16th Conference of Rectors from the Black Sea Region BSUN 2024 Congress “Summit of the Future for the Black Sea Region”

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM

11 July 2024

09:00 – 10:00 Registration

10:00 – 11:30 Welcome Speeches

  • Prof. Erol ÖZVAR (President, Council of Higher Education, Türkiye)
  • H.E. Lazăr COMĂNESCU (Secretary General, BSEC)
  • Prof. Muzaffer Şeker (President, Turkish Academy of Sciences)
  • Prof. Sorin COSTREIE (President, UNICA)
  • Prof. Hasan MANDAL (President, TUBITAK, Türkiye)
  • Prof. Osman Bülent ZÜLFİKAR (Rector, Istanbul University)
  • Prof. Marian PREDA (BSUN President)
  • Asaf HAJIYEV (Secretary General, PABSEC)
  • Gulchohra MAMMADOVA (Rector, Azerbaijan Architecture and Civil Engineering University)

11:30 – 12:00 Coffee Break

12:00 – 13:30 “Promoting Science-Based Decision Making in the Society and the Role of Universities”

Moderators:

  • Prof. Erhan TABAKOĞLU (Rector, Trakya University)
  • Prof. Ayşegül KOMSUOGLU ÇITIPITIOĞLU (Rector, Nisantasi University)

Speakers:

  • Dr. Garry JACOBS (President, WAAS) “Pathways to a Peaceful and Sustainable Human Future: Context and Recommendations for the Summit of the Future”
  • Prof. Phoebe KOUNDOURI, (Economics, Athens University of Economics and Business & Technical University of Denmark; Chair, SDSN Global Climate Hub; Co-chair, SDSN Europe; Director, AE4RIA; Trustee, WAAS) (online) “SDSN Global Climate Hub: Science-based Solutions Pathways for Climate Neutrality and Climate Resilience”
  • Moneef ZOU’BI, Science Advisor of the InterAction Council (IAC) (online) “Science Diplomacy in Post-Covid World: A Snapshot of the Human Security Perspectives.”

Panel Discussion:

  • Prof. İsmail KOYUNCU (Rector, Istanbul Technical University) “TUBA Awards and Research Universities”
  • Prof. Tony SPASSOV (Vice-Rector, University of Sofia) “Science and innovation in green technologies”
  • Dr. Elena Nolica DRUICA (University of Bucharest) “What matters most to the perception of community resilience in Romania?”
  • Assistant Prof. Ahmet AYDEMİR (Bilgi University) “Sustainability Literacy”

13:30 – 14:30 Lunch

14:30– 16:00 “Transformation of Education and the Society”

Moderator:

  • Prof. Sorin COSTREIE (President, UNICA)

Speaker:

  • Prof. Lucian CIOLAN (Vice-Rector, University of Bucharest) ”The New Learning Ecosystem of Higher Education: structures, processes and digital technologies”

Panel Discussion:

  • Janani RAMANATHAN (Secretary General, WAAS) “Transforming Education towards SDG4”
  • Alberto ZUCCONI (President, Person-Centered Approach Institute (IACP); Chair, Board of Trustees, WAAS; Secretary General, WUC)  “Student/Person/People-Centered Education: Empowering people to cope with the Antropocene’ challenges.”
  • Prof. Jogaq KACANI (BSUN President for the Mandate 2012-2015)
  • Prof. Gulsen ERYİĞİT (Istanbul Technical University) “Harnessing Language Technologies for Learning”
  • Veysel BOZKURT (Istanbul University) “ChatGPT and Its Use in Education”

16:00 – 16:30 Coffee Break

16:30 – 18:30 BSUN General Assembly

Moderators:

  • Prof. Eden MAMUT (Secretary General, BSUN)
  • Prof. Ayşe Zişan FURAT (Istanbul University)

Opening Remarks

  • Prof. Osman Bülent ZÜLFİKAR, (Rector, Istanbul University)
  • Prof. Marian PREDA, (Rector, Bucharest University)
  • Session Reports from Moderators
  • Country Reports of BSUN Studies during 2022-2024 Mandate
    • Albania
    • Armenia
    • Azerbaijan
    • Bulgaria
    • Georgia
    • Greece
    • Moldova
    • Romania
    • Serbia
    • Türkiye
    • Ukraine
  • Debates and Adoption of the Declaration of the Conference of Rectors from the BSR
  • Election of the BSUN (President for the mandate 2024-2026)
  • Election of the BSUN (Executive Board members)
  • Nomination of the Future BSUN President for the mandate 2026-2028

19:30 – Dinner

12 July 2024

09:30 – 11:00 “A new Agenda for Peace in the Extended Black Sea Region and the Reform of Regional Cooperation Institutions”

Moderator:

  • Prof. Marian ZULEAN (University of Bucharest)

Speakers:

  • H.E. Emil CONSTANTINESCU (President, ISACCL; President of Romania (1996-2000); Trustee, WAAS) “The responsibility of academia in overcoming systemic challenges and creating a global culture of peace through education and science”
  • Donato KINIGER-PASSIGLI (Vice President ‘Social Sciences and Humanities’, WAAS) “Time for a Peace Offensive A New Initiative for Global Peace”

Panel Discussion:

  • H.E. Lazăr COMĂNESCU (Secretary General, BSEC) “Enhancing security and peace through economic cooperation.”
  • Aleksander ZIDANSEK (Vice Dean, Professor of Physics, Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate School; Trustee, WAAS)  “Science for Peace”
  • Prof. Profiroiu Constantin MARIUS (Vice Rector, Bucharest University of Economics Studies)

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30 – 13:00 “Pathways for a Pact for the Future of the Extended Black Sea Region”

Moderators:

  • Dr. Garry JACOBS (President & CEO, WAAS)
  • Prof. Eden MAMUT (BSUN Secretary General)

Panel Discussion:

  • Donato KINIGER-PASSIGLI (Vice President ‘Social Sciences and Humanities’, WAAS)
  • Prof. Marian PREDA (Rector, Bucharest University)
  • Prof. Osman Bülent ZÜLFİKAR (Rector, Istanbul University)
  • Prof. Erekle ASTAKHISHVILI (Vice-Rector, Tbilisi State University) “Academic Community, Current Challenges and Future Directions”
  • Viorel BOSTAN (Rector, Technical University of Moldova)

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch 14:00 – 16:00 Social Programme: Historical Tour Around the Campus