Tuesday, June 23, 2026
An international seminar titled “Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Opportunities, Challenges, and Responsible Use” was held in collaboration between the Faculty of Education at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University and the Faculty of Education at Białystok University.
Held on May 22, 2026, the seminar addressed the impact of artificial intelligence in higher education on learning, teaching, cognitive processes, language learning, AI literacy, and 21st-century skills. Within the program, academics from Poland and Türkiye evaluated the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence in higher education, as well as its potential risks and approaches to its responsible use from different perspectives.
The opening speeches of the seminar, moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burak Ayçiçek, were delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marta Kowalczuk-Walędziak, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Education at Białystok University, and Prof. Dr. Uğur Akın, Dean of the Faculty of Education at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University.
In the first session of the program, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Katarzyna Borawska-Kalbarczyk from Białystok University presented an evaluation of the cognitive risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence, while Dr. Aleksandra Lewandowska delivered a presentation on the functioning of the student brain in AI-supported learning processes.
In the second session, Prof. Dr. Esma Emmioğlu Sarıkaya, a faculty member at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, discussed the changing roles of instructors and students in AI-supported higher education. Dr. Elham Zarfsaz presented an evaluation of human–AI collaboration in language learning, while Dr. İbrahim Enes Öner delivered a presentation on AI literacy and 21st-century skills for university students.
Following the presentations, an evaluation and discussion session was held in which the effects of artificial intelligence on learning processes, the risk of cognitive dependency, ethical use, the responsibilities of instructors and students, and the development of AI literacy were discussed.
The seminar concluded with closing remarks delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marta Kowalczuk-Walędziak from the Faculty of Education at Białystok University and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seda Demir Ayçiçek, a faculty member at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University.
As the Faculty of Education at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, we will continue to support scientific activities that strengthen international academic collaborations, integrate current developments in digital transformation and artificial intelligence into educational processes, and contribute to training pre-service teachers in line with the requirements of the era.