First 'Student Congress' held at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

The “Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Student Congress” was organized by the Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The congress emphasized the importance of transforming 21st-century competencies into concrete projects, supported by mathematics and statistics in social sciences, and featured three sessions under the headings “Gender, Power and Representation,” “History and Social Transformation,” and “Current Research in Psychology.” Students presented their projects prepared in different disciplines, sharing their work related to various fields of social sciences, with the participation of President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan. 

Many academics and students, including President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak, attended the congress held at the Fuat Sezgin Conference Hall of Üsküdar University South Campus.

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “A causal link has been established for everything that enters the laboratory of reason”

President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, who did not leave the students alone and spoke at the opening of the congress, emphasized project-based learning. Tarhan said; “When social sciences merge with mathematics, social sciences become science. Social events, social data will merge with mathematics. If it merges with statistics, it becomes science, articles, projects, and publications. Therefore, it is important to have knowledge about statistics and to address deficiencies in this area. Beyond research methods, it is beneficial for those especially interested in projects to improve themselves in statistics, even if not to the extent of becoming a statistician. This ensures the measurability and testability of our work. We are doing original work, work with widespread impact, but what makes it scientific is measurability and sustainability. Therefore, project planning provides us with this. You place your work within a logical framework. Everything that enters the laboratory of reason means something that has been scientifically causally linked, verified, and tested. Napoleon said three things in his time. He said, 'Money, money, money.' Now we say, 'Project, project, project.'” 

Tarhan: “Those who value projects will make a difference in the future”

Stating that young people who want to leave a lasting impact in the future should be within project discipline, Tarhan said; “Those who prioritize projects will make a difference in the future. If you want to make a difference with your peers in the future, you must advance your work by structuring and planning it as a project. Also, we cannot manage what we cannot measure. We must first measure, then we can manage. So, trying to measure everything we do is important. Looking at an event mathematically means knowing where to stop, learning the boundaries of freedom and responsibility. It means learning the boundaries between right and wrong, and between good and evil. In other words, wherever we incorporate mathematics, it helps us find the truth and reach reality.”

Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak: “We attach great importance to project production and sustainability”

Dean of Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak, in her opening speeches, spoke about the historical transformation of universities and the 21st century's new project-oriented education approach. Kaynak said; “We have carried out many studies in our university to instill a project culture. In addition to the project culture course, we have also started to give special importance to graduation projects. We especially emphasized our instructors producing projects and carrying them out with students. When the first universities emerged in Europe in the 1200s, the basic understanding and form of education were largely based on transferring church doctrine to new generations. However, with the model developed by Wilhelm von Humboldt in the 19th century, universities began to make research a part of their curricula and fields of activity. Thus, the university had to be not only an institution that teaches but also one that produces knowledge, conducts research for knowledge, and represents new steps in science. In the 21st century, another important feature was added to this. Universities have now become institutions that can produce, develop projects, and transform these projects into value, in addition to education and research. The concretization of ideas after laboratory work, their transfer to the business world, and the creation of a project ecosystem around this process have also become an important part of the universities' new mission.”

“We position basic sciences at the center of our university by strongly supporting them”

Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak, referring to Üsküdar University's commitment to basic sciences, said; “In Turkey, the importance given to the teaching of basic sciences, especially those focused on generating real knowledge rather than finding jobs in the market, such as Philosophy, History, and Sociology, has gradually decreased. However, we are very sensitive about this issue and position basic sciences at the center of our university by strongly supporting them. We see our Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences as one of the main pillars of this understanding. Furthermore, we are adopting an approach that encourages projects and research. In other words, we have actually created a synthesis. This Student Congress, which we organized for the first time, is a product of this synthesis aimed at involving our students in this understanding. We hope to continue in the same way in the coming years.” 

Following the opening speeches, project presentations commenced. 

Gender, power, and representation discussed

The first session of the congress started under the heading “Gender, Power and Representation.” 

The session was chaired by the Head of the Sociology Department, Prof. Barış Erdoğan. 

In the session, Political Science and International Relations Department students Selin Nur Şartepe and Gözde Akdoğan presented their project titled “Women, Politics, Power Relations,” Radio, Television and Cinema Department student Beyzanur Kaplan presented “Women in the Shadow of the Lens: The Unseen Laborers of Cinema,” and Sociology Department students Elif Mina Seyyidoğlu and Azra Bos presented “A Field Study on Domestic Violence and Power Dynamics.” 

Social transformation in history examined

The second session of the congress started under the heading “History and Social Transformation.”

The session was chaired by the Head of the History Department, Prof. Hadiye Yılmaz. 

In this context, History Department student Adem Büyükyiğit presented “Steppe Strategy and Ottoman Order: The Battle of Ankara,” History Department student Ömer Kütük presented “Power Rivalry in Ottoman Ulema and Administrative Circles: The Struggle Between the Minkarizade and Köprülü Schools,” Public Relations and Publicity Department student Sümeyye Coşkun presented “Historical Transformation of Women's Social Status in Middle Eastern Societies,” and Radio, Television and Cinema Department student Deniz Delice presented “Psychological and Physical Pressures on Men Throughout History.” 

Current developments in psychology discussed

The third session of the congress started under the heading “Current Research in Psychology.” 

The session chair was the Head of the Psychology Department, Asst. Prof. Hazal Ayas.

In this context, Psychology Department student Yaşar Ahmet Yeşil presented “Investigation of the Effect of Social Isolation and Environmental Enrichment on Cognitive Bias in Female and Male Rats,” Psychology (English) Department student Ayşe Semi Olutaş presented “Neurobiological Foundations in Emotion Regulation,” and Psychology Department student Esranur Kutlar presented “The Relationship Between Digital Addiction and Parental Attitudes in Children and Adolescents.” 

Tarhan presented books to students

At the end of the congress, President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, presented books to the students who presented their projects.

The student congress concluded with a group photo session.