Humanities’ Pocket Talk on Erasmus+ Opportunities in Türkiye | UTM NewsHub

ISTANBUL, 17 Oct – In conjunction with European Union (EU) Erasmus+ Day event, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) hosted a virtual programme, “Humanities’ Pocket Talk: Insights into Türkiye” with the theme “Stories of Change: Empowering Mobility and Global Research Collaboration through Erasmus+”. The event, moderated by Dr. Farhana Diana Deris, featured two prominent speakers from Türkiye to share their unique insights: Mr. Yücel Kamar, International Affairs Director and Erasmus+ Institutional Coordinator at Istanbul Gedik University (IGUN), and Prof. Dr. Şuayip Turan, Head of International Office and Erasmus+ Institutional Coordinator at Çankırı Karatekin University (CAKU).

The first speaker, Mr. Yücel Kamar shared exciting news about Erasmus+ at IGUN, highlighting how the program has doubled its partnership agreements in just two years. He mentioned that the Erasmus+ budget had already reached €4 billion in 2022, with plans to grow to €5.5 billion by 2027. Kamar emphasized how important it is for universities to embrace internationalization, pointing out that offering courses in English can really help attract students from around the world. He also stressed the value of open communication and being genuine when building strong and successful partnerships.

Prof. Dr. Şuayip Turan from CAKU followed with insights on how Erasmus+ mobilities benefit personal and professional growth. He shared statistics on his university’s involvement, which included hosting 21 international students under the programme and organizing international staff weeks to foster cultural exchange. Prof. Turan stressed the importance of seeking out opportunities through Erasmus+ and developing cultural awareness among participants. During his talk, he also invited his colleague Ece Günen to share her experiences being a participant of Erasmus+ mobility and as an active organiser of mobility programmes.

The session also featured a special focus on UTM’s experience. Dzulhelmi Mohd Razali, Senior Assistant Registrar, shared his enriching experience of staff mobility in University of Almeria (UAL), Spain. He discussed his participation in various activities and lessons learned including participating in a pitching program, reflection on heritage preservation and engagement with the Muslim community. His sharing highlighted how staff mobility under Erasmus+ extends beyond academics, and how it has offered him unique insights into local cultures and encouraging intercultural dialogue.

Overall, the pocket talk has not only focused on the speakers’ experiences. It also gave participants a chance to see the bigger picture of what Erasmus+ can do. The insights showed how the program drives change, helping students and staff gain valuable skills for success in today’s connected world while also boosting universities’ growth and building global connections. The event concluded with an inspiring call to action, encouraging everyone to take advantage of the amazing opportunities that Erasmus+ offers.

The pocket talk video is available on FSSH Facebook Page, Humanities@UTM.