The importance of education provided in the field of health and the services offered to the public by the trained students was better understood during the pandemic. Experts, emphasizing that health will be extremely important until the end of human history, state that specialists graduating from departments in the field of health sciences will not experience employment difficulties if they receive a good education. Prof. Dr. Şefik Dursun, stating that nursing cannot be learned without practical training, said that the education for departments like OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) and Child Development should not be given remotely. Dursun stated, "One becomes an occupational health and safety specialist without ever seeing a fire."
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences Dean and Head of the Department of Biophysics Prof. Dr. Şefik Dursun spoke about the importance of departments within the Faculties of Health Sciences and their employment opportunities.
"The Value of Health Education Understood in the Pandemic"
Prof. Dr. Şefik Dursun reminded that the education provided in the field of health and the services offered to the public by students trained in health became more evident during the pandemic. He said, "At our university, there are important departments such as child development, nutrition and dietetics, physiotherapy, and speech and language therapy. Since each of these is applied, students who can establish dialogue with people are trained. During their training, students have the opportunity to apply what they have learned in theoretical courses in the field. They organize to complete their vocational training for applied courses in businesses at the career center. We tried to accomplish this as much as we could despite the pandemic."
"Vaccination is Important for Healthy Face-to-Face Education"
Stating that they have prepared to ensure the adaptation and orientation of prospective students, Prof. Dr. Şefik Dursun said, "Since there is currently a pandemic, it is clear that vaccination of university staff and faculty members is extremely important in this environment. If students also get vaccinated, we can provide a healthier and more peaceful environment. Thus, we can continue face-to-face education without interruption. As expressed by both the Ministry of Health and other authorities, face-to-face education is indispensable. This point also necessitates students getting vaccinated. They will protect others, their families, their friends, and themselves."
"Nursing Cannot Be Learned Without Practical Training"
Emphasizing that health will be extremely important until the end of human history, Prof. Dr. Şefik Dursun said, "Therefore, students do not have difficulty finding jobs in the field after graduating from health-related departments. For example, nursing holds such an important place at our university that it is a separate faculty, in line with Ministry of Health policies. Difficulties were experienced in practical training due to the pandemic, but we tried to compensate. It is not possible to learn the nursing profession without practical training."
"Practical Training Should Not Be Given Remotely!"
Prof. Dr. Şefik Dursun drew attention to the fact that education related to child development and occupational health and safety is provided in open education universities, and continued his words as follows:
"To see a child, care for their psychology, and monitor their social relationships with society is a process that a child development specialist must acquire through direct experience. These qualities are being attempted to be imparted to students through open education. This is an incorrect practice. We believe that practical training in this regard is very important in the field of health. Occupational health and safety should be considered in the same way. One becomes an occupational health and safety specialist without ever seeing a fire. Occupational health and safety has now become an important problem for Turkey. It would be better if the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) could control universities in Turkey. For example, the Faculty of Health Sciences is audited by YÖK."
"They will not experience employment difficulties with a good education"
Stating that there are many departments in the Faculties of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Şefik Dursun said, "There is a concern about not finding a job after graduation, but there is a need for a graduate of a faculty of health sciences with a bachelor's degree in Turkey. After receiving a good education, a midwife, child development specialist, nurse, and physiotherapist will not experience employment difficulties."