Advisory Board

Prof. Dr. Kürşat Çağıltay

TED University

 Faculty of Education

 Dean

Middle East Technical University and received his master’s degree from the Department of Computer Engineering at the same university. He holds a dual PhD from Indiana University in Instructional Technology and Cognitive Science. He served as the technical group leader of the METU–TÜBİTAK team that introduced the Internet to Türkiye in 1993. He worked at METU in the Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology between 2002 and 2022, and at Sabancı University in the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Computer Science and Engineering program between 2022 and 2025. He is currently serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Education at TED University.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Olcay Yılmaz

TED University

 Faculty of Education

 Vice Dean

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Olcay Yılmaz was born in Istanbul in 1975. He completed his undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies in Systems Management Sciences (Industrial Engineering) at the Military Academy (KHO) and in Guidance and Psychological Counseling at Hacettepe University. He joined the Faculty of Education at TED University in 2018. Within the Department of Educational Sciences, he has served as Vice Head of Department and as Head of the Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling. He is currently serving as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Education.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elçin Emre Akdoğan

TED University

 Faculty of Education

 Vice Dean

Elçin Emre Akdoğan completed her undergraduate studies in 2005 at the Department of Mathematics Education, Gazi Faculty of Education, Gazi University. She earned her master’s degree in 2008 and her PhD in 2015 in the same department. Between 2008 and 2016, she worked as a research assistant in Mathematics Education at Gazi University. During this period, she assisted in several undergraduate courses in mathematics and mathematics education. In 2012–2013, she worked as a visiting researcher at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the STEM Education Department and at the Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in STEM Education in the United States. During her time there, she focused on the data analysis of her doctoral dissertation and also took several graduate-level courses in mathematics education.

Prof. Dr. Oya Yerin Güneri

METU

University Representative

Oya Yerin Güneri previously served as a professor in the Department of Educational Sciences at Middle East Technical University (METU). She held academic positions at METU between 1990 and 2020, including faculty member, Director of the Office of Learning and Student Development (2009–2015), and Director of the Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching (2017–2020). Dr. Güneri also served as Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at Abdullah Gül University during the 2015–2016 academic year and at METU Northern Cyprus Campus during the 2016–2017 academic year. She earned her PhD in the Guidance and Psychological Counseling Program at the Department of Educational Sciences, METU. She continues her academic work as a faculty member in the Department of Education at Middle East Technical University.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fırat Soylu,

Alabama University

International University Representative

Assoc. Prof. Fırat Soylu is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Alabama. His research focuses on the structural and functional correlates of learning and cognition in the brain, embodied cognition, and the implications of neuroscience research for learning and teaching. Dr. Soylu also serves as the coordinator of the Educational Neuroscience Program at his university.

Yılmaz Yıldırım

Representative of the Ministry of National Education

He works as the Head of the Teaching Practice and Pedagogical Formation Training Unit within the Professional Development Branch Directorate of the Ministry of National Education in Ankara.

Sevilay İmre

 Private Sector Representative

She graduated from the Department of Computer Engineering at Hacettepe University in 1986 and completed his master’s degree in 1989. She has worked in several professional roles, including Systems Analyst at the Prime Ministry Information Processing Department, Specialist Trainer at Oracle Ltd., Project Manager at Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik Inc., IT Manager at Erkunt Tractor, Acting Director of the Information Technology Department at Hacettepe University, and General Manager of Bilten Information Technologies Training Services Ltd. In 2017, together with faculty members from METU, she co-founded Eyesoft Information, Education, Publishing, Communication, and Consulting.

Didem Bektaş

Private School Representative

She graduated from the Mathematics Education Program at the Faculty of Education, TED University, in 2021. She is currently working as a Mathematics teacher at Büyük Kolej Middle School.

Berk Gümüş

Alumni Representative

Berk Gümüş was born in Ankara in 2002. He graduated with high honors from the Classroom Teaching program at TED University in 2024. Following his graduation, he began his master’s studies in Curriculum and Instruction at the Department of Educational Sciences at TED University and currently works as a scholarship research assistant at the university. His research interests include curriculum evaluation, large-scale international education studies (PISA), eye-tracking technologies in education, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) in education, and 3D printing technologies.

Göksu Yaren Dursun

Student Representative

She is a student in the Primary Education program at the Faculty of Education, TED University, and is also the president of the EduAction student community.