Dear Students, Esteemed Academics, and Distinguished Stakeholders,
We are living in an era where the boundaries of time and space in education have been transcended, and technology has evolved from being a mere tool into the very essence of education itself. As the Sivas University of Science and Technology Distance Education Application and Research Center (SBTU UZEM), we stand at the heart of this great transformation, continuing our work guided by the light of science and technology.
Established in 2022, our center has quickly completed its institutional identity as a reflection of our university’s young and dynamic structure. However, although SBTU UZEM bears the phrase "Distance Education" on its sign, in terms of its mission and the processes it manages, it is structured as a “Center for Teaching Technologies and Design,” as seen in modern university architectures. Our activities go far beyond providing technical infrastructure support for distance education processes. Our fundamental goal is to enhance the educational quality of our university by blending educational technologies with pedagogical principles, enriching instructional designs, and ensuring high-quality academic production in this field. We continue to develop this structure, which we have grounded in academic research since our establishment, through evidence-based practices.
At this point, we are making a difference with the robust digital education ecosystem we have created. In addition to our actively used SBTU LMS and UBYS infrastructures, we have successfully integrated the innovative AYDEP (Ahi Competency-Based Education Portal) Learning Management System into our processes. Acting with a global rather than just a local vision, we offer our high-quality course content to all of humanity through the SBTU Open Course System, opening the doors of our university to the world and serving the principle of the "universality of knowledge."
We are aware that no matter how strong the technological infrastructure is, the element that makes it meaningful is "human competence." In this regard, our center provides techno-pedagogical guidance services for our academic staff. In addition to the comprehensive in-service trainings we organize at the beginning of each academic semester, we strengthen the techno-pedagogical competencies of our faculty through dynamic workshops and seminars shaped by their specific demands and needs. Thus, we transform the understanding of sustainable quality in education into an institutional standard.
As SBTU UZEM, we have set our course for 2026 and beyond—not only toward today’s needs but toward the competencies of the future. Moving beyond classical educational support, we aim to develop training modules in Digital Literacy, considered the literacy of the digital age, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy, the most strategic competency of our time. Our top priority is to prepare our students and staff for this new ecosystem as individuals who do not just consume technology but manage and produce it within educational and professional processes.
Our center, which removes barriers to accessing information, supports lifelong learning, and places technology at the service of education, will continue to grow with the contributions of all our stakeholders. I want you to know that we are by your side with all the possibilities of technology throughout your educational journey. I wish you continued success.
Asst. Prof. Ayfer EKER KARAKAYA
Director of SBTU UZEM
