Istanbul, 2016 

February 2016, (ORPHEUS-Koc University Symposium in Istanbul)

ORPHEUS-Koç University Symposium in Istanbul

A one-day symposium entitled “Better Research Through PhD Education in Health Sciences” jointly organized by ORPHEUS and Koç University (An ORPHEUS member institution) was held in Istanbul on 22 February 2016. Forty-nine participants, mainly academics involved in graduate education in health sciences, from Ankara, Istanbul, İzmir, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Manisa, Sakarya, and Zonguldak were gathered at ANAMED (Koç University Research Centre for Anatolian Civilizations) a lavishly renovated building at the heart of the commercial district. Koç University Graduate School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing took charge of the local organization teamed up with Lale Büyükgönenç, Hakan S. Orer, Şeyda Özcan and Begüm Yalçın.

Ihsan Solaroğlu and Lale Büyükgönenç, directors of the Graduate School and the School of Nursing, respectively, were among the participants as well as the President Umran Inan of Koç University and ORPHEUS ambassador for Turkey, Feyza Arıcıoğlu. Gül Güner Akdoğan, Robert Harris, Zdravko Lacković and Michael J. Mulvany from ORPHEUS, Fahrettin Keleştemur from Turkish National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Hakan S. Orer from Koç University were the symposium speakers. This is the first gathering devoted to PhD education where the President of Turkish NIH, a newly founded institution to fund research in allied health sciences in Turkey meets ORPHEUS and Graduate School representatives. An initiative that reflects the determination of the Koç University to build PhD Programs based on sound scientific research.

Participants enjoyed in-depth talks and found ample time to discuss several issues related to PhD education ranging from creation of an institutional research environment to research ethics and implementation of ORPHEUS standards. This was also an opportunity for ORPHEUS to outreach several universities located in Anatolian heartland that have not been a member yet.

Symposium Program (in order of appearance)
PhD Training for the 21st Century
Prof. Dr. Robert Harris, Acting President, ORPHEUS
Karolinska Institute

Using a common understanding of PhD training to Improve Quality
Prof. Dr. Michael J. Mulvany
University of Aarhus

Turkish National Institutes of Health: A New Vision for Promoting Research in Health Sciences
Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Keleştemur, President
Turkish National Institutes of Health

Role of Orpheus in Developing Ethical Standards
Prof. Dr. Zdravko Lacković, President (Ex Officio), ORPHEUS
University of Zagreb

PhD Education in Health Sciences in Turkey
Prof. Dr. Hakan Sedat Orer
Koç University

Obtaining ORPHEUS label: Dokuz Eylul University Experience
Prof. Dr. Gül Güner, Gen. Secretary, ORPHEUS
Dokuz Eylul University