Turkish Leader in Higher Ed Brings Ideas to UK

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 7, 2010) - In today's global world, one of University of Kentucky Provost Kumble Subbaswamy's top goals is to make UK a more internationalized institution and to build relationships with other institutions and leaders from around the globe, and the university is doing just that with its newest visiting scholar.

Kemal Gürüz, former president of the Council of Higher Education of the Republic of Turkey, is currently visiting UK for two weeks to bring his international ideas and knowledge on higher education to the university. He will give four open presentations for students and faculty in the areas of educational policy and international studies, and for anyone who is interested in learning more about higher education from a global perspective. Gürüz's visit is being sponsored by the UK College of Education's Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation (EPE), the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of the Provost.

In addition to his presentations, he will also meet with Subbaswamy and other UK officials and committees to discuss ideas on UK's internationalization efforts, including the dual credit program between Turkey and the State University of New York (SUNY) that Gürüz helped to establish.

Robert King, president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, is a long-time friend and colleague of Gürüz, and helped to make his UK visit possible.

"Kemal has been an inspirational leader in creating a new approach to international education, and global understanding," said King. "He has also been an outspoken advocate for democracy and secular governance in the face of growing pressure to pursue an Islamic theocracy in Turkey."

Alan DeYoung, professor in EPE at UK, is helping to organize the events.

"It is very exciting to have Gürüz here, especially in a time when it's critical that we internationalize our institution," said DeYoung. "Gürüz has been at the forefront of this, making connections between the U.S. and Turkey in the areas of higher education for over a decade by developing an important program between SUNY and Turkey. He is a critical person involved in linking the western and eastern parts of the world in higher education."

Gürüz's presentation schedule:

4 p.m. Thursday, April 8, in Room 230 of the UK Student Center: "The Global Higher Education Scene Today." This talk will be targeted to students in the UK International Studies Program.

7 p.m. Thursday, April 8, in the Lexmark Room of the UK Main Building: "The Development of Secularism in Turkey and in the West." This presentation is being sponsored by the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce.

Noon Tuesday, April 13, in Room 420 of the Patterson Office Tower: Interested students and faculty of the Patterson School are encouraged to attend this informal lunch session with Gürüz on his paper "Turkey - EU Relations."

4 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, in Room 109 of Dickey Hall: Gürüz will meet with students and faculty in the College of Education where he will talk about both the history of the Turkish higher education system and the student mobility aspects of global higher education.

Gürüz was appointed by former Turkish president Süleyman Demirel to serve as president of the Turkish Council of Higher Education from 1995 until 2003. He then spent 2004-05 as a fellow at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. Gürüz also served as president of the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council. He is a retired professor of chemical engineering at the Middle East Technical University and is also a widely published author of numerous articles and book chapters on various aspects of higher education. His new book, "Higher Education and International Student Mobility," was published by SUNY Press in 2008.