Theme: Being Human

Focusing on 21st-century competencies, it encompasses the individual and societal dimensions of being human in our rapidly changing and digitalizing world, as well as the roles of cultural, social, and technological changes in human life and success.

Turgut Özal kültür merkezi
Sultançiftliği mahallesi ,Turgut Özal caddesi No:94 Çekmeköy/İstanbul
İstanbul, İstanbul, 34788
Turkey

Murat Yalnızoğlu

Scholar

He started his career as an entrepreneur in information systems and software development and later learned management consulting at international firms. He led consulting projects in strategy and organizational development for major companies in Turkey. As a senior consultant, he focused on creating effective corporate structures in large, multi-branch companies and enhancing board effectiveness through proper restructuring. Additionally, he has served on the boards of various companies and shares his management expertise through seminars, conferences, and social media with civil society, professional organizations, and universities, promoting the benefits of good management practices.

Serhat Koloğlugil

Professor, dean

Serhat Koloğlugil completed his undergraduate degree in Economics at Boğaziçi University in 2003 and earned his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of California, Riverside, in 2005 and 2008, respectively. He has published articles in international journals like *Journal of Economic Issues* and *European Journal of the History of Economic Thought*. He led a TÜBİTAK 1001 project on digital resources and open-source software and was a visiting researcher at Bonn University. His current research focuses on the impact of technological advancements on education and institutional structures, as well as digital economy and 21st-century competencies. He has previously served as the Head of the Economics Department and Director of the Social Sciences Institute at Işık University, where he now holds the position of Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Administrative, and Social Sciences. He is also a board member of the Istanbul Erkek Liseliler Education Foundation.

Sertaç Yerlikaya

Technology strategist, digital transformation expert

Sertaç Yerlikaya is a strategy consultant at TÜBİTAK, focusing on the "National Technology Initiative" and its roadmaps. He has led key projects like the 2023 Industry and Technology Strategy and the National AI Strategy. Yerlikaya is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Turkey 4th Industrial Revolution Center Steering Committee and an advisor to the Minister of Industry and Technology. He is also Vice President of Boğaziçi University’s Industry 4.0 Platform, Board Member of the Data Analytics Center, and an Advisory Board Member at Cappadocia University. He managed the “Turkey Open Source Platform” and won the "Leader Making a Difference with New Technologies" award. As an AI Fellow at The Atlantic Council, he advocates for responsible AI in developing countries.