“We are one of the leading universities that offer high-quality distance education”

Izmir University of Economics (IUE), which owns Learning Management System, a system supported with the latest technology and being used by a limited number of universities nationwide, provided distance education to its approximately 10 thousand students. Mahmut Özgener, President of IUE Board of Trustees, pointed that they had been making significant investments in technology recently, and said, “We are one of the leading universities that offer high-quality distance education in Turkey with the hi-tech infrastructure and digital facilities the University has.”   

Thanks to the system IUE started via “Smart Campus”, students received online education concurrently without experiencing adjustment problems to the process. The system, which is being used by an average of 11 thousand people, including academics, is accessible from anywhere that has internet connection. As IUE students get an opportunity to listen to the classes again whenever they want, they can easily get in touch with their instructors.

Mahmut Özgener, President of IUE Board of Trustees, reported that they had been making significant investments in technology recently by following the latest developments in digital areas; they enhanced computer servers and rams, and internet infrastructure, they purchased new software, which all paid up in “Distance Education” process.

“INFORMATION IS ACCESSED EASILY AND RAPIDLY”

Reminding that IUE is one of the leading universities that offer high-quality distance education in Turkey, President Özgener said, “The University offers a technology- based educational model under the name of ‘Smart Campus’. University owns a learning management system and lecture capture system owned by a limited number of universities nationwide. Since the University had extensive preparations and experience on online education, we were able to coordinate this process quickly. Our students access information easily and rapidly. We increased our investments in technology recently. We improved our systems. We get rewarded during this period for our efforts and steps we have taken by anticipating the future. We are using a digital technology at our university that is being used by the leading universities in America and Europe. We are one of the leading universities that offer high-quality distance education in Turkey with the hi-tech infrastructure and digital facilities the University has.”

“STUDENTS ARE VERY PLEASED WITH IT”

IUE Rector, Prof. Murat Aşkar stated that the students continued their classes without disruptions, and they were very pleased with the process. Prof. Aşkar said, “Students continue their education with the guidance of their instructors without any disruptions. They have a very interactive and entertaining learning environment. They can ask questions to their instructors. We asked feedbacks from our students since March 23, the first day we started online classes. We made, and will continue to make, necessary adjustments based on their feedbacks. We had positive feedbacks from students. I have no doubt that it will continue like this in the coming days as well.” 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE SYSTEM?

At Izmir University of Economics, faculty members can communicate with their students online with the Blackboard Learning Management System. They can share course materials such as presentations, textbooks with students, and design exams and homework. Blackboard Learning Management System allows students to have access to course materials for the classes they are enrolled in at any time of the day via any medium with an internet connection. They can also communicate with their instructors and classmates in interactive platforms such as forums, and discussion boards. Faculty members also can log in to the system where they want and teach these courses. Additionally, Blackboard Collaborate is available for distance education programs at IUE. Blackboard Collaborate is the virtual classroom (or web conferencing) tool which enables voice, video and text interaction between students and instructors. In the event of a possible internet connection problem during a live class, these classes are being recorded offline, and when there is strong internet connection, they are being uploaded in the system so students can access them.”