Near East University - Open Courses

"Understanding the Global Decline of Democracy" discusses the worldwide erosion of democratic institutions and practices. It addresses factors contributing to this trend, such as increasing authoritarianism, polarization, and state capture. The seminar covers diverse geographic regions and historical contexts, emphasising the need to differentiate the causes and impacts of democratic decline. It also explores the role of external influences and responses to authoritarian threats.

The course "Hybrid Workshop Series on SDGs: Youth Participation" focuses on engaging young people in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), covering topics like environmental, economic, and social sustainability. It highlights youth involvement in achieving specific SDGs, emphasizing practical actions for sustainable development and the roles of education, innovation, and advocacy.

The course discusses the transformative impact of social media on society, emphasising its role in reshaping communication and cultural practices. It delves into how digitalization and new media technologies influence daily life, from altering media consumption patterns to affecting interpersonal relationships. The session explores the ethical responsibilities of social media use, making participants more mindful and responsible about their social media usage. It also addresses the challenges posed by rapid technological adaptation and the balance between traditional communication methods and digital media's growing dominance. The discussion underscores the importance of understanding social media's effects on society and the need for ethical media practices in the digital age.

The course discusses recent Arctic security changes, driven by heightened geopolitical tensions and militarization since 2022. It highlights how climate change is opening up new resource and navigation opportunities while simultaneously posing risks. The session covers the increased military presence of Russia, NATO’s expanded involvement following Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership, and the growing interest of non-Arctic nations like China. The discussion underscores the importance of maintaining international cooperation despite rising tensions, particularly through forums like the Arctic Council, to manage conflicts and address shared environmental challenges in this strategically significant region.

The course examines new trends in documentary cinema, emphasizing the influence of digital technology on the genre. It discusses the evolving definition of a documentary, especially with the rise of social media and user-generated content. The course covers the ethical responsibilities of filmmakers, the importance of maintaining authenticity, and the shift from traditional formats to more flexible and experimental approaches. Experienced filmmakers share insights on balancing artistic expression with ethical considerations. The discussion also touches on how audience preferences have changed, urging documentary creators to adapt while preserving the genre’s core values.

The course introduces participants to the En-ROADS simulation model, a tool for evaluating climate solutions and energy transition strategies. It covers key topics such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electrification, demonstrating how policy measures can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Through practical examples, the course emphasizes the interconnectedness of energy and climate change, showcasing the impact of various interventions on global temperature and environmental sustainability. The session aims to empower participants to use data-driven approaches to address climate challenges, fostering a deeper understanding of sustainable energy practices and their role in mitigating climate change.

The event highlighted the integration of sustainability into university curricula and operations, advocating for courses on renewable energy, water management, sustainable architecture, climate change, and biodiversity. It encouraged hands-on projects like waste management and renewable energy initiatives, along with workshops to raise awareness on various SDGs. The importance of supporting research in green infrastructure, sustainable consumption, and climate adaptation was also emphasized. Overall, the discussion underscored that embedding SDGs into higher education not only advances global sustainability goals but also equips students to become future leaders in sustainability.

The course "Unutulma Hakkı ve Medya" examines the evolution of the right to be forgotten in the digital age, examining its psychological, legal, and ethical dimensions. It discusses the impact of digital technologies on personal data privacy, memory, and media ethics, featuring insights from psychology, law, and journalism experts.

The course provides a comprehensive overview of using the En-ROADS climate simulation model to transition from theoretical understanding to practical climate action. It explains how the model helps visualise the impact of different policies, such as renewable energy adoption, carbon pricing, and emissions reduction. The session covers multi-solving strategies that address climate goals while delivering co-benefits like improved public health and economic resilience. Participants gain hands-on experience with En-ROADS, learning how to simulate and evaluate various climate policies' outcomes. The course encourages data-driven decision-making to support sustainable and equitable climate solutions.

Everyday peace refers to small acts that build connections and communication among members of adversarial communities in deeply divided societies that may suffer from cleavages of different kinds. In Roger Mac Ginty’s words, these “small acts of everyday peace can create space for civility, reciprocity, solidarity, and possibly more expansive concepts such as reconciliation.

The first part of this training series, organised in cooperation with Near East University and related research centres, focuses on the study of images. Dr Fatih Veysel Nurçin, who completed his PhD in Biomedical Engineering and was a visiting student at Harvard University, will give the training.

The speaker states that the current umbilical cord clamps have some practical problems and that they have developed a new design to overcome these problems. The aim of the research is to experimentally prove whether the newly designed clamp is as effective as the existing designs.

The presentation examines how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are transforming the field of dentistry. Dr Ryan Scaffey, a speaker with a deep knowledge of AI, provides attendees with a broad perspective on how this technology is being used in the World of dentistry.

The event will include a seminar discussing the challenges and possibilities of the decade after the Arab Spring.

The event includes a workshop on sustainable development goals and environmental aspects. The presentation starts by defining sustainable development and explaining how this concept was developed in the United Nations platform. It is emphasised that sustainable development is based on the principle of meeting today's needs while not jeopardising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Dimensions of International Peace This conference features two world-renowned scholars from the University of Manchester who will share their extensive knowledge and experience on international relations and peace.

The conference frequently emphasises the concept of "what ifs". Ifs can play an important role in different areas of life and often lead to unexpected results. It is stated that ifs encourage people to make more effort, research and question.

Dr Vietnam Shakib is the keynote speaker at the DENTALKS event. Dr Shakib is a pioneer in the field of implant microsurgery and has developed new microsurgical techniques and instruments in this field. He trained at the University of Berlin, specialising in oral surgery and holding master and specialist degrees in various fields. He also has scientific collaborations with the Universities of Michigan and Helsinki.

The event features a variety of sports and activities that push the limits of human performance. These activities include disciplines such as running, diving, mountain climbing and weight lifting.

The webinar provides detailed information about oral cancers, their diagnosis and treatment. The contributions of various associations and organisations and scientific developments in this field are discussed.