The Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Tourism Faculty hosted the 2nd Tourism Faculties’ Deans Council (TURDEK) meeting which was attended by the deans of Tourism Faculties operating in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The meeting which took place on the 11th and 12th of October 2019 in the EMU Senate Hall was moderated by İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University Tourism Faculty Dean / TURDEK President Prof. Dr. Atilla Akbaba and EMU Tourism Faculty Dean / TURDEK General Secretary Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç. The meeting which featured the participation of 25 Tourism Faculty Deans was concerned with problems faced by Tourism Faculties. Solutions were proposed and discussed for important decisions to be made.
“We are Honoured to be the Hosts”
Speaking at the opening of the TURDEK meeting, EMU Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Halit Tanju Besler highlighted the importance of the meeting and stated that are happy and honoured to be the hosts. Noting that the achievements and respectability of the EMU Tourism Faculty is a point of reference for the university Prof. Dr. Besler indicated that the Rector’s Office continues to closely follow its development and is ready to provide all forms of support for the Faculty.
“Tourism Faculties Need to Adapt to Change”
In a speech of his own, EMU Tourism Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç stated that they happy and honoured to be hosting such an important meeting. Highlighting that they also play an active role on the board of the Council, Prof. Dr. Kılıç expressed that shaping Tourism education by being a part of the decision making mechanism is very important for the respectability and strength of the Faculty. Underlining that Tourism education needs to adapt to changing conditions in times that the concept of new generation universities are being discussed, Prof. Dr. Kılıç stated that this meeting will identify common problems and establish a vision that will be presented to the Council of Higher Education and other concerned parties. Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç announced that the meeting focused on the 3 main themes of Academic, Educational and Administrative adding that a consensus was reached by the management of all faculties on each theme.
“Decisions Taken Will Be Presented to the Council of Higher Education”
In his speech, TURDEK President Prof. Dr. Atilla Akbaba stated that the TURDEK Board of Management came together with the Council of Higher Education President Prof. Dr. M. A. Yekta Saraç and concerning board members on the 19th of June 2019. Prof. Dr. Akbaba relayed that the meeting in Cyprus was agreed upon as a result of the common opinion that there was a need for urgent decisions to be made. Prof. Dr. Akbaba concluded that the results of this meeting will be determinant in the development and restructure of undergraduate and postgraduate tourism education along with TUDEK’s collaboration that will carried out with other concerned parties in the near future.
