Jean Monnet Summer Seminars II

Date:June 23, June 30, and July 7, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Location: ZOOM

Event Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevLVvH78Y1G_vnf31LFLnWLkRwA2XrtDuQEIVQJtTBOvQczg/viewform

Summary:

Today, the importance of social policies is steadily increasing. The fair distribution of social welfare necessitates innovative work in the field of social policy. On the other hand, in order to develop realistic and sustainable policies, cooperation between the public and private sectors, as well as civil society and academic institutions, is required in both Türkiye and the European Union.

The Jean Monnet (JM) Summer Seminars will provide representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), policymakers, local administrators, and researchers with the opportunity to present and discuss their views on the subject, exchange ideas, and establish new networks in a constructive environment.

This year's program will address key topics such as the development of social policies and the welfare state, youth, migration, democracy, disasters, work-life balance, and life satisfaction.

In addition, under the theme of Social Policies in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, the effects of digitalization on social policy will be discussed in a special concluding session of the seminar.

Objectives

• To develop a holistic and innovative perspective on social policies through the participation of policymakers, academics, researchers, NGO representatives, and students

• To raise awareness of the European Union’s and Türkiye’s contribution as global actors in the formulation of social policies

• To create appropriate environments for participants from diverse backgrounds to explore new approaches to social policies

• To initiate constructive discussions by sharing new ideas and practices on contemporary challenges faced by welfare states

Outcomes

The summer seminars will serve as a model by bringing together policymakers, academics, experts, and students to foster constructive discussions on social policies in Europe.

The seminar, which will offer a broad framework in the field of population and social policies, will contribute to the understanding of relations between Türkiye and the EU and facilitate the EU’s influence in the development of social policies in Türkiye.

Since the seminars provide opportunities for the participation of different actors on various themes, they will offer individuals and institutions new perspectives and pave the way for new partnerships and future collaborations.

Participation Requirements

The summer seminars are open to anyone interested in the field of social policies, including policymakers, local administrators, NGO representatives, academics, researchers, and students. The event is free of charge, but participants must fill out the registration form via the link below. The number of participants is limited, and the online event link will be shared with those who complete the registration form. A certificate of participation will be awarded to those who attend the entire event, which spans three weeks.

Event Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevLVvH78Y1G_vnf31LFLnWLkRwA2XrtDuQEIVQJtTBOvQczg/viewform

Registration Deadline: June 20, 2025 

Speakers

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Fatih Aysan
Professor of Sociology and Director of the Population and Social Policies Research Center at Marmara University.  He received his PhD in Sociology from the University of Western Ontario in 2011, following which he lectured at the same institution from 2010 to 2012. His research broadly engages with demography, family, economic sociology, and social policy, with particular emphasis on the labor market, demographic transitions, and the societal implications of welfare policy.

Prof. Dr. Nuri Tınaz
Prof. Tınaz is Chair and Professor in the Department of Sociology at Marmara University. He earned his PhD from the University of Warwick, UK. From 2001 to 2005, he conducted lectures and seminars at the University of Cambridge, and in 2008, he was affiliated with Utah State University as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar. His scholarly interests center on the sociology of religion, Middle Eastern studies, new religious movements, and the dynamics of ethnic, racial, and migrant communities.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Tahir Kılavuz
Dr. Kılavuz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Marmara University, where he also serves as Deputy Director of the Population and Social Policies Application and Research Center. He obtained his PhD in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame and completed postdoctoral research at Harvard Kennedy School’s Middle East Initiative. His academic work focuses on authoritarianism, regime transitions, religion and politics, military coups, and comparative survey research, particularly with a focus on the Middle East.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ümmügülsüm Aysan
Dr. Aysan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of Health Sciences. She holds a BA in Business Administration from Boğaziçi University and an MA from Brock University, Canada. She earned her PhD in Labour Economics and Industrial Relations from Istanbul University. Her primary research areas include aging and eldercare, social welfare policy, life satisfaction, work-life balance, and sustainability.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aslıhan Nişancı
Dr. Nişancı is a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Marmara University. She completed her BA and MA at Boğaziçi University and obtained her PhD in Social Work from the Jane Addams College of Social Work. Her professional background includes practical training at various social service organizations in the United States. Her research and practice interests include mental health, parenting, child well-being, and migration. She is a registered social worker in the United Kingdom and a member of the British Association of Social Workers.

Dr. Ayşe Yetiş-Bayraktar
Dr. Yetiş-Bayraktar is a faculty member in the Department of Sociology at Marmara University and a board member of the Population and Social Policies Research Center. She earned her PhD in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2013. She was a postdoctoral researcher at Boğaziçi University (2013–2015), served as a faculty member at Altınbaş University (2016–2020), and held the position of Vice Dean at the same institution’s Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences (2019–2020). Her research areas include social stratification, the sociology of work, and the sociology of time.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zübeyir Nişancı
Dr. Nişancı is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Marmara University and Deputy Director of the Population and Social Policies Application and Research Center. He received his PhD in Sociology from Loyola University Chicago. Between 2009 and 2014, he lectured at Loyola University and served as a Statistical Consultant from 2011 to 2013. His research encompasses quantitative methodology, youth studies, sociology of religion, civic and social engagement, social inequality, migration, and globalization.