Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) hosted a hybrid conference titled “Internationalization in Higher Education: Navigating Global Challenges and Opportunities Conference (IHECON 2024),” focusing on the internationalization of higher education. Held both in-person and online, the conference brought together 26 universities from 19 different countries, along with five partner institutions. The event was also supported by sponsorships from the Yunus Emre Institute, Samsun Metropolitan Municipality, and Çarşamba Municipality.
The conference took place from October 25 to 27 at OMU’s Atatürk Congress and Culture Center (AKM) and the UZEM Conference Hall. Opening addresses were delivered by Prof. Dr. Kimberly Noels from the University of Alberta, Canada, and Emeritus Prof. Dr. Hans de Witt from Boston College. The inaugural event continued with a special session featuring three keynote speakers. Academic discussions were held across 18 separate halls, where 70 presentations from 22 different countries took place, followed by interactive Q&A sessions that allowed for further academic engagement.
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Said Kurşunoğlu, OMU’s Head of International Relations and Chair of the Conference Organizing Committee, provided insights into OMU’s internationalization efforts and the conference’s objectives. Prof. Kurşunoğlu noted that OMU has established partnership agreements with 180 universities across 53 countries since 2012 and currently hosts 5,000 international students. He emphasized the importance of adapting to global and digital trends in internationalization today and highlighted the increasing relevance of project-based collaborations and institutional initiatives in line with OMU’s aspirations to become a research university.
In his opening speech, OMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz underscored that this conference reflects OMU’s commitment to internationalization and extended his gratitude to all participants attending from various countries. OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın also closely followed the conference proceedings, and speeches were made by Samsun University Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmut Aydın and Prof. Dr. Qiang Zha from York University, USA.
The conference brought together academics from around the world, with notable participants including Mutesa Royal University Rector Prof. Dr. Vincent Kakembo (Uganda), Vice Rector Prof. Zakir Jumakulov of Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University (Kazakhstan), Fehmi Agani University Vice Rector Nazlı Tyfekci (Kosovo), and Chairman Süleyman Jabati of the Sierra Leone-Turkey Friendship Association. Additionally, prominent academics, including Prof. Dr. Melahat Bilge Demirkoz, President of the Turkish Space Research Institute, Prof. Dewi Yanti Liliana from Politeknik Negeri Jakarta University (Indonesia), and Prof. Datuk Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Fauzi Bin Ismail, Rector of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Malaysia), also delivered presentations during the sessions.
