Bursa Education Congress, Organized in Collaboration with Bursa Uludağ University, Successfully Concluded
The Bursa Education Congress, organized by the Faculty of Education at Bursa Uludağ University (BUÜ) in cooperation with the Bursa Provincial Directorate of National Education, was successfully completed after a two-day intensive program held at the Merinos Atatürk Congress and Culture Center. The congress was held under the theme “Learning Ecosystems Building the Future through the Türkiye Century Education Model.”
Bringing together academics, educational administrators, and teachers, the congress served as an important platform for sharing academic knowledge on a wide range of topics, from cognitive transformation in education to artificial intelligence applications. The opening ceremony featured speeches by Rector Prof. Dr. Ferudun Yılmaz, Deputy Governor of Bursa Kadir Sertel Otçu, and Bursa Provincial Director of National Education Gürhan Çokgezer.
“Education Is Not Merely a Technical Skill, but a Construction of Values”
Expressing his satisfaction with the university’s involvement in such an event, Rector Prof. Dr. Ferudun Yılmaz stated that the congress reflected the shared vision and collective wisdom embedded in Türkiye’s educational tradition. He noted that technology’s transformative power is no longer a utopian concept but a tangible reality.
Prof. Dr. Yılmaz emphasized that technological advancement does not merely generate prosperity; when not guided by a framework of values, it can also serve destructive purposes, as witnessed in Gaza and other parts of the Islamic world. Highlighting the vital importance of the Türkiye Century Education Model, he stated that education should be viewed not only as a process of developing technical competencies but also as a means of building values. He added that the academic discussions held during the congress would further strengthen this process.
“We Must Adapt to a Changing World While Preserving National Values”
In his speech, Deputy Governor Kadir Sertel Otçu stated that although the modern world has achieved unprecedented levels of technical comfort, this progress has unfortunately been accompanied by major humanitarian crises and conflicts.
Otçu emphasized that the world is currently passing through a critical period where both century-long and millennium-scale transformations intersect. He reminded participants that survival in social life depends not only on strength but also on the ability to adapt rapidly to changing conditions. Stressing that the primary objective of the Türkiye Century Education Model is to adapt to this rapid transformation while preserving national, moral, and human values, he underlined the importance of the contributions that the congress discussions would make to this model and wished the event every success.
“Education Is a Vision of Civilization”
Bursa Provincial Director of National Education Gürhan Çokgezer remarked that in an era where knowledge is rapidly evolving, education should not be perceived merely as a curriculum reform. He described the Türkiye Century Education Model as a vision of civilization shaped by the principles of national identity and local values.
Çokgezer emphasized the responsibility of educating individuals who can interpret knowledge meaningfully and demonstrate virtuous and holistic development. He noted that throughout the congress, numerous topics were examined in depth, ranging from competency-based education to cultural transmission processes. He added that the congress represented an important step toward building a shared vision for the future.
The Bursa Education Congress, which continued for two days with presentations, artistic performances, and academic panels, concluded with the evaluation of final reports prepared on educational ecosystems for future generations.