BAİBÜ Faculty of Communication participated in the 34th International ILDEK Deans' Council Meeting, one of the most important academic platforms shaping the future of communication education, and took part in comprehensive evaluations on quality, accreditation, digital transformation, and AI-based communication education in higher education. The meeting, hosted by Hasan Kalyoncu University, was attended by communication faculties from various universities in Turkey as well as from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

In the opening program, ILDEK Executive Board President Prof. Dr. Gilman Senem Gençtürk Hızal, Hasan Kalyoncu University Rector and Dean of the Faculty of Communication Prof. Dr. Gül Rengin Küçükerdoğan, Gaziantep Regional Director of the Press Advertisement Agency Arda Aşkın, YÖK Press Advisor Çiğdem Savaşçıoğlu, and President of the Higher Education Quality Board Prof. Dr. Ümit Kocabıçak addressed the participants. The opening speeches particularly highlighted the quality-oriented transformation in higher education, the restructuring of communication education according to current needs, and the strengthening of university-sector collaborations.

The "Academia-Industry Interactions" panel, organized as part of the program, brought together leading representatives of the media and communication sector. The panel, attended by Zeynep Bortaçina Yener, Chairperson of the Advertising Foundation Board; İpek Özgüden Özen, Chairperson of the Turkish Public Relations Association Board; Alper Tunga Özdemir, Vice Chairperson of the Turkish Journalists Association Board; and Sibel Güneş, General Secretary of the Turkish Journalists Association, addressed collaborations between communication faculties and the industry, increasing students' practical experience, and strengthening internship processes.

One of the meeting's notable topics was quality and accreditation processes. In a presentation by Prof. Dr. Ümit Kocabıçak, Chairperson of the Higher Education Quality Council, the sustainability of a quality culture in higher education, institutional development processes, and the importance of accreditation studies were emphasized. It was stated that academic standards in communication faculties should be raised and the necessary criteria should be met to strengthen the ILEDAK accreditation processes.

Sessions focusing on artificial intelligence and digital transformation were also among the most popular parts of the meeting. Prof. from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University... In the panel titled “Artificial Intelligence and Content Production in Media: Ethics, Opportunities and Risks,” featuring Dr. Deniz Yengin and Assoc. Prof. Dr. İhsan Eken from Istanbul Medipol University as speakers, AI-assisted content production, digital media technologies, and ethical issues were comprehensively evaluated.

Prof. Dr. Orhan Kemal Suher, in his presentation on the transformation of communication education in the age of artificial intelligence, drew attention to the importance of restructuring the curricula of communication faculties in accordance with today's technologies. Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay also made assessments on the digitalization process of journalism, the effects of artificial intelligence on news production, and new approaches in the media field. The presentations emphasized that the integration of artificial intelligence into communication education is inevitable, but that protecting ethical principles is of paramount importance.

In the sessions held on the second day, current problems and proposed solutions for communication faculties were discussed. Prof. Dr. Ümit Arklan made assessments regarding on-the-job training and internship practices, while Prof. Dr. Rukiye Gülay Öztürk shared her views on the structure of teaching staff in higher education. Prof. Dr. Elif Asude Tunca from Lefke European University made assessments regarding the infrastructure and administrative structures of communication faculties.

Baibu Faculty of Communication Takes a Leading Role in ILDEK Commissions

At the 34th International Council of Deans of Communication Faculties (ILDEK) Meeting held in Gaziantep, our faculty was deemed worthy of important roles thanks to its academic experience and vision. As a result of the elections held within the scope of the meeting, our faculty was elected to the Artificial Intelligence Commission, which will guide the digital transformation of communication education, and to the Visual Communication Design and Communication Design Commission, which will determine the standards of visual disciplines.

During the sessions held throughout the meeting, topics such as digitalization in communication education, new media literacy, an integrated education approach with the sector, and AI-supported communication technologies were comprehensively discussed. It was also emphasized that applied education models should be strengthened, students' sector experience should be increased, and the curricula of communication faculties should be updated to meet the requirements of the age.

In the general assembly evaluations, it was unanimously decided that Fırat University, the sole candidate for hosting the 35th International ILDEK Deans' Council Meeting, would host the event.

The BAİBÜ Faculty of Communication stated that the sessions and evaluations held during the meeting made significant contributions to the faculty's academic development processes; and that work would continue resolutely in line with its quality-oriented education approach, accreditation goals, curriculum development in line with the requirements of the age, and integrated communication education with the sector.