Primary School Teaching

a) Introduction to the Department of Primary Education

The Primary School Teaching undergraduate program of Hasan Kalyoncu University was officially launched in the 2015-2016 academic year, with the first academic board meeting held on September 29, 2015. As of the 2025-2026 academic year, the academic staff of the Department of Primary Education includes 1 professor, 1 associate professor, 5 assistant professors and 2 research assistants. With its academics who are experts in their fields and its academic and social activities, the department has shown development and change since its foundation. Our Primary School Teaching undergraduate program has been accredited by the Association for the Evaluation and Accreditation of Education Programs of Faculties of Education (EPDAD), effective as of 15.05.2020, and with the accreditation updated in 2025, it is accredited until 2028. In the HKÜ Primary School Teaching program, which is active and rich in terms of academic work, TÜBİTAK 2209 projects have recently been carried out. Apart from these, student activities, symposiums, conferences, panels and debates also continue to be organized. In addition, the program has continuously renewed itself and sustained its development through practices such as the opening of graduate programs, the expansion of international exchange programs such as Erasmus+, community contribution projects, feedback and advising systems created in a manner responsive to student needs, career center support and graduate tracking studies. The Primary School Teaching undergraduate program is a 4-year program consisting of a total of 8 semesters based on the semester system. It consists of subject-matter knowledge, professional knowledge and general culture courses. The language of instruction of the program is Turkish. The program is full-time. There is no preparatory class in the program. The program includes compulsory, subject-matter knowledge, teaching profession knowledge, general culture and practicum courses. The courses in the program are designed not only to provide students with basic theoretical knowledge but also to provide the necessary practical knowledge. The program also aims to enhance the personal development of the individual who will become a primary school teacher. Courses are conducted both theoretically and practically. Graduates who successfully complete the program by fulfilling all of its requirements receive a “Bachelor's Degree in the Field of Primary Education”.

The vision of the Department is to train qualified teachers who possess national and global ethical values, are research-oriented and proactive, and carry social sensitivity and responsibility.

The mission of the Department is to train teachers who are committed to Atatürk's Principles and Reforms and uphold them, possess 21st-century skills, are sensitive to society, research and question, will contribute to science, and will closely follow the digital age.

b) Post-Graduation Employment Opportunities

Within the scope of Ministry of National Education (MEB) appointments; teachers who graduate from the primary school teaching program are assigned to primary schools within the Ministry of National Education. Primary school teaching is one of the branches with the highest number of recruitments in terms of quotas in KPSS teacher appointments.

Within the scope of private sector opportunities; graduates have the opportunity to teach in the primary schools of private schools, to work in private institutions by obtaining a creative drama leadership certificate, to work as content writers or editors at publishing houses that prepare children's books, course materials and test content, to work as instructors in out-of-school learning environments (museums, science centers, nature schools, etc.), and to teach at institutions that adopt alternative educational approaches such as Montessori, Reggio Emilia and Waldorf by completing the relevant training.

Within the scope of academic career opportunities; they have the opportunity to work as research assistants, lecturers or faculty members at universities by pursuing master's and doctoral studies, and to contribute to the field through scientific research and publications.

Within the scope of other fields; they can take an active role in projects carried out by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for primary school-age children, disadvantaged student groups and family support programs; they can work as instructors or teachers in institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Family and Social Services, such as children's homes, social service centers and child support centers; they can work as specialists or trainers in institutions carrying out projects aimed at the primary school level, in areas such as developing educational materials, conducting social awareness activities and project writing; they can provide supportive services for primary school students at private organizations offering educational coaching and learning consultancy services; and they can work as content developers or consultants at publishing companies producing children's books, educational materials, test books and digital learning content.

ç) Academic Staff of the Department

The academic staff of the Department of Primary Education consists of 2 associate professors, 5 assistant professors and 2 research assistants. Together with our academics, who are experts in their fields, our department is growing ever stronger and is run in a qualified manner. In this context;

● Prof. Dr. Gülfem Muşlu Kaygısız

Areas of expertise: Science teaching, Environmental education, Out-of-school learning environments

● Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nuri Can Aksoy

Areas of expertise: Mathematics Teaching in Primary School, Game-based mathematics teaching

● Asst. Prof. Dr. Sakine Hakkoymaz

Areas of expertise: Early literacy teaching, Turkish Language Teaching, Children's Literature

● Asst. Prof. Dr. Zehra Yaşar Sağlık

Areas of expertise: Early literacy teaching, Turkish Language Teaching

● Asst. Prof. Dr. Murat Erkoç

Areas of expertise: Islamic History and Civilization, Medieval Asian History, History of Turkish-Islamic States

● Asst. Prof. Dr. Nurgül Erbağcı

Areas of expertise: Life Studies Teaching, Social Studies Teaching, Art Education

● Asst. Prof. Dr. Fatma Melike Uçar

Areas of expertise: Science teaching, STEM

● Res. Asst. Hilal Nazife Aktaş

● Res. Asst. Fatih Akçay

d) Student Activities and Societies, Projects

Within the scope of academic, social, cultural and volunteer-based activities; there are numerous student societies operating within our university. These societies allow students to come together in line with their interests and contribute to both their academic and social development. Students of the Primary School Teaching program also take on active roles in these societies, carrying out various activities particularly within the Eğitimin Sesi (Voice of Education) Society, the Literature Society and the Strategic Thinking and Debate Society. Through these societies, students carry out scientific, cultural and social work under the guidance of faculty members, and find the opportunity to develop their professional skills, gain social sensitivity and reinforce competencies such as teamwork. The academic advising of the Eğitimin Sesi society is undertaken by Res. Asst. Hilal Nazife Aktaş, the advising of the Literature Society and the Strategic Thinking and Debate Society by Asst. Prof. Dr. Sakine Hakkoymaz, and the advising of the History Society by Asst. Prof. Dr. Murat Erkoç.

Some of the events organized within the last year:

● “From Ezogelin to Today: A Cultural Journey” ÜNİDES Project (February 17-18, 2026)

The project “From Ezogelin to Today: A Cultural Journey”, prepared by the HKÜ Literature Society and submitted on October 15, 2025, was accepted within the scope of the ÜNİDES program of the Ministry of Youth and Sports; on February 17-18, 2026, the Ezogelin Barak Culture Center was visited, and an Ezogelin film screening and a workshop event were held. Thanks to this event, prospective teachers had the opportunity to experience the importance of local cultural heritage in educational processes, to increase their cultural awareness, and to develop their professional competencies in transmitting cultural values to future generations.

● Teaching Experiences from the Heart of the Profession (March 13, 2026)

A talk event was organized by the Eğitimin Sesi (Voice of Education) Society in order to bring prospective teachers together with a young teacher actively practicing the profession. Within the scope of the event, the teacher shared their experiences and observations regarding professional life with the prospective teachers and conveyed important information about the practical dimension of the profession. The event concluded after the questions posed by the prospective teachers were answered and a mutual exchange of ideas took place. Thanks to this event, prospective teachers had the opportunity to benefit from real experiences related to the profession; by increasing their awareness of the teaching profession, they developed a more conscious perspective on their career planning and professional competencies.

● March 18 Çanakkale Victory Commemoration Event (March 18, 2026)

On the occasion of the anniversary of the March 18 Çanakkale Victory, a meaningful commemoration event carrying the traces of the past to the present day was organized by the History Society and the Literature Society. Within the scope of the event, a historian who is an expert in the field was invited, and a talk was held on the historical, social and cultural dimensions of the Battle of Çanakkale. In this way, participants had the opportunity to get to know the spirit of Çanakkale more closely, and our heroes who sacrificed themselves for the homeland and our beloved martyrs were commemorated with respect and gratitude.

● Step into Nature Event (May 10, 2026)

A nature-based learning event was carried out by the Eğitimin Sesi (Voice of Education) Society within the scope of walking pedagogy. During the event, students participated in a Socratic walk practice aimed at developing thinking and questioning skills, and had the opportunity to discuss and reflect on various topics during the walk. The breakfast program organized afterwards contributed to the students strengthening their social interactions, sharing their experiences and reinforcing their sense of community. In this respect, the event offered a holistic learning experience supporting both cognitive and social development.

e) Collaborations with Application and Research Centers

Practice schools, protocols, project and internship opportunities

The Primary School Teaching program of Hasan Kalyoncu University prioritizes practice-based teaching in order to support students' professional development. In this regard, Hasan Kalyoncu University cooperates with many public primary schools affiliated with the Gaziantep Provincial Directorates of National Education. Within the scope of the teaching practicum course, 4th-year students carry out active internships in practice primary schools throughout the first and second semesters.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Fatma Melike Uçar from our department serves as center director at the Gifted and Talented Application and Research Center, which was established to improve the quality of education provided to gifted individuals and to disseminate this education system throughout the country.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Murat Erkoç from our department serves as center director at the Islamic Civilization Application and Research Center, which was established to encourage interdisciplinary scientific research on Islamic civilization, to support and carry out this research in cooperation, and to disseminate the resulting knowledge, products and works by sharing them with society.

Gaziantep, as one of Turkey's largest cities, has a rich practice and project infrastructure in the field of primary school teaching. Primary schools in the city center and districts affiliated with the Provincial Directorate of National Education make it possible for prospective teachers to gain multidimensional field experience through education projects supported by municipalities, STEM classrooms, life skills workshops, and digital projects such as eTwinning. In this process, prospective teachers do not merely observe; they also design in-class teaching activities, apply student-centered methods, and take an active part in various stages of the teaching process.

The strong collaborations established between our university and the schools in the field provide students not only with practical experience but also with access to professional development opportunities such as taking part in social responsibility projects, conducting mini-research on local educational needs, and organizing various workshops/events.