U NIVER-SEA.NET

1. UNIVER-SEA.NET International Conference UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION IN THE BLACK SEA AREA COMMON EDUCATIONAL VALUES Assist. Prof. Dr. Ganime Aydın Project Coordinator of Istanbul Aydın University

2. PROJECT SUMMARY The present project, entitled “UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION NETWORK AT BLACK SEA-UNIVER-SEA.NET”, has been launched under the coordination of Andrei Saguna University of Constanta, Romania. Istanbul Aydin University is the IPA Financial Beneficiary of the project; its partners are: International Black Sear University (Georgia), Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Moldova, and Karabük University (Turkey). The project is intended to cover a period of two years.

3. Aims of the Project Primary Aim: To offer a framework for the sharing of educational values and experiences between partners in the member countries, through a common education program and network. Particular aims: • To define common educational objectives for universities of partner countries • To diffuse the educational model that will be set up through distance and face-to-face education. • TO create regional identity via virtual means.

4. Activities of theproject: • The realization of two workshops that will allow the partner universities to share experience on educational systems and good practices in education • The publication of a white paper on good practices in joint education programs • The preparation of a common course module. • The organization of two exchange programs that will cover the mobility of • twelve students • The creation of a social network for students and universities • Creation of a portal for the diffusion of the experiences.

5. CONSTANTA WORKSHOP 11 September 2013 After a short flight of 45 minutes from Istanbul, we reached the city of Constanta, a harbor city on the Black Sea Shore in Romania. Constanta is situated in Dobruja region, and it is the biggest harbor city in the Black Sea region.

6. CONSTANTA/MAMAIA

7. The first day of the Constanta Workshop started with a tour of Andrei Şaguna University and opening speeches.

8. MarianZidaru (AndreiŞagunaUniversity) presented a paper on thehistory of DobrujafromAntiquityto Modern Era.

10. Oya ÖNALAN and Kerim TANIŞ (Karabük University) delivered a presentation on Quality Assurance Activities and ECTS Applications at Turkish Universities.

11. Academics from partner countries within the UNIVER-SEA.NET project shared examples of good practices in education within the systems of education in their respective countries. Asst. Prof. Dr. Ganime Aydin delivered a speech on “Total Approach in the Quality Development in Higher Education”.

12. Karabuk University delivered a presentation on the role of “Women in Science and Education”.

13. The presentation about“University-industry cooperation at Istanbul Aydin University”.

14. Asst. Prof. Dr. Çiğdem ÖZARI made a presentation on “honor class” experience at Istanbul Aydin University, as an example of good practices in eduction.

15. Student Workshop The first topic analyzed within the student workshop was: “myths, customs, traditions of the Black Sea Basin that have been transmitted throughout generations”.

16. The second topic was ; Multicultural and intercultural. About stereotypes and prejudice (moderators : Cristina Gelan, Alina Vasiliu and Elena Manea)

17. Through the dance show organized by the Romanian Black Sea Folkloric Dancers, we noticed some common musics and figures as a result of common historical periods.

18. AndreiŞagunaUniversity/Constanta

21. KARABUK UNIVERSITY WORKSHOP 23 OCTOBER 2013

22. The second workshop of the UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION NETWORK AT BLACK SEA-UNIVER-SEA.NET Project has been hosted by Karabük University, Turkey.

29. Karabük Student Workshop Students’ note on the workshop; Within this workshop, we had the opportunity to talk about common values of the citizens of Turkey, Romania, Moldova, and Georgia. The first issue to be discussed within this framework was the “language”, which is the area that primarily reflects cultural structures. We gladly discovered the fact that the project partners, who share the same region, also share similar words and concepts for naming similar feelings. It was particularly interesting to notice that Romania and Georgia, who share a common history, have a plenty of common words in their languages, as well as similarities between the linguistic structures.

30. Students’ note; We also had a discussion on the similarity of our traditions. We noticed that the similarities between our traditions were unexpectedly high. For instance, despite the fact that we had different religious beliefs, the patterns of religious marriage were mainly similar. We also tackled the differences between marriage traditions. Another topic of discussion was common and different costumes and dishes. Henceforth, we had the opportunity to discover the fact that the same feelings were expressed in different ways in various cultures. We think that the main point of this workshop was to prove that multiculturalism was a reality of modernity, and that a peaceful life was possible via the respect of differences and other cultures.

31. White paper of good practices within the common educational programs

32. PROJECT PORTAL: univer-sea.net

33. JointEducation Program Module 1:Multiculturalism and Identity Module 2: Intercultural Communication Module 3: Conflict Resolution Module 4: Social Entrepreneurship.

34. Future activities Transmission of the joint course module to the virtual/digital sphere. Enlargement of the project network with the integration of at least 40 universities or institutes as new partners. Realization of student internships.

35. Thankyouverymuchforyourlistening ganime31@gmail.com