During the most critical decision-making period for millions of students and families, Üsküdar University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel issued an important warning against AI-supported preference robots.
Stating that artificial intelligence is overly rational, Prof. Dr. Ergüzel said, “Because while our decisions include rational parameters, they also involve emotional parameters. If I were a prospective student, I know I would not even include 40% of the departments recommended by artificial intelligence in my preferences. Artificial intelligence can narrow down a wide search space. However, for clarification, collective intelligence—meaning family, experiences, and emotional parameters—must absolutely come into play.”
Üsküdar University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel issued important warnings against AI-supported preference robots.
The preference period is as critical as the exam period
Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel noted that the preference period is as critical as the exam period. “If the exam is a process where they demonstrate academic performance, the preference period is a process where they demonstrate their ability to make correct decisions. Therefore, both processes are quite critical. What we observe is this: 60% of incoming prospective students come with a department decision in their minds, and it is difficult to change this. The other 40% make this decision with the guidance of their teachers, friends, professionals, and families. Therefore, this is a process where the final decision is made jointly, with collective intelligence. Here, I will emphatically underline collective. When candidates decide alone, they carry the anxiety of taking sole responsibility for that decision. If they make decisions together with collective intelligence, and include all components such as who works in that field, what students studying in those departments think, what faculty members say, and what post-graduation job alternatives are available, they will make a more rational and stable final preference,” he said.
How reliable are artificial intelligence preference robots?
Prof. Dr. Ergüzel stated that artificial intelligence algorithms disregard emotional expectations and personal satisfaction. “Artificial intelligence is overly rational. This is because, while there are rational parameters in our decisions, there are also emotional parameters. When there is no emotion involved, when you don't like something, you will naturally have hesitations even if it is the correct decision. You need to love a department. There are artificial intelligence interfaces that I use as an example. They suggest undergraduate departments so far apart from each other that if I were a prospective student, I know I would not even include 40% of the departments suggested by artificial intelligence in my preferences. This is because artificial intelligence evaluates based on a very concrete numerical value like a score, without considering my emotional distance, expectations, or post-graduation job satisfaction. Therefore, I believe that artificial intelligence algorithms have a clarification function. They can narrow down a wide search space. However, for clarification, collective intelligence—that is, family, experiences, and emotional parameters—must absolutely come into play. We have many students who come to our table for Industrial Engineering during the preference promotion periods but leave determined to choose Software Engineering,” he said.
Candidates considering engineering must have 'algorithmic thinking' skills
Prof. Dr. Ergüzel stated that the fundamental skill candidates considering engineering should look for in themselves is 'algorithmic thinking'. “The answer to the question 'Do I have engineering skills?' is this: If a candidate, when seeing a problem in daily life, can define it as a problem and develop a step-by-step, algorithmic solution for it, then they will succeed, regardless of the engineering department. Even when planning which vehicle to cross after while crossing the street, you run an algorithm in your mind. Modern engineering now requires working with disciplines from distant neighborhoods. An engineer or a student in the Faculty of Health Sciences should not only know their own field. At our university, a Medical Faculty student takes an Artificial Intelligence and Data Science course, growing into a physician who understands the big data at hand. The engineers we train are engineers who take MRI data from doctors, process it, and diagnose psychiatric diseases. According to the World Economic Forum, two-thirds of companies are no longer interested in which department you graduated from, but in your ability to solve problems and be proficient in multidisciplinary fields. Being able to define and manage a project is, believe me, more valuable than graduating with a 4.0 GPA,” he said.
Not just a diploma, but culture and entrepreneurship are also important
Prof. Dr. Ergüzel also stated that there are signature courses at the university. “We start in the 1st year with the University Culture course. In the 2nd year, we offer the Entrepreneurship and Project Culture course. Data shows that in countries with entrepreneurial companies, the youth unemployment rate is 60% lower. 80% of our students want to start their own companies after graduation instead of being employed somewhere. In the 3rd year, we have project-based elective courses. In the 4th year, students focus on their own developed product with the Graduation Project. We have students who transform their graduation projects into products by establishing their own companies and with TÜBİTAK-supported projects. University is a culture; you mature within that culture. We receive our students as sprouts and graduate them as fruit. It is not possible to learn these skills and culture without a diploma,” he said.
Knowing English is a must…
Prof. Dr. Ergüzel emphasized that every profession that involves data or produces data will be rewarding. “Health sciences is an area that produces tremendous data for this purpose and is very valuable. And language... There is no longer a question of 'Do you speak English?' A graduate who doesn't speak English will undoubtedly one day say, 'I wish I had solved this language problem during my undergraduate studies.' Many of our engineering departments are in English. Don't worry, 'Can I do it in English?' We have a one-year preparatory program at our university. Absolutely use that year, solve your English problem, and set it aside,” he stated.
A message to families and candidates
Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel concluded his words with a hopeful message to all candidates and their families:
“No prospective student should forget this: There is no single right answer. Do not be afraid to make mistakes. They will have many opportunities to compensate for a mistake they made at any point in their lives. Therefore, I primarily recommend working hard, being passionate, diligent, and persistent, never accepting defeat. And to families: Collective intelligence is very important. Absolutely use this advantage before making a decision.”