II. Social Sciences Graduate Student Symposium successfully completed with intense participation

Intense Participation in the II. Social Sciences Graduate Student Symposium

Erzurum Technical University (ETU) Institute of Social Sciences organized the II. Social Sciences Graduate Student Symposium, which was completed with intense participation. The opening program of the event, which brought together graduate students and academics from different disciplines of social sciences, was attended by ETU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Naim Ürkmez, Dean of Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Daştan, Dean of Faculty of Literature Prof. Dr. Uğur Akbulut, Director of Institute of Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Serap Bedir Kara, academics, and many students.

During the opening of the program, Prof. Dr. Serap Bedir Kara, the Director of the Institute of Social Sciences, emphasized the importance of supporting qualified academic production in the field of social sciences and creating interdisciplinary awareness. She mentioned that this year there was also a great interest in the symposium, and such events contribute to both students’ academic development and strengthening of social bonds.

Importance of Interdisciplinary Approaches in Social Sciences

Prof. Dr. Naim Ürkmez, the Vice Rector, expressed that at ETU, they value not only students’ academic achievement but also their ability to produce projects, make presentations, and acquire scientific communication skills. He emphasized the role of events like this in students’ development, stating that academic studies, friendships established, and experiences shared during these events are very valuable.

Prof. Dr. Ürkmez highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of social sciences, referring to historian Fernand Braudel’s metaphor about the walls built between social sciences. He mentioned that events like this symposium are valuable opportunities for breaking down these walls, allowing academic staff and students from different disciplines to be aware of each other’s work.

He also emphasized that such events not only provide an academic sharing platform but also contribute to students’ socialization and acquaintance with the academic environment. He stated that these events are not only about presentations but also about exchanging ideas, getting inspired, and establishing new academic friendships.