Instructor Dr. Leyla Sağlam from the School of Foreign Languages participated in FOCI XXVIII (Forum on Curricular Innovation), held under the theme “Students as Stakeholders in the Curriculum Development Process.”
Hosted by Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University at its Haliç Campus, the event was held over two days on 5–6 December 2025.
The forum addressed the importance of viewing students not as passive recipients of education but as active stakeholders in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of curricula. Discussions focused on practices that go beyond end-of-term feedback and promote students’ meaningful involvement in curriculum development processes. These included engaging students in curriculum review boards, supporting collaborative reflection, and enabling them to propose modifications or supplementary learning activities.
FOCI XXVIII approached curriculum development from a student-centred perspective, highlighting issues that are often overlooked, such as identifying students’ academic, professional, social, and psychological needs; evaluating whether programmes are overly intensive, sufficiently flexible, or uniformly applied; and examining how ongoing student progress is supported through accessible tools, formative assessment practices, and opportunities for self- and peer-reflection.
The forum adopted a hands-on and interactive format rather than a traditional conference structure. Participants shared concrete examples of how different institutions have addressed curriculum-related challenges. In addition to whole-group discussions, smaller focus-group sessions were organised around themes suggested by participants, with outcomes shared across groups.
Participation was limited to one representative per institution, with an emphasis on educators actively involved in curriculum or syllabus development. Conducted in English, the forum brought together participants from a range of universities and geographical contexts, fostering a productive and collegial exchange of perspectives.
