Özyeğin University Rector Prof. Dr. Barış Tan Attends Two International Higher Education Summits in the U.S.

Özyeğin University Rector Prof. Dr. Barış Tan attended international gatherings focusing on the future of academia and higher education within the scope of the TASSA 2026 Conference and the Duke University Future Universities Alliance Global Summit, held in the U.S. on October 3-4, 2026.

First, Prof. Dr. Barış Tan attended the TASSA 2026 Conference, organized by the Turkish American Scientists and Scholars Association (TASSA) on October 2-4 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Held under the theme "Bridging Innovation in the Era of AI: Transnational Impact Across the U.S. and Türkiye," the conference brought together scientists, academics, university executives, and researchers from the U.S. and Türkiye.

On October 3, Prof. Dr. Barış Tan participated as a speaker in a panel titled "Reverse Brain Drain, Diaspora Impact, and the Türkiye-U.S. Innovation Bridge" organized within the framework of the conference. The panel addressed how to strengthen two-way mobility of talent, ideas, and investment between Türkiye and the U.S. Discussions centered on transforming individual achievements into lasting institutional collaborations, developing sustainable academic partnerships between the two countries, fostering research and educational cooperation, as well as exploring joint funding and institutional partnership models.

Moderated by Süleyman Gökoğlu, retired senior scientist at NASA Glenn Research Center and Past President of TASSA, the panel featured Prof. Dr. Barış Tan alongside Middle East Technical University Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yozgatlıgil, Istanbul Technical University Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Koç University Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Sitti, and former Kadir Has University Rector Prof. Dr. Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz.

Özyeğin University also participated in the "Talent and Career Hub" networking event held as part of the conference. Bringing together universities, companies, and startups from the U.S. and Türkiye with students and researchers, the event created a platform to share career, internship, and academic collaboration opportunities. On October 4, Prof. Dr. Tan also attended the TASSA Young Scholars Awards and Presentations program, which highlighted the work of emerging researchers.