Sources: Clive Fullagar, 785-532-0608, fullagar@k-state.edu;
and R. Michael Philson, 785-532-5990, mphilson@k-state.edu
Photos available. Contact media@k-state.edu or 785-532-2535.
News release prepared by: Rosanna Vail, 785-532-2720, rvail@k-state.edu

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

K-STATE, TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY IN TURKEY TO WORK ON COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS

MANHATTAN -- Faculty from Kansas State University and Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, will soon have opportunities to work collaboratively. K-State President Kirk Schulz has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Turkish technical university that creates opportunities for cross-cultural research between both institutions.

"Middle East Technical University is recognized as one of the leading universities in Turkey," said R. Michael Philson, associate provost for international programs at K-State. "The agreement will help spread awareness of our quality K-State programs overseas, provide opportunities for direct interactions in person and online between faculty and students from both universities and help facilitate an increasingly global perspective."

K-State's affiliation with the technical university developed through the psychology departments at both institutions. Clive Fullagar, professor of psychology at K-State, and professors Nebi Sumer and Canan Sumer of Middle East Technical University initiated a proposal for a dual master's degree in psychology. The Sumers first worked with Fullagar as doctoral students at K-State in the early 1990s.

"We already had good relations with the Middle East Technical University psychology department," Fullagar said. Nebi Sumer and Canan Sumer are presently heads of the psychology department and the industrial/organizational psychology program, respectively.

With K-State's existing Web-based master's degree in industrial/organizational psychology attracting students mainly within the United States since its inception in 2000, K-State faculty sought to expand the program overseas through international collaboration.

"We really wanted to establish a cross-cultural sensitivity in industrial/organizational psychology with a country that had a very different cultural profile from the United States," Fullagar said. "The signing with Middle East Technical University will play a very strong role in developing a broad academic exchange with Turkey. The joint degree will lay down a blueprint for similar arrangements with universities in all parts of the world."

Curriculum development for the dual master's degree, including technological connectivity and support, bridging cultural barriers, meshing educational systems and ensuring security and logistics of course delivery, will continue through the summer. The program includes both on-campus and online delivery methods.

More information about K-State distance education programs is available by contacting the Division of Continuing Education at 1-800-622-2578, informationdce@k-state.edu or http://www.dce.k-state.edu.