Asst. Prof. Ömer Faruk Karasakal met with SHMYO students…

Asst. Prof. Ömer Faruk Karasakal, Director of Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services (SHMYO), met with students within the scope of the Director-Student Meeting to evaluate many topics, from educational processes to practical course and internship opportunities, and from social activities to career planning. Karasakal transparently addressed the feedback received from students, emphasizing the importance of being active in university life, taking advantage of the opportunities offered, and directly sharing needs.

The Director-Student Meeting, held in the Emirnebi 1 and Emirnebi 2 Conference halls at the Çarşı Campus, created a sharing environment where students' demands and suggestions were directly addressed. SHMYO Instructors also attended the event.

Asst. Prof. Ömer Faruk Karasakal explained the feedback received from students, the vocational school's education and training goals, and efforts to improve student experience at the meeting.

“Receiving feedback from you is very valuable”

Emphasizing the importance of student opinions in improving educational processes, Asst. Prof. Ömer Faruk Karasakal said; “Vocational education is very important in the higher education system. Each of the theoretical and practical courses in your curriculum is extremely valuable. However, receiving feedback from you on how we can improve our educational processes is also of great importance.

In this regard, specific templates were sent to you last week through our program heads, and your opinions were gathered. We have compiled the feedback received from you into a report. Today, we will make evaluations based on this report, and at the same time, we will provide an opportunity for you to express what you are curious about and what you want to share in a more open and transparent environment.” he said.

“We want to graduate you from accredited programs”

Underlining that one of SHMYO’s primary goals is accreditation, Karasakal said; “When we evaluate the mission, vision, and strategic goals of our vocational school, we see that one of our primary goals is accreditation. Last year, our First and Emergency Aid and Medical Laboratory Techniques programs were entitled to receive accreditation. This year, our Food Technology Program submitted an accreditation application. In the coming years, we aim to continue our accreditation efforts in line with MEDEK’s evaluation processes and the application conditions of our programs. Our main objective is to ensure that you graduate from accredited programs and to continuously improve the quality of our educational processes. The work we carry out in this direction also supports the activities and development processes you participate in throughout your education. We hold regular meetings with our internal and external stakeholders, and in these meetings, we gather the opinions and suggestions of our various stakeholders. We evaluate the feedback we receive to improve our educational processes and enhance the quality of our programs.” he stated.

SHMYO students are very satisfied with the guidance process…

Evaluating the feedback received from students, Karasakal drew attention to the guidance role of the academic staff and satisfaction with education. Karasakal said; “Generally, we observed that our students are quite satisfied with our instructors. In your presence, we sincerely thank all our instructors for their efforts and contributions. This situation is a very important advantage for you. Today, accessing information is quite easy. You can use artificial intelligence tools whenever you want and obtain information from different sources. However, what is truly important here is that our instructors guide you on how to access this information, how to evaluate it, and how to use it in your professional development. The academic guidance process is one of the most important elements supporting the quality of education and the development of our students.”

“Our students need to be active in the process”

Stating that university life is not limited to courses, Karasakal explained the importance of students participating in social, cultural, and community contribution activities. Karasakal pointed out that student clubs at the university offer significant opportunities in this regard; “Currently, there are 93 active student clubs at our university, and active student clubs in our Vocational School of Health Services. Through these clubs, you can benefit more from the social life of our university and find opportunities to develop yourselves in different areas. University years are not only for acquiring academic knowledge but also an important period for gaining new experiences, learning teamwork, strengthening social relationships, and developing a sense of social responsibility. Therefore, we want our students to take an active role in social and cultural activities as well as their educational processes.” he said.

Participation in practical courses is very important!

Stating that laboratory practices and field experience also play an important role in professional development in addition to theoretical education, Karasakal underlined that students' participation in practical courses is extremely important. Karasakal said; “Conducting a practical education process in every field of health is one of the founding objectives of our vocational school. Each of the practical courses included in your curriculum is of great importance for your professional development. You should not think that these courses do not contribute to the experience you will gain in the field. The knowledge and skills you acquire in laboratories and practical environments prepare you for situations you will encounter in your professional life. Therefore, you must not neglect your participation in practical courses and make the best use of the learning opportunities offered.” he stated.

“Our goal is to increase our TÜBİTAK 2209-A and 2209-B student project applications”

Encouraging students to participate in scientific research projects, Karasakal reminded that TÜBİTAK 2209-A and 2209-B programs also offer project development opportunities to associate degree students. He stated that students' participation in research processes with their academic advisors supports the culture of scientific production. Karasakal said; “We want to increase our application and acceptance numbers from last year, and our goal for this year is for all of our programs to apply with at least one project.”

“You need to be constantly demanding”

Emphasizing the importance of students expressing their needs and expectations throughout their education, Karasakal stated that the vocational school management adopts a solution-oriented approach. He noted that students' opinions contribute to improvement efforts and reminded them of the director-student meeting hours. Karasakal said; “In this process, it is not enough for us to make an effort; you also need to constantly express your needs and expectations. The word ‘talebe’, another equivalent of ‘öğrenci’ (student), means one who demands knowledge. Therefore, our expectation from you is to clearly express your needs, suggestions, and the topics you wish to see developed. We will continue to evaluate these demands, take necessary steps, produce solutions, and develop our educational processes together with you. As management, we are ready to be involved in all solution-oriented processes and support you.”

“Using your time effectively and focusing on your goals is very important”

At the end of his speech, Karasakal advised students to evaluate their educational lives productively, work regularly towards their career goals, and maintain their ties with the university even after graduation, emphasizing the importance of effective time management. Karasakal said; “Time is short, but there is much to do. Keep your motivation alive and take action. Two years will pass in the blink of an eye. Working intensely for one day or one week and then not working for a month is not a correct study method. The important thing is to be able to continue working regularly at specific intervals every day. Success is the result of consistent effort. Therefore, please do not neglect to use your time effectively, focus on your goals, and maintain your regular study habit.”

The SHMYO Director-Student Meeting concluded with a group photo session after students' questions were answered and mutual views were shared.