Beyond Education Summit Organized for the Fourth Time This Year with the Theme of “Freedom within Limits”

The Beyond Education Summit, initiated by the NÛN Foundation for Education and Culture, was organized for the fourth time on November 23, 2024. The selected theme for this year’s summit, “Freedom within Limits,” was explored through various aspects and disciplines by renowned experts.  Over 700 participants from nearly 20 provinces attended the summit, underscoring the importance of a human-centered approach to education.

The summit was held in NÛN Schools Beykoz Campus, hosting Dr Esra Albayrak for the welcome speech. She addressed the impact of limitations and boundaries on individuals and society, highlighting global challenges such as digital transformation, increased feelings of loneliness and burnout among young people, cyberbullying, and the rapid depletion of natural resources. The summit continued with the opening remarks of the Minister of National Education, Prof. Yusuf Tekin. Mr. Tekin emphasized the significance of setting boundaries for personal development and underlined the difference between freedom and limitlessness.

Following the Minister’s speech, renowned writer and director Nacer Khemir, known for his Desert Trilogy, delivered a speech on “Limitless Limits of Art.” Psychiatrist and author Prof. Dr. Kemal Sayar also served as a keynote speaker, discussing “Journey of Life: Delusion of Freedom and Limits.”

Assoc. Prof. Mustafa Otrar examined the potential of using technology in educational settings and the challenges that these developments introduce. Şule Alan, known for her research in behavioral sciences in education, highlighted the importance of teaching children about personal boundaries from a young age and the role of teachers as role models alongside parents.

Prof. Dr. Dursun Ali Tökel emphasized the role of boundaries in shaping a sense of belonging for individuals and societies. He discussed the influence of national, religious, and institutional affiliations on our identities and how they profoundly affect our relationships.

Participants showed great interest in the 56 workshops held simultaneously after the lunch break. Workshops led by various names including Prof. Dr. Zeki Bayraktar, educator and writer Orhan Gazi Gökçe, writer Fatma Bayram, Çiğdem Tavkul, İpek Coşkun Armağan, and author Yıldız Kulkul provided participants with opportunities to share experiences and explore areas for improvement in classroom settings.

Dr. Following the workshops, Prof. Dr. Nabi Avcı delivered a speech on the stage, titled “Digital Etiquette and Boundaries: Determining the Boundaries of Communication in the Age of AI,” discussing how the boundaries of communication set in the digital world and the ethical considerations associated with technology’s impact on relationships, personal boundaries, and communication.

Prof. Dr. Lütfü Hanoğlu focused on the boundaries imposed by the decision-making mechanisms within our bodies. The summit concluded with a panel discussion featuring Sevde Sevan Usak, Mehmet Yücel Atış, Hakan Akkaya, Ramazan Bingöl, and Assoc. Prof. Gül Esra Atalay. The panelists discussed various aspects of limits, the shaping of communication, social structures, and individual boundaries within different disciplines, highlighting their insights on how limitations are key for freedom.

At the closing ceremony of the Beyond Education Summit, Teacher Awards were presented to chosen innovative projects. The award-winning teachers exhibited their innovative projects and shared their knowledge and experiences with the participants. Faruk Gülşen won the first place with his “Share Your Experience” project, Melek Kılıç won the second place with her “Digital Reading Bridge” project, and İbrahim Yıldırım won the third place with his “Mathematics is Everywhere” project. Seven projects were honored with mention prize.