Turkey's Maarif Foundation: Strengths, Challenges, and 2035 Vision
· Halil ETYEMEZ
An in-depth evaluation of the Maarif Foundation's educational activities, its strategic importance, and future aspirations, highlighting the crucial role of human capital and quality education in international diplomacy.
We recently had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Selim Cerrah, a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Türkiye Maarif Foundation, for a comprehensive evaluation of the Foundation's educational activities both domestically and internationally. During our meeting, we focused on the educational work carried out by the Maarif Foundation in various countries, its educational model, school experiences, success stories of graduating students, and the strong communication maintained with alumni.
During our visit, we also had a candid conversation with two international students who graduated from Maarif Foundation schools. Listening to the roles they undertake in their home countries, the value that their education in Turkey has added to their lives, and their sense of gratitude towards our country, once again demonstrated that education not only imparts knowledge but also builds lasting bridges of goodwill between people and nations. This conversation concretely highlighted the immense value of maintaining relationships with alumni.
The approach to continuing the bond with alumni even after graduation was particularly noteworthy. This is because the true success of an educational institution is measured not only by the day it graduates its students but also by its ability to follow their development years later and their contributions to their countries and humanity. This understanding is one of the most valuable institutional characteristics that the Maarif Foundation should emphasize.
This fruitful evaluation reminded me of a truth once again: The power of nations today is no longer measured solely by their economic size or military capacity. Countries that produce knowledge, nurture qualified individuals, and can contribute to the future of other societies through education rise to a much stronger position internationally. Therefore, education is one of the most strategic investment areas of our time and one of the most effective tools of public diplomacy.
Turkey has also taken significant steps in this field in recent years, establishing the Türkiye Maarif Foundation to strengthen its educational diplomacy. Today, it would be an understatement to consider the Maarif Foundation merely an institution that opens schools abroad. The Foundation is a significant educational bridge that carries Turkey's educational understanding, cultural heritage, and human-centered approach to different geographies of the world.
Since its establishment, the Maarif Foundation has successfully carried out educational activities in numerous countries, built strong relationships with different cultures, and made significant progress in becoming a trusted educational brand for Turkey. In this regard, it makes valuable contributions to our country's international visibility and prestige in the field of education.
However, the changing conditions of the world necessitate that the Maarif Foundation, like every institution, continuously renews itself. The success of the upcoming period will no longer be measured by the number of schools opened, but by the quality of education provided, the caliber of students nurtured, the contributions of alumni to their countries, and the international impact created.
Therefore, in the new period, the focus should be on quality rather than quantity. The academic achievements of schools, the scientific and social development of students, the professional competencies of teachers, and the compliance of educational programs with international standards should be regularly evaluated. True success is the positive change created in the lives and societies of the individuals nurtured.
The most significant strength of the Maarif Foundation is its teaching staff. Every teacher working abroad is not just an educator who teaches lessons but also a cultural and goodwill ambassador representing Turkey. For this reason, teacher selection, in-service training, foreign language proficiency, intercultural communication skills, and leadership qualities must be continuously developed.
Digital transformation is also an indispensable need. AI-supported learning systems, digital educational content, distance learning platforms, and international online learning networks should be among the fundamental elements of the Maarif Foundation's future vision. Education must be strongly represented not only in classrooms but also in the digital world.
In my opinion, one of the areas that should be emphasized in the 2035 vision is vocational and technical education. Especially as the young population rapidly increases in underdeveloped and developing countries, the biggest need of the economies is not just university graduates but qualified technicians, craftsmen, healthcare professionals, agricultural experts, and young people with entrepreneurial skills who can participate in production.
Turkey possesses significant expertise in vocational education. Vocational training centers, applied training models conducted in cooperation with the sector, and a production-oriented educational approach are of a quality that can serve as an example for many countries. Sharing this experience with friendly and brotherly countries through the Türkiye Maarif Foundation will add a new and strong dimension to educational diplomacy.
In this context, alongside general educational institutions, the establishment of vocational and technical education schools tailored to the needs of countries should also be considered. Institutions providing applied training in agriculture, livestock, healthcare services, information technologies, energy, construction, tourism, and local production will not only equip individuals with professions but also contribute to the economic development, employment, and production capacity of the countries in which they are located. Thus, education will transform from a service that imparts knowledge into a strategic force that supports development.
Another important issue is strengthening the bond established with alumni. Every student who graduates from Maarif Foundation schools is a natural representative of the bridges of friendship built between Turkey and their country. Establishing sustainable relationships with alumni, developing joint projects, and creating a strong international alumni network will further strengthen Turkey's educational diplomacy in the long term.
As we move towards 2035, the Maarif Foundation's goal should not be merely to operate in more countries. The real goal is to become a prestigious international educational brand that enhances the quality of education, produces science, trains teachers, leads digital transformation, views vocational education as an integral part of development, and builds trust with the people it nurtures.
The evaluation we conducted with Mr. Selim Cerrah has once again shown that the Maarif Foundation's greatest capital is not its school buildings, but the people it nurtures. An educational approach that nurtures people, wins hearts, and builds lasting bridges of friendship between countries will be one of Turkey's most valuable legacies for the future.
Because true education is not just teaching knowledge. True education is nurturing people. It is building character. It is being hope. It is building civilization.
The 2035 vision of the Türkiye Maarif Foundation should be built upon this understanding. Such a vision will not only strengthen Turkey's educational diplomacy but also lay the foundation for a human-oriented and lasting partnership that contributes to the development of friendly and brotherly countries.