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May 21, 2026 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations — GTU Rector participated as an invited speaker at the “Workshop on Best Practices in AI-Themed Education” hosted by ETU. — The transformation brought by artificial intelligence in higher education, its historical development, integration into academic processes, and the GTU model were discussed in detail. — The future vision of next-generation graduate programs and the new mentorship roles to be undertaken by academics were shared.
GTU Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar participated in the Workshop on Best Practices in AI-Themed Education hosted by Erzurum Technical University (ETU).
Organized through the collaboration of the Technical Universities Union (TU12) and, the “Workshop on Best Practices in AI-Themed Education” was held on May 18, 2026. During the workshop, where technical universities across Türkiye shared their experiences in the field of artificial intelligence, GTU Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar delivered a presentation as an invited speaker.
Artificial Intelligence and Transformation in Higher Education In his presentation, Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar offered a broad perspective ranging from the historical development of artificial intelligence to its strategic importance today. Emphasizing the critical role of interdisciplinary approaches in the dissemination of AI technologies, Mantar underlined the importance of higher education institutions adapting to this transformation.
The main topics highlighted during the presentation included the following: In his presentation, Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar focused on the historical development of artificial intelligence and its meaning today, stating that the vision of an interdisciplinary approach and the dissemination of artificial intelligence plays a critical role in expanding the use of these technologies. Pointing out the need to overcome technological prejudices and cultural resistance within the sector, Mantar emphasized the importance of generating economic added value through software and artificial intelligence. Addressing the dimensions of transformation in higher education and integration into education, he presented a concrete roadmap under the title “The New Role of Academics and the Mentorship Process Along with the Intersection of Different Disciplines: In-Depth Research Examples.” Concluding his speech, Mantar shared strategic approaches regarding next-generation artificial intelligence graduate programs and the future vision that will shape the academic structure of tomorrow.
Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar shared the following details regarding the topics addressed in his presentation:
Three Fundamental Theses Transforming Paradigms in Higher Education At a time when artificial intelligence tools are rapidly increasing their influence on student learning and research processes, GTU is not passively observing this technological transformation; instead, it is adopting an institutional stance that actively shapes the process. Our university’s approach in this field has been built upon three main strategic pillars: • A Transformative Rather Than Prohibitive Approach (Equipping Students): Attempting to block access to artificial intelligence tools is impractical and ethically ineffective. The inaccurate results produced by current AI detection software harm the academic processes of honest students. As GTU, we are completely abandoning the question, “How can we prevent the use of artificial intelligence?” Instead, we embrace the approach of “How can we make the use of artificial intelligence essential while personally verifying that our students truly understand the subject matter?” AI literacy is being transformed into a fundamental competency standard for all our graduates. • Empowering Academics: The success of AI-based transformation depends on the capacity of our academic staff to effectively use these tools. Academics should not become the weak link in the process. Through faculty-oriented infrastructure and educational investments, GTU is transforming its instructors from “content producers” into leaders who “exercise academic judgment and evaluation.” • An Interdisciplinary Common Language (The Binding Role): Artificial intelligence is not limited to computer engineering; it is a powerful binding force connecting all disciplines, from medicine to sociology and from architecture to the basic sciences. By encouraging intersections between different fields and artificial intelligence, GTU aims to close Türkiye’s gap in multidisciplinary collaboration.
From Theory to Practice: Success in Pilot Applications This vision document has been validated not merely as a declaration of intent on paper, but through direct implementation in practice. In the pilot application conducted within the scope of the CSE 341 course: • Within the process carried out with 170 students, exam questions and course content were generated directly by artificial intelligence rather than by faculty members. • Students’ methods of using artificial intelligence (prompt processes) were documented step by step, followed by one-on-one oral verifications conducted in controlled environments. • At the end of the process, zero complaints regarding AI misuse were received, and a record satisfaction rate of 93% (3.72/4.0) was achieved among students.
A Concrete Example of the Multidisciplinary Approach One of the most concrete steps reflecting the declaration’s interdisciplinary vision was taken within the scope of the Council of Higher Education Additional Article 34. The appointment of Instructor Güzin, who has a background in health sciences (physiotherapy), as a postdoctoral researcher within GTU’s Department of Computer Engineering clearly demonstrates the university’s determination to integrate diverse areas of expertise through artificial intelligence.
Risk Management and the Institutionalization Roadmap Aware of the risks brought by artificial intelligence, including “hallucination” (false information generation), “data privacy,” and “ethics,” GTU manages these processes through a strategic risk management approach. According to the university administration, the greatest risk is being unprepared for this wave of technological opportunity.
In light of the institutional experience gained from pilot projects, the institutionalization process will continue uninterrupted through faculty-wide guidelines and shared infrastructure policies.
We are building the university ecosystem in Türkiye that uses artificial intelligence most effectively in education and research.
The workshop concluded following sessions in which best practice examples were presented and future projections were discussed. After the workshop, the Technical Universities Union meeting was also held. |
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