Turkish Teachers' Union and Eurasia Union Organize "Turkic World Education Summit" in Ankara

ANKARA – The Turkish Education-Sen (Türk Eğitim-Sen) and the International Eurasian Educational Unions Association (UAESEB) have co-organized the "Turkic World Education Summit" in Ankara, which is taking place from September 1-5, 2025. The summit's goal is to strengthen historical and cultural ties through education and to forge a common identity and future strategies for the Turkic world.

Extensive Participation and Key Figures

The summit is attended by prominent figures, including Turkish Education-Sen and UAESEB President Talip Geylan, along with MHP Deputy Chairmen Yaşar Yıldırım and Prof. Dr. İlyas Topsakal. Other notable participants include Prof. Dr. Osman Mert, President of the Turkish Language Association, and Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Aliy, President of the Yunus Emre Institute. Union leaders, academics, and educators from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Romania, and Cyprus also joined the event, demonstrating the importance the Turkic world places on cooperation in education.

Geylan's Opening Speech: "The Turkic Century Will Be Built with Education"

In his opening speech, President Talip Geylan stated that the summit is a powerful expression of the will to build the "Turkic Century" through education. Citing Ismail Gasprinsky's motto, "Unity in language, thought, and deed," he emphasized that education is vital for a nation's survival and cultural continuity.

Geylan highlighted that in the past, Turkic states rose by prioritizing education. He declared, "There is no unity without education, and no future without unity." He added that the Turkic world is entering a new era of resurgence and that education is the most crucial pillar of the 2040 vision of the Organization of Turkic States.

Panels and Workshops for Concrete Action

The summit featured various sessions to strengthen cooperation in education. The opening panel, titled "Education Vision in the Turkic Century," focused on the future of education in the Turkic world and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Three additional panels delved into specific topics:

• "Common Curriculum and Educational Cooperation in the Turkic World" discussed joint textbooks, language policies, and teacher exchange programs.

• "Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence in Education" explored creating common remote learning platforms and digital literacy.

• "The Future of Education Unions and Rights-Based Struggle in the Turkic World" addressed the personal rights of education workers and international union cooperation.

In addition to the panels, the summit also held workshops on "Writing a Common History for the Turkic World" and "Developing a Common Curriculum for the Turkic World" to take concrete steps toward these goals.