Open AccessTurkey’s Entrance to International Education: The Case of Turkish Maarif Foundation
Author(s) -
Bіrol Akgün,
Mehmet Özkan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
insight turkey
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.157
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 2564-7717
pISSN - 1302-177X
DOI - 10.25253/99.2020221.05
Subject(s) - turkish , soft power , diplomacy , political science , outreach , foundation (evidence) , state (computer science) , power (physics) , institution , china , law , philosophy , linguistics , algorithm , politics , computer science , physics , quantum mechanics
The Turkish Maarif Foundation (TMF) is the most recent state-led institution to promote Turkey’s cultural diplomacy and soft power. Since 2016, it has contributed to the transformation of international education with a Turkey-centric perspective through its schools, dormitories and universities in more than 40 countries. Through its educational fairs and student guidance from abroad to Turkey, TMF has the potential to play a coordinating role in Ankara’s educational outreach to the world. Similarly, TMF’s activities should be seen to advance the UN Millennium Development Goals in education, especially in LDC countries. This article contextualizes the Turkish Maarif Foundation in Turkish foreign and domestic policy and outlines a vision through evaluating its activities over the past three years.