Message from the Department Head

Dear students,

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s words, "Children are the guarantee of our future and the joy of life. It is our duty to raise today’s child as tomorrow’s adult," are among the best examples that highlight how children are the cornerstone of our future. It is the collective responsibility of our society to protect and nurture these special beings, preparing them for the future as healthy, happy, and successful individuals. Fulfilling this duty in the best possible way, while benefiting society and children, and pursuing this as a profession, will perhaps be the most beautiful aspect of our work.

We all hope that our children will be healthy, joyful, knowledgeable, and at peace with themselves and the world. However, we can see in children who are not supported developmentally that, contrary to our wishes, they face social maladjustment and various personal problems.

The profession of Child Development, which focuses on children, is a health-related field with many opportunities.

The Department of Child Development is an undergraduate program that aims to train Child Development Specialists who can evaluate and support the intellectual, linguistic, motor, social, emotional development, and self-care skills of children aged 0-18, whether they are developing typically or have special needs, are in need of protection, or are at risk. The program serves children, families, educators, and society in the area of supporting all developmental and skill domains.

The healthy development and happiness of a child require the responsibility not only of the family in which they are born and raised but also of society. Based on this, the field of Child Development is now considered a valuable and up-to-date scientific discipline, especially with the increasing importance given to family dynamics and child development.

Our goal is to train Child Development specialists who are modern, research-oriented, inquisitive, empathetic, knowledgeable in all areas of child development, capable of generating new ideas, sensitive to all living beings, prioritizing human love, and focusing on quality.

In this context, our university ranked 24th among the world’s top universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking 2021, which evaluates universities’ contributions to society through their educational activities and innovative projects, aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals defined by the United Nations (UN). In this ranking, our university was 4th in the category of “Health and Well-being,” 2nd in “Affordable and Clean Energy,” 3rd in “Partnerships for the Goals,” 10th in “Decent Work and Economic Growth,” and ranked 95th globally in the “Clean Energy” category. The overall global ranking placed our university between 201-300, and it ranked 3rd in Turkey.

The Child Development Department, which requires dedication, creativity, and attention, will reach better positions with your contributions. Through the developmental support and suggestions you provide, children and families will see you as a light in their lives.

As the Department of Child Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul Gelişim University, we aim to equip you with scientific, quality, and up-to-date knowledge, making you individuals capable of interdisciplinary and team-oriented work so that you can perform this profession in the best possible way.