural indicators particularly after pandemic and the earthquake significantly impacts on educational outcomes, requiring targeted interventions for disadvantaged / refugee students.
• Lack of funding for conducting research: Economic downturns in Türkiye led to government budget cuts, and research funding is often an easy target. This significantly reduced the number of research projects undertaken, leading to a decline in overall research output.

Conclusion
The Turkish education system faces both exciting opportunities and significant challenges. By leveraging research advancements, embracing innovative practices, and addressing persistent inequalities, Türkiye can foster a more inclusive, effective, and future-oriented educational landscape.

Author

• Mustafa Yunus Eryaman, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University