The Door of Universities that is Open for all Ages: Continuing Education Centres

Abstract

Continuing education centres that function as a bridge in order to develop the relationship more effectively between universities and cities where they exist appeal to all of Turkey's population. Educations supplied in the centres aiming at such a wide community are multifarious. When we look at the working areas of continuing education centres, the following ones can be counted; giving project services and consultancy to public and private sectors, international institutions and individuals in areas which they need, arranging educational programs, courses, seminars and conferences in the national and international standards, giving psychological counselling and guidance services and coordinating these activities, introducing every kind of legal publication regarding the conduct of services and opportunities of university in these areas. The most important requirement for Continuing Education Centres that overtake important missions for educating society to carry out this duty is to have educational halls and administrative buildings belonging to themselves, sufficient administrative staff. The notable problems that still exist for many Continuing Education Centres are inadequacy of buildings, lack of educational halls and buildings and limited number of administrative staff. In addition, Continuing Education Centres have a lot of problems as they are not regarded as academic units. Some of the problems encountered with can be counted such as the standardization and accreditation of education, cooperation with shareholders (such as MEB, business world), international relations and not being able to make use of the project opportunities of The European Union sufficiently, effectiveness in the national and international webs.