International Research Collaboration in Turkish Higher Education: The Role of Individual, Professional, and Institutional Factors

Year 2022, Volume: 12 Issue: Supplement, 62 - 76, 30.11.2022

Alper Çalıkoğlu Yaşar Kondakçı Fatma Nevra Seggıe

https://doi.org/10.2399/yod.22.202206

Abstract

Globalizing forces in higher education put growing pressure on both institutions and academics worldwide to become engaged in international research collaboration (IRC). Similarly, in Türkiye, the recent governmental and institutional strategies have been ambitiously promoting academics’ endeavors toward IRC. This study examines factors influencing IRC in Turkish higher education based on academics’ attitudes and behaviors. We utilized relevant questions of an international research project and investigated the relationships between IRC and individual, professional, and institutional factors through a survey design. Our findings indicate that despite globalizing trends, a considerable proportion of the participant Turkish academics tend not to establish IRC. We also found that obtaining a doctoral degree abroad, holding higher academic titles, being employed in foundation universities, and orientation towards research that is multidisciplinary or international in scope are influential in establishing IRC. Based on national (i.e., Türkiye) developments and global trends in higher education and the academic profession, we discuss our findings and suggest measures and actions for policymakers and administrators.

Keywords

Academic profession, APIKS, international research collaboration, internationalization, Turkish higher education

Supporting Institution

Technological and Scientific Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Scientific Research Projects Unit

Project Number

TÜBİTAK- Project no: 117K917 and COMU BAP-Project no: SBA-2017-1093

Thanks

APIKS project was supported by the Technological and Scientific Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK- Project no: 117K917) and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Scientific Research Projects Unit (COMU BAP-Project no: SBA-2017-1093) in Türkiye.

Türk Yükseköğretiminde Uluslararası Araştırma İş Birlikleri: Bireysel, Mesleki ve Kurumsal Faktörlerin Rolü

Abstract

Küreselleşmenin yükseköğretimdeki etkisi, hem üniversiteleri hem de akademisyenleri uluslararası araştırma iş birliklerine daha fazla katılmaya zorlamaktadır. Türkiye’de de benzer şekilde, devletin ve üniversitelerin son dönem stratejileri akademisyenlerin uluslararası iş birliği kurma konusundaki çabalarını güçlü şekilde teşvik etmektedir. Bu çalışma, Türk yükseköğretiminde uluslararası araştırma iş birliğini etkileyen faktörleri, akademisyenlerin tutum ve davranışlarına göre incelemektedir. Çalışmada survey deseni çerçevesinde, uluslararası bir araştırma projesinin ilgili sorularına dayalı olarak, uluslararası araştırma iş birliği kurma ile bireysel, mesleki ve kurumsal faktörler arasındaki ilişkiler araştırılmışır. Bulgularımız, küresel trendlere rağmen, araştırmaya katılan akademisyenlerin, dikkate değer bir kısmının uluslararası araştırma iş birliği kurmadığını göstermektedir. Ayrıca, doktora derecesini yurtdışından alma, yüksek akademik unvanlara sahip olma, vakıf üniversitelerinde görev yapıyor olma ve multidisipliner ya da uluslararası odağı olan araştırma yöneliminin uluslararası araştırma iş birliği kurmada etkili olduğu görülmüştür. Çalışmanın sonunda bulgular, yükseköğretimde ulusal gelişmeler ve küresel eğilimler çerçevesinde tartışılarak politika oluşturuculara ve yöneticilere önerilerde bulunmuştur.

Keywords

Akademisyenlik mesleği, APIKS, Türk yükseköğretimi, uluslararası araştırma iş birlikleri, uluslararasılaşma

Project Number

TÜBİTAK- Project no: 117K917 and COMU BAP-Project no: SBA-2017-1093

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