Organized in collaboration between the School of Education of our University and the Turkish History of Education Platform, the panel titled “State Policies and Modernization in the History of Turkish Education from the 19th Century to the Present” was held at the Ibn Haldun University Media and Events Center Event Hall with strong participation from academics, researchers, and students on 8th June 2026.
The panel was moderated by Prof. Özcan Erkan Akgün, Vice Rector of Ibn Haldun University and Faculty Member of the School of Education. The program addressed educational policies spanning from the Ottoman era to the present, the effects of the modernization process on educational institutions, and the state’s transformation in the field of education through approaches from various disciplines.
Prof. Mustafa Gündüz (Yıldız Technical University), who delivered the panel’s opening presentation, assessed the role of education in the Ottoman modernization process and the influence of intellectuals on this transformation in his talk titled “From the Ottoman Era to the Present: Education, Modernization, and Intellectuals”. Emphasizing that educational institutions are not merely structures for the transmission of knowledge, Gündüz stated that these institutions are also one of the key actors in social transformation and modernization.
Next, Assoc. Prof. Ayşe Aksu (Istanbul Medeniyet University) delivered a presentation titled “Reading the Transformation in Ottoman Education Through the First Examples of Modern Schools”, in which she examined the emergence of modern educational institutions in light of their historical development. Aksu evaluated the changes in educational philosophy brought about by structural transformations in the Ottoman education system through specific examples.
The panel’s final speaker, Assist. Prof. Vehbi Baysan (Ibn Haldun University) analyzed the educational reforms implemented in the 19th century within the context of state policies in his presentation titled “Education and Educational Policies in the 19th-Century Ottoman Empire”. Baysan emphasized that the regulations implemented in the field of education were significant steps that shaped not only the institutional structure but also social and political transformation.
The program also included a presentation of the book titled “Education and State Policy in the Nineteenth Century Ottoman Empire” authored by Assist. Prof. İbrahim Vehbi Baysan from our University and published by Timaş Akademi. While it was emphasized that the book makes significant contributions to academic studies on Ottoman educational history and state policies, participants had the opportunity to gain comprehensive information about the book.
During the question-and-answer session following the presentations, participants exchanged views with the speakers on the perspectives that educational history offers regarding contemporary educational policies. Bringing together academics and researchers from various disciplines, the panel laid the groundwork for productive discussions that evaluated the modernization process of Turkish educational history from multiple angles.
Organized by the School of Education at Ibn Haldun University and the Turkish Educational History Platform, the panel concluded as an important event that supports academic research in the field of educational history and strengthens interdisciplinary scientific interaction.
