Erasmus Policy Statement

Kırşehir Ahi Evran University (KAEU) named after the famous philosopher Ahi Evran-ı Veli, whom has a major impact on Anatolia, Balkans and South Caucasia through his philosophy;

"Akhism". Akhism, which can be summed as the very first quality assurance system in the world history, is based on the values such as hospitality, brotherhood and creativity. As its name father's philosophy, KAEU's internationalization strategy shaped according to those mentioned values and for doing so KAEU embraced two-step process (import and export) method for the internationalization. In import method it is aimed to conduct; receiving students, researchers and faculty members from abroad; establishing common academic programs with partners from abroad, providing partnerships in research and development; and also organizing joint academic events such as conferences, congresses, symposiums and workshops with foreign partners. On the other hand, in the export method; its aimed to conduct: sending students, researchers and faculty members abroad and for doing so exporting and promoting Turkey's positive image in the World. As geographical area that our University focused on is mostly peripheral region, in which countries are also implied by Turkish Higher Education Council's 2018-2022 internationalization strategy and goals. Those regions are East Europe, Middle East, Central Asia and Balkans. The paramount importance of the KAEU's internationalization strategy is import and export method's (as detailed above) processes; but according to the this two-step internationalization strategy import method is the core for the latter step; as mentioned above hospitality, brotherhood and creativity will bloom if only there is a guest to show those values. For doing so 1st and 2nd cycle for incoming is important for KAEU's internationalization strategy but nonetheless, receiving researchers and faculty members are also have a vital role in this strategy as well. Nevertheless, the second step, in the other words export method sending 1st and 2nd cycle students, researchers and faculty members are crucial too. Through import and export method; hospitality. brotherhood and creativity values will be crowned. In other words, KAEU in the internationalization strategy is to support the scientific infrastructure of our University with the world vision by increasing the number of studies to be carried out with international partner universities. As stated in the 2017-2021 Strategic Plan (of KAEU), it is aimed to disseminate information on the basis of students and faculty members through international exchange programs. projects and other activities. KAEU also aims to increase international awareness and international competences of all its students and to transfer good practices and innovation. Participation of the students and staff in mobilities is a very important tool for these goals.

According to the internationalization strategy (import and export method) KAEU take developing new cooperations world-wide and strengthen its already existing partnerships with more than 150 universities located different regions as a goal. Students' mobility is specified in both transcripts and Diploma Supplements, and recognition is provided;

  • After finishing the mobility with students who have benefited from the learning mobility, they are kept in touch. Thus. the bond is strengthened by maintaining communication with the country where the partner university is located (the brotherhood value)
  • Instructors who have benefited from the exchange program are encouraged to do joint projects in the future, and a network is created so that they can become partners of each other in projects (the creativity value).
  • In order the mobility of the personnel participating in the activity is to be recognized at the home institution, KAEU as a host organization undertake to provide personnel participation certificate and a certificate of success if successful (the hospitality value).

Furthermore, as mentioned above, organizing joint academic events and forming joint degree programmes are also outcomes of the internationalization process. As a result of this process, KAEU is currently working on the draft for a joint post-grad degree with its partners. After the application process of this joint degree and having permit for conducting it from the Turkish Higher Education Council, KAEU will provide education chance to students (in 2nd cycle) that can have one year abroad education with having two University diplomas at once.

The Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) of KAEU is responsible for promotion, implementation of the projects in accordance with the international ethics standards and social responsibility, and for administrative support upon request and the dissemination of the previous project results to the students and staff. KAEU has many partners from domestic and international HEls and non-HEls to realise research and innovation activities. KAEU gives high priority to involvement of both staff and students' exchange especially under Erasmus+ Program. In addition to announcing the calls for proposals for projects and encouraging staff and students to produce and/or take part in those projects. FAO provides administrative and logistic support for organizing and implementation of their projects in terms of process of writing, establishing partnership or consortium, submitting, organizing activities, budgeting, reporting and recognizing the studies, if applicable. The mobilities of incoming students and staff are awarded by KAEU through certificates. In addition, the mobilities of outgoing students and staff are fully recognised after the completion of the mobilities.

 


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