YAŞAR UNIVERSITY
“SCIENCE CULTURE”
CORPORATE FOUNDATION COURSES
Rationale
Sensitivity towards universal scientific values is an undisputable ethical concept for universities. This fundamental premise maintains that science can only advance through knowledge, which is based on research findings and which is taught in a competitive environment. Science can be defined as a combination of both research and tuition, with an emphasis on scientific methodology.
Universities reflect both global and the shared scientific assertions of their faculties, departments and programs into their own research and educational programs. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of universities to develop their own ‘institutional’ assertions, which can enrich these scientific values. In this way, science can be ‘contemporary,’ and yet still be in line with the ‘global’ perspective.
Institutional scientific assertions help develop academic competition between universities. These assertions also define the values of the individual institution, enhancing the exclusivity of the university’s identity. This is particularly apparent in the university’s provision of custom-made program content and its ‘teaching’ methodology.
Universities provide an intellectual environment in which a contemporary and cultured lifestyle is encouraged, together with the teaching of scientific information. One factor that can differentiate between institutions, is the way they teach and cherish this lifestyle, providing an approach to a richer way of life, where people are more in tune with their surroundings. At Yaşar University it is anticipated that through acquiring these fundamental skills, students will have the chance to recognise and adapt to the university’s identity, as portrayed in its ideals of ‘Science, Unity, Success’. It is also expected that through the nurturing environment of the university, students will increase their thirst for learning and success, through personally experiencing this respectful approach to life.
Yaşar University is a scientific institution, which places great importance on the aforementioned global values. It constantly strives to develop its ‘unique’ scientific assertions through questioning and analysis. Accordingly, it prioritises the prompt integration of new research findings from the university environment into the education programs. Over time this will also benefit the proficiency of graduates.
Yaşar University’s unique scientific assertions and the value of its education programs, as identified in its institutional identity, are reflected in its Foundation Courses Program (FCP). These courses are comprised to combine global scientific values with the most recent educational demands in the most appropriate way.
Yaşar University Foundation Courses Program (FCP)
‘Foundation Courses’ are incorporated into the curriculum of Yaşar University to assist students in gaining essential skills.
These essential skills can provide graduates with advantages and differentiating abilities, when compared to their contemporaries. Research and reviews are carried out of international higher education programs, to ensure the relevence of these additional skills in the market place. In addition recent ‘needs analysis’ is also undertaken to identify the demands of the sector, institutions and businesses, which may recruit our graduates. These factors can all help to increase the popularity of the university.
There are a total of 7 lessons in the foundation courses program. These are Design Culture, Project Management, Research and Methodology, Human Sciences, Ethics and Aesthetics, as well as ‘Philosophy’ in the discipline of science, and ‘Activities’ in the field of social responsibility.
The Philosphy and Activities courses are awarded two (2) and one (1) ECTS credit respectively.
The aforementioned courses differ from the ‘compulsory’ lessons, which are determined by the Council of Higher Education. They also differ from the ‘specialized’ and ‘elective’ courses, as chosen by the students studying on Bachelor programs (Faculty of Science and Letters, Faculty of Fine Arts, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Faculty of Communication, Faculty of Architecture and Faculty of Engineering) or on Associate Degree programs (Vocational School). These courses however are coordinated within the students’ learning programme. They are also commonly shared and a compulsory componant for students of all departments within each Faculty and Vocational School program.
Philosophy Courses are ‘corporate’ courses, which teach the university’s scientific assertions. They reflect the common institutional, academic, cultural and unique identity values of Yaşar University, its essential principles, along with the methodology needed to adopt the philosophical basis of these principles. Under the guidance of the respective academic members of staff, the students are expected to succeed in these courses throughout eight terms of a Bachelor Degree program and throughout four terms of an Associate Degree program. When assigning students to classes, the university does not differentiate between students, who are following a Bachelor or an Associated Degree program.
Activities Course, is a ‘practical’ course, in which students devise solutions to actual, real life problems (social, cultural, enviornmental, political, professional etc.) outwith the university campus, by forming ‘multi-disciplinary study groups’. The concept behind this course is to develop a student’s social awareness towards real life issues, creating an active scientific challenge which lies within the framework of the university’s responsibility. In the event of a Yaşar University student failing this course, he / she may not graduate from the university, even if he / she succeeds in every other academic activity.
1. Design Culture Course
A. Course Description:
Design Culture has been identified as a component of Yaşar University’s institutional scientific identity assertions. It envisages in this assertion that academic and administrative staff, students and graduates, all adopt these ‘designer identity values’. This is an institution based course, in which the basic principles of design culture, as well as the methodology needed to apply the philosophical basis of these principles, are taught.
B. Credits: 2 ECTS
C. Aims:
The Design Culture Course provides students with techniques for reasoning, quality and orderly presenting, critical thinking skills, creativity, the development of renewable and sustainabile projects, the implementation of entrepreneurial techniques and technologies, as well as the skills to use this knowledge to prepare recommendation reports, which can form the basis of further project applications.
D. Objectives:
Yaşar University students, who take this course, are required to demonstrate the following
1. to detect a problem in their field of expertise
2. to identify the source of the problem
3. to understand and identify the relationship between the problem and the causative factors
4. to break the connections between the causative factors at the source of the problem
5. to create new connections to be able to produce solutions
6. to identify the solution
7. to present the strategic, political, technical or technological options of the solution
8. to develop ideas that lead to the presentation of a ‘project proposal’
II. Project Culture Course
A. Course Description:
Project Mangement has also been identified as a component of Yaşar University’s institutional scientific identity assertions. It envisages in this assertion that academic and administrative staff, students and graduates, all adopt these ‘project identity values’. This is an institution based course, in which the basic principles of project management, as well as the methodology needed to apply the philosophical basis of these principles, are taught.
B. Credits: 2 ECTS
C. Aims:
The Project Managament Course provides students with the necessary skills to personally take responsibility and deliver on determining the solution to a problem, based on the developed project proposal. This course looks to implement the prepared solution in the most efficient , effective and productive way possible, creating new resources rather than repleting existing sources in the transformation process.
D. Objectives:
Yaşar University students, who take this course, are required to demonstrate the following
1. to construct projects with the aid of designed project management documentation
2. to develop and present project proposals according to these standards
3. to prepare and administer project budgets
4. to manage the defined phases of projects
5. to evaluate projects
6. to prepare project evaluation reports
III. Research Culture Course
A. Course Description:
Research and Methodology has been identified as a component of Yaşar University’s institutional scientific identity assertions. It envisages in this assertion that academic and administrative staff, students and graduates, all adopt these ‘researcher identity values’. This is an institution based course, in which the basic principles of research, as well as the methodology needed to apply the philosophical basis of these principles, are taught.
B. Credits: 2 ECTS
C. Aims:
The Research and Methodology Course provides students with the necessary skills to undertake research in line with scientific principles. This relates to the accurate production of scientific data, verifying and testing the credibility of information, developing and implementing impeccable working practices, testing hypothesis and assumptions, observing and questioning results objectively, following the guidelines to evaluate and write up the findings, as well as fostering a desire to succeed.
D. Objectives:
Yaşar University students who take this course, are required to demonstrate the following:
1. to investigate all aspects of the research project
2. to identify the relevent information
3. to differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research methodology
4. to determine and implement qualitative reseach methodology
5. to determine and implement quantitative research methodology
6. to decide on the research areas where qualitative and quantitative research methodologies will be implemented
7. to test the validity of the research outputs
8. to plan and implement the duration of the research Project, in line with scientific standards
9. to evaluate and write up the findings of the research in line with scientific guidelines
IV: Human Sciences
A. Course Description:
Human Sciences has been devised as a product of Yaşar University’s institutional scientific identity assertions. It envisages in this assertion that academic and administrative staff, students and graduates, all adopt these ‘ identity values and awareness of human behaviour’. This is an institution based course, in which the basic principles of human sciences, as well as the methodology needed to apply the philosophical basis of these principles, are taught. Extra importance is put on this class, since students gain little tuition in human sciences during their years at high school under the Turkish education system.
B. Credits: 2 ECTS
C. Aims:
The Human Sciences Course provides the students with the necessary skills to appreciate behavioural sciences (psychology, sociology, social psychology, anthropology, logic, philosophy, semiology, semantics, epistemology, history and philosophy of science etc.) with their basic assertions, principles and philosophies. It also recognises the value of human sciences through acknowledging that at its core, is the experience of human sensitivity, and the awareness that to be successful, productivity needs to be for the benfit of the human race.
D. Objectives:
Yaşar University students, who take this course, are required to demonstrate the following:
1. to understand the characteristics of the various scientific disciplines, which make up human sciences
2. to understand the benefits of this scientific approach to the human race
3. to identify the basic principles and philosophy of human sciences, as related to the student’s own field of study
4. to be able to benefit from integrating human sciences into the student’s own personal projects
V. Ethics Culture
A. Course Description:
Ethics has been devised as a product of Yaşar University’s institutional scientific identity assertions. It envisages in this assertion that academic and administrative staff, students and graduates, all adopt these identity values which reflect ‘an ethical consciousness of the environment’. This is an institution based course, in which the basic principles of ethics culture, as well as the methodology needed to apply the philosophical basis of these principles, are taught.
B. Credits: 2 ECTS
C. Aims:
The Ethics Course provides students with the awareness, as well as the psychological and behavioral skills, to proactively strive for a quality, secure and structured lifestyle, in which students can take responsibilty for protecting social, cultural and environmental values.
D. Objectives:
Yaşar University students, who take this course, are required to demonstrate the following:
1. to appreciate the similarities and differences between ethics and law
2. to identify the links between living a regulated life and a humanistic life
3. to understand the significant implications and associated losses of undertaking even the smallest transaction by non-ethical means
4. to distinguish between what is ethical and what is non-ethical
VI. Aesthetics Culture
A. Course Description:
Aesthetics has been devised as a product of Yaşar University’s institutional scientific identity assertions. It envisages in this assertion that academic and administrative staff, students and graduates, all adopt these values for being ‘artistically aware’. This is an institution based course, that aims to teach how art can bring people together by combining creativity and innovation. It nourishes both the emotional and IQ, as well as developing energy in the learning process and in the adoption of these goals.
B. Credits: 2 ECTS
C. Aims:
The Aesthetics Course equips students with the skills to differentiate between high and low quality work in the art sector; it gives a feel for artistic values; it raises awareness about creating art and the appreciation of an art piece; it allows students to understand the difference between the emotional and the reasoned connection with an art piece and how they are affected by it.
D. Objectives:
Yaşar University students, who take this course, are required to demonstrate the following:
1. to explain the factors that add artistic and aesthetical value to an art piece
2. to outline the basic emotional and cognitive processes defining creativity
3. to outline the basic emotional and cognitive processes defining modernism
4. to actively take part in the production and performance of an art work
5. to discuss the relevance of a produced piece of art
6. to give a reasoned opinion on a work of art
VII. Social Responsibility Projects
A. Course Description:
Social Responsibility has been devised as a product of Yaşar University’s institutional scientific identity assertions. It envisages in this assertion that academic and administrative staff, students and graduates, all adopt these values for a ‘consciousness towards the social environment ‘. This is an institution based course, in which the basic principles of social responsibility, as well as the methodology needed to apply the philosophical basis of these principles, are taught.