With the support of Bodrum Municipality and Bodrum Chamber of Commerce, a Search Conference was held by the Bodrum Institute, which was founded by academics from different universities in Turkey and the world, in which its strategic plan would be shaped.

Bodrum Mayor Ahmet Aras, Bodrum City Council President Arif Yılmaz, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Bodrum Maritime Vocational School Director Prof. Dr. Tuncay Kuleli, former Bodrum Governors retired Governor Cumhur Güven Taşbaşı, Bodrum Chamber of Commerce Vice President İbrahim Akkaya, Bodrum Institute management, academics and NGO representatives attended.

“Our country and Bodrum need to generate new ideas”

Delivering the opening speech of the Bodrum Institute Search Conference, which started its activities in June 2022, Mayor of Bodrum Ahmet Aras stated that a project that has not been implemented before has been implemented in Bodrum and said:

“We, as the municipality, provide all our support to this project. Generating and implementing new ideas and new projects that our country and Bodrum need in particular. This is what our country needs. It is very important for academic circles to be involved in these matters and to guide us.”

Adding to his words that Bodrum Institute, which he believes will carry out important works since its establishment, carries out a perspective study, President Aras said, “Students are brought from abroad, they contribute to the promotion of Bodrum, scientific studies are carried out, and ideas about international relations are developed here. As you know, Bodrum is a well-known and visited place in Turkey and in the world.” said.

“Very important personalities live in Bodrum”

Drawing attention to the human potential of Bodrum, Mayor Aras continued his words as follows:

“Very important academics from Turkey, very important politicians, our elders from the bureaucracy, very important personalities from the world of culture and art live in Bodrum and they want to contribute to development, change and transformation in Bodrum. And we are considering such a formation where they can actually use and share their own knowledge and experience. Because sometimes, we close ourselves a lot. When we are introverted, people cannot see their surroundings during daily routines and busy working hours. Here, too, I think Bodrum Institute is the perfect fit.”

Wishing Bodrum Institute success in their endeavours, Bodrum Chamber of Commerce Vice President İbrahim Akkaya said, “I hope this very valuable initiative prepares a recipe for the problems in Bodrum.” said.

The program started with Bodrum Institute events and the presentation of the future vision, with group work and brainstorming in groups with local stakeholders from Bodrum.

Making the closing speech of the conference, which continued with the presentation of the working reports, Bodrum Mayor Ahmet Aras stated that the importance of local stakeholders has emerged once again.

“Students do their lessons more happily in Bodrum”

Bodrum Institute Coordinator Prof. Dr. Haldun Yalçınkaya said the following about the studies and objectives of Bodrum Institute:

“Bodrum Institute started its activities in June 2022. We have carried out 10 different activities so far and we are making plans for the next year. Basically, we aim to do everything that academicians and students do to universities in Bodrum. Because if we do our business in Bodrum, we do it more happily. Students do their lessons in a happier way in Bodrum. We want to take advantage of this. We started such an initiative. The education system is changing, and it is an initiative that will enable students to leave their rooms and come to Bodrum and receive face-to-face training in an environment where online education is increasing. It covers the social sciences in general, but we are also moving towards other fields. In this conference, we will try to design Bodrum Institute with contemporary management rules as they would like to see Bodrum Institute. After that, we will have a plan. In line with this plan, we will realize what the people of Bodrum want from us.”

“We promise to bring all universities, not just one, to Bodrum”

“The support given to us by Bodrum Municipality and Bodrum Chamber of Commerce is very meaningful. There are supports given by institutions, NGOs and hotels in the district. We promise to bring all universities, not just one, to Bodrum with the support we receive from the locals.” said Prof. Dr. Haldun Yalçınkaya concluded his words as follows:

“We organized 4 summer schools, 3 workshops, 2 panels and 1 conference for 10 months. We planned 14 different activities in the period until October 2023. We will have other activities from time to time. In addition to this, we have proposed 10 different projects. In doing so, we actually create the source ourselves, without making any demands from the students. This makes us very happy. It causes a universal level of information sharing. In fact, this is thanks to Bodrum’s capacity. The high intellectual capacity of Bodrum causes us to bring national and international academic students here. This capacity will continue to increase. Today we will prepare the strategic plan and announce it.”

Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency