Bosphorus Kent Koleji

     In September 2005, about Turkish and international children from ages 3 to grade 3 will be attending a new bilingual, multi-cultural elementary school. Bosphorus Kent College (Bogazici Kent Koleji) in Istanbul, Turkey. This private school, governed by the laws of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Turkey, and funded by the Europe Education Foundation, was founded by Mr. Talip Emiroglu with collaboration with Dr. Ruhi Kaykayoglu.  This school faculty and administration is guided in constructivist learning environment, technology integration, and effective practices by Kent State University Education faculty.  In the new school, instruction will be conducted both in English and in Turkish. Both cultures will be valued and taught along with both languages. Plans are that this school will grow to become a pre-school through grade 12 school over the next few years.  The State of Ohio Educational Standards have been integrated with the mandated Turkish Educational Curriculum to ensure that the students are truly receiving a bi-lingual, multi-cultural learning experience.  Serving as consultants during the summer of 2005 were Drs. Wendy Kasten, Alexa Shermann, Janice Kroeger, and Anne Reynolds as well as Dr. Linda Robertson, CIIE Director.  Mr. Keith Early, former Blue Ribbon School principal from Dayton, OH, will serve as an administrative consultant for the 2005-06 academic year.  As a truly international school, Bosphorus Kent Koleji (BKK) will be applying for the Primary Years Program of the International Baccalaureate Organization.  Kent State University is closely associated with International Baccalaureate North America as the graduate credit granting institute for the IBNA workshops. KSU’s collaboration with both partners will make this experience truly a learning experience for all—a demonstration of the philosophy that we all are in an international learning community.  Dr. Ruhi Kaykayoglu, Dr. Linda Robertson, Dr. Wendy Sherman and Dr. Anne Reynolds are serving on the Quality Advisory Board for this project.  Dean Dr. David England helped to launch this exciting collaboration at a Opening Ceremony an Ice Cream Social for the parents, students, faculty and associates of BKK on 30 August 2005.     

Southeastern Anatolia Regional Development Project:

  In the wake of Kent State University’s collaboration with the Southeastern Anatolia Regional Development Administration (www.gap.gov.tr), a development program sponsored by the Republic of Turkey, the Center has taken the lead in training, preparing resource materials, and facilitating the project university-wide. Since collaborative ties with Turkey were established in 2000, CIIE has also hosted scholars, welcomed visitors, and sponsored travel study programs for students and educators. To learn more about this collaboration, click on the title above.

Bahcesehir Ugur Educational Institutions:

  Since the establishment of a formal memorandum of understanding between the College and Graduate School of Education and Istanbul-based Bahcesehir Ugur Educational Institutions on July 8, 2002, the Center has played a key role in introducing representatives of the Turkish educational group to further opportunities at Kent State University and throughout northeastern Ohio.

To learn more about this collaboration, click on the title above.

Turkish Ministry of Education

   With the visits of Education Minister Dr. Huseyin Celik in the fall and spring of 2003-04, KSU CGSE has opened doors for further collaboration with the Republic of Turkey's Ministry of Education.

Harran University

  Formal relationships were established in 2002 with the visit of a delegation from Harran University to KSU, after several KSU visits to Harran University in Sanliurfa in southeastern Turkey.  Harran University is one of the collaborating partners in the Partners In Education Women's Leadership Training Grant beginning in the fall of 2004.