A Transformation Journey for Higher Education in the Digital Age

An International Business Management graduate (B.A. in Berlin) with a Master's degree in Global Development (Copenhagen). I have worked, lived and/or studied in Spain, Mexico, Ethiopia, Denmark, and Tanzania.
Digital education enthusiast, joined FIBAA in 2021 to support the digital transformation at Higher Education Institutions. Licensed Online Trainer (2019).

Tarkan Gürbüz is an Assoc. Prof. Dr. at Middle East Technical University (METU), Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology in Ankara, Turkey. He is a member of the coordinating committee of METU-BİLTİR Center Digital Transformation Platform. He is a member of the Science and Advisory Board of AVSA (Ankara Bar Association Attorney and Internship Academy). He is a member of the Global Board of Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) as the Regional Representative of European Central Asia Region. He is a member of the Distance Education Standards Committee of Turkish ICT Foundation. He is also a member of Informatics Association of Turkey. He received his BSc. in Mathematics, PhD and MSc in Computer Education and Instructional Technology from METU. He also received an MBA in International Business from MIB School of Management in Italy. His areas of research interest include distance education, e-learning, human computer interaction, building innovative next generation learning environments, digital transformation, industry 4.0, society 5.0, knowledge management and teacher education.
He would like to expand his research and teaching skills through academical and research collaboration experience with other institutions. He would like to be a member of the global network of academia so that he would be able to be a part of multinational projects and activities.

I am a creative visionary and an enthusiastic strategic planner, who aspires to work in development assignments towards renewing regions, education, learning communities and learning environments. I believe in cooperation, lifelong learning and sustainable development because, after all, only with those we meet with success in the changing world.

My strengths are holistic thinking, regional understanding, organizational skill, and versatile know-how when cooperating with both people and computers. Project work is my middle name, and I have got excellent feedback about my writing and visualizing skills. In addition to entrepreneurial attitude, I am fascinated about futurology and arts as a tool for developing learning environments, welfare, new innovations, and competitiveness in our society.

Channa van der Brug is programme manager international affairs at at Hochschulforum Digitalisierung (https://hochschulforumdigitalisierung.de/en, the German Forum for Higher Education in the Digital Age) for Stifterverband, where she is developing opportunities for international knowledge exchange on good practices for digital teaching and learning. She has more than 20 years’ of experience in the education sector and a passion for the role of technology in shaping the future of education, as well as for developing deeper understanding and connections between diverse people and institutions through engagement and dialogue.