Reflections on my Short-Term Erasmus Research Traineeship at ITU

I recently had the opportunity to participate in a two-week Erasmus Research Traineeship at Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Istanbul Technical University (ITU). This opportunity came at right time for me, being a late stage PhD Candidate at the College of Environment and Design at the University of Georgia (UGA) in United States and actively working on refining my doctoral research. This was my very first time visiting both ITU and Turkey, making the entire experience incredibly memorable.

My immediate interest in the opportunity at Istanbul Technical University arose from very close geographic area to the focus of my doctoral research, and from previously reading the work of ITU researchers. I conducted my doctoral research on the issue of housing affordability and experiences of young adults in Zagreb, Croatia. Zagreb and Istanbul are cities of different size, but both present important hubs for young adults in the Balkans region, and experience housing stress entangled with socioeconomic and political histories that shaped current state of housing.

My initial impressions of the host campus were outstanding - Istanbul Technical University features an ultra-modern environment with immaculate facilities and large green spaces for outdoor studying during these summer months. Beyond the impressive physical infrastructure, I was deeply moved by how welcoming everyone was. Faculty, staff, and students alike extended great warmth, making me feel at home from my very first day.

For an urban planner, Istanbul metropolis was an absolute inspiration. Having previously only observed Istanbul on TV, experiencing its many sides of urban dynamics the vibrant urban dynamics in person was fascinating. With active construction and development projects happening all around, the city functioned as a perfect living lab, especially for housing which is more core research interest. I found myself learning an immense amount simply by being there, walking the streets, and observing how so many aspects of the city come together despite sometimes its differences.

The academic highlights of my stay were the direct engagements with local faculty. I had the privilege of meeting and speaking with the Chair of the Department, Prof. Dr. Şevkiye Şence Türk, as well as with Prof. Dr. Elif Alkay who generously served as my mentor during the visit. These engaging discussions provided me with novel views of housing and planning a as research topic and offered a deeper dive in understanding the why of planning profession based on local context, which in this case was Turkey. We also had active discussions regarding planning system across Turkey, Croatia, and the United States, as well as variability in approach to planning education where we shared our teaching experiences.

This short visit has already laid a strong foundation for the future as we begun looking into potential research collaborations, and I am grateful to have built a wonderful network of connections with local researchers and students. I would highly recommend any student to take the opportunity to experience ITU and country if given the chance as it is an invaluable way to broaden your academic horizons and gain real-world international perspective.

Finally, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the International Exchange Program Office, specially to Nisa Sudiye Bal for her dedication and organization regarding my visit.

Görüşürüz ITU, until some next time!

Žaklina Grgić