The conference titled “Conflict Management, Peacebuilding and Reconstruction: Opportunities and Challenges for Cooperation between Türkiye, Germany and the EU” commenced with the participation of our Rector

The conference entitled “Conflict Management, Peacebuilding and Reconstruction: Opportunities and Challenges for Cooperation between Turkey, Germany and the EU,” organized in collaboration between our university and the University of Cologne, was held on May 7, 2026, in the Conference Hall of our University's School of Foreign Languages.

Our Rector Prof. Dr. Cemal Yıldız, our General Coordinator Prof. Dr. Ferit Küçükay, our Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hamide Özden Özkaya-Ferendeci, our Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Prof. Dr. Elif Nuroğlu, as well as our university's academics and researchers and experts from Turkey and abroad, participated in the conference.

Delivering the opening speech of the conference, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Cemal Yıldız, expressed his belief that the conference, which brings together experts and researchers from different countries and disciplines, will create a high-quality environment for knowledge sharing that will contribute to a vision of lasting peace. Our Rector also extended his thanks to those who contributed to the organization of the event and to all the speakers who contributed to the conference.

Our General Coordinator, Prof. Dr. Ferit Küçükay, in his speech, drew attention to the importance of the academic cooperation between the Turkish-German University and the University of Cologne. Prof. Dr. Küçükay stated that this year's joint conference, the 10th of its kind, demonstrates the continuity of scientific dialogue between the two institutions, and emphasized the importance of addressing current issues such as conflict management, peacebuilding, and reconstruction on international academic platforms.

Following the presentation by Dr. Katja Yang, Head of the Department of International Relations at the University of Cologne, the conference continued with an online presentation by Abdullah Eren, President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), moderated by our Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, Prof. Dr. Enes Bayraklı.

During the sessions held within the scope of the conference, conflict management, reconstruction, and peacebuilding issues were evaluated from a multifaceted perspective by expert academics.