Prof. Feride Zeynep Güder Gave Lectures in the USA within Erasmus+ Program

Üsküdar University continues to strengthen its academic collaborations with higher education institutions in different geographies of the world in line with its internationalization vision. Üsküdar University faculty member Prof. Feride Zeynep Güder gave lectures at Westcliff University in the USA within the scope of the Erasmus+ KA171 Staff Mobility Program. Güder conducted training sessions in the field of critical artificial intelligence literacy and epistemology within the scope of academic contacts, and also held important discussions aimed at developing new academic collaborations between the two universities.

Prof. Feride Zeynep Güder, a faculty member of Üsküdar University's Faculty of Communication, Department of New Media and Communication, and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of English Translation and Interpreting, visited Westcliff University located in California, USA, within the scope of the Erasmus+ KA171 Staff Mobility Program.

The visit, organized within the scope of Erasmus+ Teaching Mobility and coordinated by Westcliff University's Department of Global Engagement, was an important step for developing academic and cultural collaborations between the two universities.

Gave Lectures Titled “Critical AI Literacy and Epistemology”

Güder, who is also the Director of the Solution-Focused Women's Issues Application and Research Center (ÜSÇÖZÜM), gave lectures to Westcliff University students titled “Critical AI Literacy and Epistemology” within the scope of the visit.

In addition to the lectures, she made presentations introducing Üsküdar University's academic capacity, international programs, research infrastructure, and innovative educational approach, and shared the cultural richness of Istanbul and Turkey with the participants accompanied by visuals. The presentations were followed with great interest by students and academic staff.

Academic Contacts and University Visits Were Made

On the first day of the program, Westcliff University's main campus was visited, accompanied by Dr. Marko Nino. While introductory meetings were held with the head of management, meetings were held with faculty members who would participate in the lectures. Additionally, discussions were held with the Department of Global Engagement team, and an invitation was received for an online meeting to be held on the last day of the program, with the participation of academics from different faculties.

Prof. Güder also had the opportunity to closely examine the modern academic infrastructure of Westcliff University, located in Irvine center. On the university's campus, situated within a vibrant business center, the contributions of the work offices, data processing center, and common living areas offered to academics and administrative staff to the educational environment were evaluated.

Taught a Total of Eight Hours of Lessons in Four Different Classes

Within the scope of Erasmus+ mobility, Prof. Feride Zeynep Güder gave a total of eight hours of lectures in four different classes to Westcliff University students.
At the end of the program, a certificate of participation was presented to Prof. Güder by Dr. Marko Nino for her academic contributions within the scope of Erasmus+ teaching mobility.

Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Epistemology Were Discussed

In her lectures, Prof. Güder invited participants to go beyond technical AI competencies and led in-depth discussions on cognition, ethics, critical thinking, and the human-technology relationship.

In the lectures, critical artificial intelligence literacy and epistemology were particularly addressed, focusing on;

-The effects of artificial intelligence on independent thought and deep reading,

-Cognitive autonomy in an increasingly digitalized world,

- The new structure of human-machine collaboration, algorithmic culture, and future designs,

-The importance of academic integrity, genuine human intelligence, and the philosophy of knowledge in higher education were comprehensively covered.

An Online Meeting Was Held with Westcliff University Academics

Within the scope of the program, a comprehensive online meeting was also held with the participation of Westcliff University's academic staff.
During the meeting, it was discussed that the importance of critical artificial intelligence in education, cognitive problems, and epistemological concerns are also valid issues in America. It was emphasized that issues such as knowledge production, critical thinking, and academic ethics in the age of artificial intelligence are significant agenda items not only in Turkey but also in the United States.

Participated as a Visiting Academic in Master's Thesis Defenses

In addition to her lecture schedule, Prof. Feride Zeynep Güder was also invited to master's thesis defenses held at Westcliff University as a visiting faculty member.

During the thesis defenses, evaluations were made particularly on epistemology, knowledge production, and academic research processes, and an exchange of ideas took place among academics.

Foundations for New Academic Collaborations Were Laid

The Erasmus+ teaching mobility carried out was not limited to lecturing activities alone. Within the scope of the visit, discussions were held regarding the development of academic collaborations, the implementation of joint research projects, and future educational programs between the two universities.

In evaluations made with the Directorate of Global Engagement, while how Erasmus+ partnerships could be developed in the United States was discussed, joint education and research projects that could be implemented between Üsküdar University and Westcliff University were emphasized.

Invited to the Global Faculty Summit

In this context, Prof. Feride Zeynep Güder was invited to participate in the Global Faculty Summit education summit to be held in November 2026.

Contributed to International Visibility

Following the Erasmus+ teaching mobility, numerous positive feedbacks regarding Prof. Güder's lectures were shared by Westcliff University academics and students.

The academic activities carried out were also reported on Westcliff University's official LinkedIn account, contributing to the visibility of the international academic collaboration between the two universities.

The visit strengthened Üsküdar University's academic collaborations pursued in line with its internationalization strategy and once again demonstrated its goal of contributing to scientific studies conducted globally in the fields of artificial intelligence, critical thinking, and digital transformation.