GÜLER VİSİTS RECTOR ERDAL TO DİSCUSS FACE-TO-FACE EDUCATİON

Eskişehir Ticaret Odası (ETO) President Metin Güler visited Anadolu University Rector Prof. Dr. Fuat Erdal to discuss the planning for the new academic term and expressed satisfaction with the university's decision to implement a hybrid education model, which will bring students back to the city.

During the visit on August 19, Güler emphasized the significance of the education decision for the local economy, stating, "As everyone in our city knows, the service sector, which is the backbone of Eskişehir's economy, has faced tough times due to the pandemic. The shift to remote education by our universities disrupted many businesses in the service sector. We experienced a period where nearly 50% of the city’s economy was affected, with thousands of businesses closing down and many others operating under restrictions. Some of our businesses are still closed. We wanted to communicate our members' requests and our chamber's views to our universities to prevent similar issues from arising again and to keep the service sector, the economic heart of the city, from coming to a standstill."

Planning Based on Member Needs

Güler conveyed to Rector Erdal the importance of the service sector in Eskişehir. "In our meeting with the rector, we highlighted the economic potential that our universities bring to the city. Our merchants and shopkeepers faced significant challenges during the last academic term, particularly those providing services to students, such as dormitories, private housing, restaurants, and cafes. They are now planning based on the return to face-to-face education in the new term," he stated.

Establishing a Method for Student Presence in the City

Rector Prof. Dr. Fuat Erdal indicated that the academic year would begin on October 4, 2021, and highlighted their awareness of the value that universities add to the city. Güler noted, "The rector mentioned that Anadolu University plans to conduct education in a hybrid model, combining face-to-face and online classes during the fall semester. Academic units will plan their education processes in a blended manner according to the characteristics of the courses. Additionally, Rector Erdal emphasized their desire for students to attend classes on campus as much as possible in the new academic year. This planning will greatly please our members in the service sector. I also hope that other universities will make similar decisions and establish a method that will bring students to our campuses and, consequently, to Eskişehir."