Childhood is a critically important period during which the foundations of an individual’s lifelong development are established. As the Department of Child Development, our primary aim is to educate professionals who can address children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development from a holistic perspective, possess scientifically grounded knowledge, are sensitive to ethical values, and have a strong sense of social responsibility. Child Development department aims to enable students to integrate theoretical knowledge with practice through a curriculum based on contemporary educational approaches, a highly qualified academic staff, and a practice-oriented course structure. Throughout the educational process, active learning, critical thinking, research-based approaches, and digital pedagogical competencies are emphasized. Students gain a child-, family-, and society-centered perspective across a broad developmental spectrum ranging from infancy to adolescence. The department also adopts the principle of contributing to the advancement of the field through scientific research, community engagement projects, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Academic studies conducted at national and international levels allow our students to follow current scientific developments and strengthen their professional competencies. With the responsibility of educating

qualified professionals who will contribute to children’s healthy development, we continue our work with determination through an innovative, sustainable, and learning-centered educational approach. I wish success to all students who choose our department and become part of this academic journey, and I invite you to get to know the Department of Child Development more closely.

Dr. Tuğba Aktaş Neşe

Head of the Department Department of Child Development