Youth diplomacy in Turkey, prospects for promoting educational and scientific projects of the Republic of Turkey and the formation of a positive image of the country

Abstract

YOUTH DIPLOMACY IN TURKEY: PROGRAMS, OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES.Efficiency and the quality of programs Turkey provides for foreign nationals both abroad and in the country’s educational institutions is not evaluated properly. However number and varieties of the programs and number of the young people benefited from those programs is incommensurable.More than 150.000 students studied in Turkish Higher Education Institution form more than 100 countries within Türkiye Scholarships program. Besides 5.000 tution-free places for international students,129 Turkish private universities hosting another 5.000 students each year from all over the world. The Maarif network of Turkish primary and secondary level schools are home to 40.000 pupils in more than 40 different countries. Compared to other emerging economies with similar population, Turkey is the fastest grooving public diplomacy investor. It has several educational and scientific programs aiming attracting foreign nationals to study in Turkey or Turkish educational intuitions abroad. Turkey also has a large network of diaspora educational institutions and networks abroad which also partially serve as public diplomacy set-up.In this short presentation I will introduce 4 most important institutions and programs for international youth to study in Turkey and 4 Turkish educational institutions and networks abroad. They are as follows:A1- Turkiye Scholarships ProgramA2- Private Higher Education Institution (HEIs)A3- Turkish Spiritual Foundation (TDV) ScholarshipsA4- Mevlana Academic Exchange Program&B1-Maarif Foundation Turkish Private Schools AbroadB2-Turkish Public Universities and Schools Abroad

B3-Yunus Emre Turkish Culture Centers