1. NEW LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IN HIGHER
EDUCATION: The Multi-Level Governance
and the New Roles of Students and Partners
Prof. Dr. Metin Lütfi BAYDAR, MD
Rector
Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey
June 26, 2010

2. Presentation Outline
*Changes and main developments in Higher
Education (HE)
*The impact of these changes on HE and the new
landscape
*Partnerships / Networks and Collaboration in
research and HE
*What to do in a highly competitive, increasingly
market driven new environment?
*Notes on Turkish higher education system and
the case of Süleyman Demirel University

3. Main Developments in the
World of HE
*One main reason for the
extraordinary change in
HE is globalization or
internationalization
*Cross-border education
(UNESCO-OECD
guidelines)
*Massification and expansion
*Multi-level and matrix governance of higher
education
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4. Main Developments in the
World of HE
* Increased importance of knowledge
and technology as a growth stimulator
* Changing demographics (age,
ethnicity, etc.)
* Diversification (in student body,
service delivery, financing etc.)
* Market oriented economy and society
with a state playing a less direct and
inactive role; and stagnant levels of
public funding as of GDP despite
increased demand.
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5. Main Developments in the
World of HE
* Increased
awareness&
amplified
expectations
* Higher mobility
* More emphasis
on outcomes &
employability
*Increased student centeredness and student
involvement
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6. Student Involvement is A Critical
Element in Bologna Process
“… involvement of students as competent, active and
constructive partners in the establishment and
shaping of EHEA is needed and welcomed” and
“Students are full members of the higher education
community.” (Prague Communique, 2001)
“Ministers reaffirmed the importance of stakeholders
engagement for the success of the (Bologna) Process
as a whole, and restated the preparation of students as
active citizens in democratic societies as a core
mission of HEIs.” (London Communique, 2009)
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7. Main Developments in the
World of HE
*Many of these developments
are obvious in many countries.
*Yet, there are variations
depending on culture,
demography, country,
governments etc.
*Similarly, what drives these
developments may differ from
one country to another and
often driving forces are not
clear.
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8. What are the Implications of
Such Developmets?
* Cooperation has become the
main mechanism and tool in the
era of internationalziaiton and
increased competition!
* The inclusion of more external
stakeholders in the governance of
HEIs = More private sector
involvement in HE
* Development of supranational
decision making process in the
area of HE
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9. What are the Implications of
Such Developmets?
* Internationalization = Increased
cross-border education
* Internationalization = Increased
utilization of market mechanisms
*Internationalization = Increased
competition
* Internationalization = Increased
interconnectedness
*Yet still Internationalization =
MORE COOPERATION
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10. What is Needed?
There is a need to look for more innovative
ways in HE in order to:
1. Continue delivering quality higher education
service with decreasing public funds;
2. Providing fair access to higher education;
3. Providing a learning environment where
students can get education in accordance with
national and international socio-economic
needs….
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11. What is Needed?
* There is also a
need for more
institutional
autonomy and
academic
freedom.
* Yet, autonomy should not be used as a concealed
method to leave HEI’s alone in the market process
and cut down (or not increase) the government
funds provided to HEIs and economically-
disadvantaged students.
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12. Is Being Autonomous Enough?
*Being autonomous create the
necessary milieu for more creative and
innovative solutions, and for better
adaptation to change.
*But without proper policies and
actions, autonomy alone may not help.
*Thus, there is need for policies to
promote autonomy, to stimulate
research and innovation, to increase
networking and collaboration among
HEIs and disciplines, etc.
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13. Colloborative Research
“Research and innovation activities
are most productive within relatively
stable, yet also dynamic
stable
environments that encourage the
mobility and use of new ideas...
ideas
However, it is trust and stability – not
only the individual research contract
or excellent facilities – that provide
the primary conditions for establishing
programs that meet partners’ needs.»
(EIRMA, EUA, EARTO and PROTON, 2009: 7)
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14. More Challenges and Opprotunities
* Internationalization
itself is both a
challenge and an
opportunity. Important
thing is how top on it!
* Evaluation and
accreditation
mechanisms helps…
* Increased need for open decision making processes,
transparency, accountability, international and
interdisciplinary co-operation is facilitated by ICT!

15. Most Important Developments in EU
Universities in the last 3 Years
Developmets are
consentrated in the
areas of Internal
Quality Processes,
Enhanced
Cooperation with
other HEIs, More
Autonomy, Enhanced
Cooperation with
Industry, Diversified
Funding and
Competition.
Source: EUA-Trends, 2010 Report, p. 18.

16. How Important EU Universities See
The Following Developments
in the last 3 Years
EU universities see
the Bologna
Process, Quality
Assurance
Reforms and
Internationalization
as the most
important
developments
within the last 3
years.
Source: EUA-Trends, 2010 Report, p. 26.

17. Collaborative Methods
* New and participatory
methods of governance in
HEIs
* Students are in the
management of HEIs.
* More Diversity = More
Cooperation
*More involvement and cooperation of internal-external
stakeholders such as local, regional, national and
international representatives of the society and industry
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18. Collaborative Methods
*Needs of the market, industry and society.
*Partnerships with Industry
*Cooperation for mobility in HE, R&D
* Networks of research & development and
support for international teams of R & D
*Cooperation to build quality assurance and
accreditation systems
*Yet; accreditation and internal quality
assurance should not be seen as a
temporary external intervention and
should be incorporated into HEIs’ overall
strategy.
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19. Bologna Process
* Bologna Process itself is a collaborative process.
* Creation of EKA, ERA, EHEA is a good example.
* Bilateral Erasmus exchanges
* Development of a European qualifications framework;
* A shared understanding for calculating credit units(ECTS);
* Delivery of diploma supplements
* The creation of a European Register of quality assurance
agencies.
«Thus, the Bologna process has brought the concept
of cooperation to an entirely new level in Europe,
and networks are multiplying». (Kinser and Green, 2009: 2)
multiplying
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20. Collaborative Methods
* Projects themselves tend to be
interdisciplinary and contribute
to increased cooperation in
research &innovation
* Projects under ERC, FP7,
Erasmus Mundus, Grundtving,
Twining, IAU Leather Program
etc. all require multi-national
make-up of research teams.
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21. New Methods of Learning
* Widening wireless, mobile
internet access, new and very
practical learning methods and
environments presented by
internet, video conferencing,
pre-recorded lectures, Open
access to information etc. have
changed the way we learn,
teach and do research.
*They lessened demand for traditional lecture space and
enabled the classes to take place anytime, anywhere.
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22. New Methods of Learning
*Education is not just the transfer of old knowledge
and attitudes from person to person or from the
old to the new generation by lecturing, storytelling,
note-taking and memorizing information.
(Maclellan and Soden, 2004: 254)
*Education is now more and more a process of
«learning in a group coached by an instructor»
where learners are seen as active constructors
and organizers of their own learning by being
involved and collaborating with others.
*In this form of learning, all knowledge is created as
individuals (and groups) adapt to and make sense
of their experiential worlds.
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23. Turkish Higher Education
System
*Turkish higher education
system is directed by a
relatively autonomus
central governmental body,
Higher Education Council
(YÖK), since1981.
*Universities are under the supervision of this Council and
their programs are regularly scrutinized and accredited.
*One of the duties of YÖK is to ensure that international
standards are met by the Turkish HE system.
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24. Turkish Higher Education
System
*There were 19 public
universities in 1981,
now the number is
over 160.
*Until 1984, there were
no private universities
in Turkey. Now there
are not-for-profit
private universities.
*There was only one
private university in
1984. The number is
over 60 as of 2010.
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25. Turkish Higher Education
System
*Turkey is a part of Bologna
Process since 2001.
*Due to this process, Turkey’s
involvement in international
projects and international
mobility has increased.
*YOK approved National
Qualification Framework at
the end of 2009.
*Turkish National Research Council (TÜBİTAK) also
supports the involvement of researchers in international
research projects, the mobility of academic staff and the
education of researchers abroad.
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26. Süleyman Demirel University (SDU)
*Süleyman Demirel University (SDU), located in the city
of Isparta, was founded in 1992.
*As of 2010 SDU is 18 years old and one of the largest
(50.000 students) and best universities in Turkey.
*There are 15 faculties, 17 vocational schools, 5
institutes and 34 research centers and over 50 student
clubs.
*Our library is the best and our sport center is the
biggest in the region.
*The university employs over 2.000 academic staff and
researchers.
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27. A General View of SDU Campus
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28. Süleyman Demirel University
*The future policies of SDU have been shaped by
strategic plans. The first plan covers 2006-2010, which
concentrates on the university’s institutional structure.
*University’s new strategic plan has been prepared for
the period of 2011 – 2015.
*The new plan focuses more on internationalization and
international education and research collaborations.
*Strategic planning group discusses matters such as
global developments in higher education around the
world, international cooperation, world universities’
strategic perceptions, Turkish universities, international
and national trends, our positions on various rankings
etc.
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29. A View from West SDU Campus
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30. Süleyman Demirel University
*The mobility of researchers, lecturers and
students from SDU to various world
universities are among the main goals.
*Implementation of internal-external quality
measures and the Bologna Process are also
among the main goals.
*Research, innovation and university-industry
collaboration are promoted, and for these
purposes there are a techno-city, a technology
development center and several research
centers.
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31. Süleyman Demirel University
*Tomorrow’s SDU is the destination where
researchers, lecturers and students from
various civilizations meet and work together.
*SDU is also e-university that gives education
to the students from all around the world
through distance learning.
*Our goal is to make SDU a global and regional
actor in Turkey, Balkans and Middle East,
through collaboration with other world
universities.
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32. A Winter Scene from Süleyman
Demirel University
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33. Thank you for listening…
mlbaydar@sdu.edu.tr
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