Delivering the opening speech of the report introduction meeting, Vice Rector of our University Prof. Dr. Tanju Erdem underlined that the Integration of Rural and Urban Economies Research Report was written at a time when daily life practices in rural and urban areas are more transient than ever before. Erdem stated that he believes that the research report will contribute to the development literature and policy makers and emphasized that our university will continue to be in the common effort to increase the welfare level of our country with its academic accumulation, experience and networks. The Vice Rector concluded his remarks by stating that the Agriculture, Food and Local Development Research and Application Laboratory (https://labs.ozyegin.edu.tr/loaf/) established this year within our university is a concrete expression of this vision and excitement.
In his opening speech, Barış Yeniçeri, Director General of Development Agencies of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, stated that KIRKEP research report will make an important contribution to the field of rural and local development and expressed his satisfaction with the partnership with Özyeğin University.
Dr. Candan Türkkan and Dr. Ali İlhan, faculty members of our university who prepared the research report, informed the participants about the methodology and content of the research report. Murat Bayramoğlu and Okan Pala from the Sustainability Platform also gave speeches pointing out the meaning and potential of the report and the cooperation with the ministry for Özyeğin University. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Özertan from Boğaziçi University, one of the consultants of the report, made a presentation on the current needs that led to the research report. The launch meeting ended with questions from the participants, which were answered by Dr. Candan Türkkan and Dr. Ali İlhan.
KIRKEP Research Project, to which Dr. Faik Gür, one of the faculty members of our university, contributed as an advisor, will shed light on future academic studies in terms of its district-oriented approach to the development problematic, developing data-based integration definitions and developing propositions on the patterns between integration and development.