EAIE Executive Director visits Istanbul
The EAIE’s Executive Director, Leonard Engel, personally conducted a site visit in Istanbul to further assess the situation on the ground. He met with prominent professors and political scientists in the city, each of whom emphasised the importance of having our conference in Istanbul. See below for a statement about his trip, and why he’s confident in the EAIE’s decision to gather in Istanbul for our milestone 25th Annual Conference in September.
Dear Colleague,
As the EAIE Conference is fast-approaching, I would like to update you on the situation in Istanbul and implications it may have for the conference.
Recently, I personally conducted a site visit in Istanbul. I walked through Taksim Square and met with prominent professors and political scientists in the city to further assess the state of affairs. Each of these individuals emphasised the importance of having our conference in Istanbul, as our presence will serve to strengthen the democratic process that everyone in Turkey is working toward. Following this trip, I am confident in the EAIE’s decision to go ahead with the conference as the situation currently stands.
Since its inception, the EAIE has strived to promote those ideals that form the foundation of international education. The EAIE stands behind the belief that everyone has the right to free speech, the right to be educated, as well as the freedom to have opposing views and to engage in discussion and debate. Furthermore, we are certain of the power of drawing together different cultures, nationalities, and professions within higher education to foster knowledge exchange and promote partnership development.
In view of the existing unrest, the need to create opportunities to connect people from different societies and foster cross-cultural awareness and understanding is amplified. This year’s conference theme, ‘Weaving the future of global partnerships’, provides an excellent forum for reflecting on the importance of just that –drawing together different cultures and creating dynamic partnerships not only within higher education, but with other stakeholders in society. With this in mind, it is our responsibility to ensure that the conference is as successful as in years past.
Please note that we will continue to monitor the situation closely in cooperation with our local partners. Should there be further developments, we have taken necessary steps to ensure the safety of participants during the course of the conference.
I thank you for your continued support and look forward to welcoming you in Istanbul to celebrate the EAIE’s 25th Conference.
Kind regards,
Leonard Engel
EAIE Executive Director