The Social Services Program of Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services (VSHS) successfully carried out its annual weekly seminar series throughout the 2025 Spring Semester, under the theme “Social Service Institutions.” Coordinated by Dr. Melek Çaylak, Head of the Social Services Program, the series brought together professionals from various institutions within the social services field to share their expertise and professional experiences with students.
Each week, a different topic and institution were featured, providing students with direct insights into institutional structures, service models, and field practices prior to graduation.
Throughout the weekly seminar series, a wide range of themes related to social services were discussed.
In this context:
- Prof. İsmail Barış, Head of the Department of Social Work at Üsküdar University’s Faculty of Health Sciences, presented on “General Social Service Institutions and Their Management,”
- Assoc. Prof. Melike Boztilki from the University of Health Sciences discussed “The Academic Perspective of Social Work and Its Interdisciplinary Connections,”
- Sedef Şuvman, Director of Üsküdar Social Service Center under the Ministry of Family and Social Services, spoke on “Social Service Centers of the Ministry of Family and Social Services: The Üsküdar Case,”
- Müjde Koçak, Director of Anadolu ÇEKOM, addressed “Service Models for Children: Child Homes Coordination Centers,”
- Rabia Güngör, Deputy Provincial Director of Istanbul, and Mehtap Akbulut Gökgöz, Director of ŞÖNİM (Violence Prevention and Monitoring Center), presented “Institutions Providing Services for Women: Women's Shelters and ŞÖNİMs,”
- Serkan Akdem, Head of Elderly Services Department, and Asuman Çebi, Director of Maltepe Nursing Home, spoke on “Services and Institutions for the Elderly,”
- Halis Kuralay, Deputy Provincial Director, and Serdar Arslan, Head of Disabled Services, presented “Services and Institutions for Persons with Disabilities,”
- Burcu Kösem, Istanbul Provincial Head of the Turkish Red Crescent, and Dr. Gamze Kağan, Head of the Occupational Health and Safety Program at Üsküdar University’s VSHS, discussed “Social Work Practices in NGOs: The Case of the Red Crescent,”
- Ahmet Ozan Berktaş, Deputy Provincial Director, delivered a seminar on “Personnel and In-House Training Services in Social Service Institutions,”
- Betül Güngör, psychologist at Üsküdar Social Service Center, presented on “Introduction to Foster Family and Adoption Service Models.”
Supporting students' professional development
The seminar series, coordinated by Dr. Melek Çaylak, aimed to support students' professional development, introduce them to various service areas, and contribute to their career planning.
Field professionals shared their experience
As part of the program, students had the opportunity to hear directly from professionals working in the field about the practical aspects of social work. Comprehensive content regarding service models, institutional structures, and professional responsibilities was shared with the students throughout the seminar series.
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)