Press Release of International Academic Forum 2020
Remote Access and New Normal from the Perspective of Academic and Business Worlds:
“We must not only adapt ourselves to, but also succeed to manage the change...”
The International Academic Forum 2020 is organized for the sixth time this year with the theme of “Remote Access and New Normal” in the axis of Covid-19 outbreak and is held online on 29 May 2020 with participation of approximately 500 people in collaboration between the Institute of Internal Auditing – Turkey (IIA-TURKEY) and the Turkish Accounting Academicians' Collaboration and Research Foundation (MÖDAV). In the forum organized biennially and bringing together many specialists in the selected theme, the impacts of mandatory distances due to the Corona virus on education and business worlds and the resulting new normal are discussed in details from an academic perspective.
The Academic Forum started with the opening speeches of İbrahim Murat ÇAĞLAR, Chairman of IIA - TURKEY, and Prof. F. N. Can ŞIMGA MUĞAN, Chairman of MÖDAV, Verra MARMALIDOU, IIA Greece Chairperson, and Ali Kamil UZUN, Founder and Honorary Chairman of IIA-TURKEY and Head of Academic Relations Committee. Keynote speech was presented by Prof. Kadircan Keskinbora, Member of Faculty of Medicine in Bahçeşehir University, who emphasized the requirement of getting to the bottom of existing problems and folowing the science as a guide, as one of the lessons derived out of such pandemic outbreaks, with the following words: “Intervention of mankind to the nature directly causes the impairment of natural life, ecologic balance and ecosystems, and further deepens the inequalities, thereby leading to gradually enlarging destructions or outbreaks. We at all times make use of science when we are required to resolve large or small scale events or to find solutions for problems. Science
seeks answers for fears, curiosities and observations relating to the struggle or balance between mankind and the nature, and tries to describe causes thereof by using its own methods. Science also leads the way on such issues as having a more comfortable life and overcoming some natural events or other creatures. If we show respect to the ethics of science, this effort paves the way for balance, but in case of denial of ethics, it turns out into a struggle.”
Keynote speech was followed by Forum I, moderated by Prof. F. N. Can ŞIMGA MUĞAN, Chairman of MÖDAV, while the panellists were; Prof. Melih ERDOĞAN, Faculty Member in Anatolian University, Berna ÖZTINAZ, Chairwoman of PERYÖN (Turkish HR Association), Burcunur KIŞLACIKLI and Mesut KOÇ, university students. The panelists discussed the public area, virtual agora, business life and points of view of the young in the new normal. Forum II was moderated by Hakan GÜLDAĞ, Chief Editor of Dünya Newspaper, with participation of Tansu YEĞEN, Vice Chairperson of UIPATH, Dr. Şebnem ÖZDEMİR, Vice
Chairperson of the Association of Futurists, Prof. Nadir SUĞUR, Member of Faculty of Literature in Anatolian University, and Prof. Ali Ekrem ÖZKUL, Vice Rector of Alanya HEP University. The panellists discussed post-COVID-19 impacts of artificial intelligence and robotic processes, data in new normal, new social normal in the era of risks, and situation of higher education. And in the last session moderated by Prof. Nur İrem NUHOĞLU, Vice Dean of Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences in Boğaziçi University, Prof. John Daly, Faculty Member in Texas University and Jared S. SOILEAU, IIA-Global ARC Chairman, discussed the topic with respect of teamwork, leadership and education in the remote access environment.
The International Academic Forum included other activities. A music concert was performed by Nemeth Quartet, a chamber music quartet, addressing the online audience. 2020 Professional and Academic Respect Prize was awarded to Prof. Mustafa Aysan during an online live ceremony.
In her closing paper, Dr. Sezen Uludağ, Faculty Member in Anatolian University, drew attention to the significance of change management with the following words: “It seems that this era of crisis, even chaos, having material impacts in a great many of fields and in global dimensions, can be manageable first of all by self-transformation of each individual. This pandemic outbreak enabled us to see very clearly to which extent even a single person may be vital for sustainability of the whole world. To put it
differently, this pandemic outbreak made us recognize the significance of each person for the whole world. The existing problems can be resolved by correct use of this awareness, and psychological disturbances, cultural changes, economic crises and difficulties can be overcome only by adaptation to changes.”
The seventh of the International Academic Forum will be organized in 2022 and be hosted by University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki which has previously taken over the flag of International Academic Forum, with the hope of coming together in healthier days when changing conditions will be transformed into new opportunities.
IIA-TURKEY attaches strategic importance and gives priority to development of academic relations with universities with a view to providing contribution and support to academic development of internal audit profession. The Institute has organized “International Academic Forum 2020” together with MÖDAV, in order to further strengthen the professional ties of business world with academic world, and to determine the coverage and direction of mutual cooperation.
For detailed information about IIA-TURKEY, please visit www.tide.org.tr/
For Detailed Information: Ertan Küçükyalçın, IIA-TURKEY CEO, 0 531 285 87 18