The number of universities have reached to 207 as of 2020 in the last quarter of the Republican history, as a result of fastest schooling period In Turkish higher education, according to YÖK (www.yok.gov.tr). However, continuous change and modernization studies have been carried out in higher education by central government with insufficient or no contribution of CSOs in the process.
The unacceptable level of participation of CSOs, the centralized decision making, insufficient attention by universities to the problems of society, economy, and industry have motivated us prepare this project. The project involves one applicant, Associations of Academicians Union (AAU) and one co-applicant, Young Academicians Education Culture and Research Association (YAC). The partnership also involves seven associate members; a union (Turk Egitim Sen/TES) and six universities such as Gazi University (GU), Karabuk University (KU), Omer Halisdemir University (NOHU), Sinop University (SU), Marmara University (MU), Firat University (FU).
In this regard, the project will increase the organizational and institutional capacity of partner CSOs (AAU and YAC) through trainings on PCM, governance, networking, and strategic planning (20 people). The representatives of AAU and YAC will submit 50% more projects and learn the ways of effectiveness and efficiency in project management. The governance and networking training will help partner CSOs to democratically and more effectively restructure themselves and establish a networking structure for effectively cooperating regarding Turkish higher education system. Moreover, the model based on the results of a workshop will lay down the principles of effective cooperation between CSOs. As a result, organizational and institutional capacity as well as the partnership will be enhanced (Priority 1). The strategy document and higher education roadmap will let CSOs to intervene with higher education problems and processes and offer solutions through two workshops at which university representatives from at least six universities, a union and representatives of CSOs will collectively work. Thus, CSOs will have more right to speak in the decision-making mechanism of the higher education system. The perspectives of the civil society will contribute to the modernization and changes in the higher education system (Priority 2). CSOs will discuss the needed legal changes and steps to remove barriers for CSO involvement and the modernization of Turkish higher education. A specific workshop on the issue as well as the policy document will create a legislative environment for active citizenship (Priority 3).
