At Üsküdar University’s 1st Project-Themed Student Congress, academic rights and scientific production in dentistry were discussed.
President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “It is important to adopt a solution-oriented approach in matters concerning the higher education system.”
Medical Director of Biruni University Faculty of Dentistry and Head of Orthodontics Department Prof. Muzaffer Gülyurt: “I believe that the relationship between doctorate and specialization should be re-evaluated, existing rights should be fully implemented, and grievances addressed.”
Faculty Member in the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry at Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry Prof. Yumuşhan Günay: “It is not possible to speak of a university concept where there is no doctorate.”
Organized by Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry, the “1st Project-Themed Student Congress also brought current discussions on doctoral education and specialization rights in dentistry to the agenda.
The congress, held at Üsküdar University NP Health Campus Ibn-i Sina Auditorium, was attended by President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Prof. Ergün Yücel, Medical Director of Biruni University Faculty of Dentistry and Head of Orthodontics Department Prof. Muzaffer Gülyurt, along with academics and students.
Many project presentations took place at the congress, which was organized to develop students' scientific research culture, support their project production skills, and provide a platform where they could share their academic work.
On the other hand, doctoral and specialization rights, practices, and existing problems in Dentistry also came to the agenda at the congress.
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “A solution-oriented approach should be adopted”
President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the issue of doctoral and specialization rights in dentistry should be carefully addressed from the perspective of the higher education system.
Prof. Tarhan stated that the issue has technical aspects and that considering the expectations of the academic community is important, making the following assessment:
“In light of these evaluations and shared information, it is understood that the current regulations need to be reviewed. Adopting a solution-oriented approach in such matters concerning the higher education system is important. I believe that administrators and bureaucrats working in the field of higher education in Turkey act with good intentions. However, it appears there is a technical dimension to this problem. It would be beneficial for the relevant institutions to re-evaluate the issue in line with the expectations of the academic community and make the necessary arrangements.”
Prof. Muzaffer Gülyurt: “Legal regulations are not fully reflected in practice”
Prof. Muzaffer Gülyurt, Medical Director of Biruni University Faculty of Dentistry and Head of Orthodontics Department, who participated in the congress, made important assessments regarding the specialization rights of academics with doctorates in dentistry.
Prof. Gülyurt stated that dentists with doctoral education have experienced various rights losses for many years: “The specialization rights of academics with doctorates in dentistry have been an important topic of discussion for years. In the past, we observed that many of our colleagues with doctoral education could not fully benefit from these rights despite having specialization competencies. For this reason, during my tenure, we worked on legal regulations in the field of dentistry and took important steps towards recognizing the specialization rights of those with doctorates. With the law, we aimed to protect the rights of both those who would pursue doctorates in the future and those who had previously completed doctoral education. However, at this point, we see that legal regulations are not fully reflected in practice. Doctoral education is a process that forms the basis of scientific production and has international validity. Therefore, I believe that the relationship between doctorate and specialization should be re-evaluated, existing rights should be fully implemented, and grievances addressed.”
Prof. Yumuşhan Günay: “The academic nature of the doctorate remained in the background”
Prof. Yumuşhan Günay, Faculty Member in the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry at Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry, stated that doctoral education is one of the fundamental building blocks of universities, adding that recent legislative changes have led to various discussions in the academic community.
Prof. Yumuşhan Günay said, “Scientific research and doctoral education are at the foundation of universities. The ambiguity of the definition and academic identity of the doctorate is a problem that concerns not only a specific professional group but the entire higher education system. While defining specialization training is important, the academic nature of the doctorate remaining in the background during this process has created a significant void. Especially due to legislative changes, there are many academics who are in the doctoral process and believe they have suffered a loss of rights. Therefore, I think that the issue should be addressed not only at the institutional level but also on a national scale and re-evaluated for the future of academic life. It is not possible to speak of a university concept where there is no doctorate.”
Poster presentations examined
Poster presentations prepared within the scope of the congress were also presented to the participants.
President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan visited the poster area and received information from students about their projects.
The congress, where scientific sharing and interaction came to the fore, ended after a group photo session.
