July 19-29/Application deadline May 15
Limited spaces available/Rolling acceptance
**********
In an effort to further our commitment to promoting engagement and understanding, Mideastwire.com and the International Strategic Research Organization (USAK) are pleased to announce the July 2010 Istanbul-Anakra Exchange. The ten-day program July 19-29 will engage students and professionals from around the world in a multifaceted discussion of some of the key issues facing Turkey and the surrounding region.
**********
The Istanbul-Ankara Exchange rests on two tracks:
Academic - Participants will attend a series of seminars led by leading Turkish academics, journalists, businesspeople and public intellectuals. Topics will include: The future of Turkey-EU and Turkey-US relations; Turkey's neighbors and adjacent regions: A new vision for partnership?; Turkey's strategic vision for 2023; Turkey's role in the Middle East Peace process; Economic reform challenges now and on the horizon; Pipeline politics and Turkey's emerging energy role; The AKP party in domestic and regional relations; The Kurdish question; Terrorism and the PKK; Turkey's constitution and justice system; Women in Turkey; Hydro-politics and Turkish foreign policy.
Dialogue with Leaders - Participants will have the opportunity to meet and engage social, political and economic leaders from across the spectrum in Turkey.
**********
Seminar Leaders:*
Dr. Arzu Celalifer Ekinci, USAK
Prof. Dr. Atilla Eralp, METU
Assoc. Prof. Aysegül Kibaroglu, Middle East Technical University
Journalist Bejan Matur, Zaman Newspaper
Assoc.Prof. Bestami Bilgic, Turkish History Association
David Judson, Editor Hurriyet Daily News
Assoc.Prof. Ersel Aydinli, Bilkent University
Gülseren Onanç, The Women's Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey
Assoc.Prof. Ibrahim Kaya, USAK
Prof. Dr. Ihsan Bal, USAK
Assoc. Prof.Kamer Kasım, Izzet Baysal University, USAK
Journalist Lale Kemal, Taraf Newspaper
Prof. Dr. Meliha Benli Altunisik, METU
Prof. Dr. Meltem Müftüler Baç, Sabanci University
Onur Oymen, CHP Republican Party MP
Assoc. Prof. Ozlem Tur, METU
Assoc. Prof. Sedat Laciner, USAK
Journalist Semih Idiz, Milliyet Newspaper
Assoc. Prof. Suleyman Ozeren, Police Academy
Prof. Dr. Umit Cizre, Bilkent University
Journalist Yasemin Congar, Taraf Newspaper
Asist. Prof. Zeynep Dagi, AKP MP
*Additional seminar leaders TBA
Program Format:
The first four days of the Exchange July 19-23 will take place at USAK's conference center in downtown Ankara, although there will be several bus trips to meetings arranged outside the conference center periodically. The final six days of the Exchange will take place in Istanbul, with the bulk of the seminars held in the conference room at the Istanbul Madison Hotel.
Costs:
Tuition - $1,200. Full and partial financial aid is available for those students and professionals that can demonstrate need, including being a current recipient of financial aid.
Hotel - $200 for Ankara (shared double room, four nights) @ the Ickale Hotel http://www.hotelickale.com/tr/. $375 for Istanbul (shared double room, six nights) @ the Madison Hotel http://www.madison.com.tr/
Airfare - Air travel rates vary depending on point of origin and the exact flight period. Note that July is the tourist high season in Turkey so participants are advised to book their air travel as early as possible.
Apply before May 15, 2010:
To request a downloadable application and/or financial aid information, please email [email protected].
About the Organizations:
Mideastwire.com is a Beirut-based media monitoring company that translates the Arabic and Persian language media into English. For more information, please visit, www.mideastwire.com as well as www.thebeirutexchange.com.
The International Strategic Research Organization (Uluslararası Stratejik Aratırmalar Kurumu or USAK) was established in 2004 and has gained wide recognition as Turkey's foremost source of independent and balanced information and research on a broad range of issues affecting Turkey and its region. For more information, please visit, http://www.usak.org.tr/EN/
