The 2nd International Symposium on Turkish Language, Literature and Culture in the Balkans Was Successfully Held

The 2nd International Symposium on Turkish Language, Literature and Culture in the Balkans, organized under the hosting of Çağ University, was held online on 1 June 2026 with the participation of researchers from seven different countries. The symposium, which aimed to address Turkish language, literature, culture, historical memory, and shared cultural heritage in the Balkan geography within a scientific framework, brought together academics, researchers, teachers, and students from different regions. The opening session of the symposium commenced with the speech of the Chair of the Symposium Organizing Committee, Prof. Dr. Sevin Arslan. Subsequently, the Rector of Çağ University, Prof. Dr. Murat Koç, and the President of the Turkish Language Association, Prof. Dr. Osman Mert, delivered their opening remarks. The participation of Prof. Dr. Osman Mert as the honorary speaker added distinct academic value to the program. 65 Researchers from 7 Countries Contributed. This year, a total of 65 researchers from seven different countries—Türkiye, Azerbaijan, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Kyrgyzstan—contributed to the symposium with their papers. While 30 participants were from Türkiye and 35 were from abroad, the event further reinforced its international character through an international participation rate exceeding 50%. Throughout the day, sessions were held simultaneously in four separate online halls. Numerous topics were discussed, including the historical development of Turkish in the Balkans, Balkan Turkish dialects, regional representations of Turkish literature, folk culture, folklore, identity, migration, cultural memory, language teaching, literary interactions, Ottoman heritage, Turkology studies, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and contemporary approaches. The papers presented at the symposium once again demonstrated that studies on Turkish language, literature, and culture are not limited to Türkiye alone, but also have a strong academic presence in the Balkans, the Caucasus, and various regions of the Turkic world. Literature and Digitalization Came Together. Within the scope of the program, noteworthy studies focusing on the integration of literature with digital and creative learning methods were also presented. The paper entitled “In the World of Poets and Writers: A Literary Journey through Lithophane, Hologram and Puzzle,” presented on behalf of Çukurova Science and Art Center by Anzılha Altun, Kerem Tınaztepe, and their colleagues, became one of the prominent contributions of the symposium in terms of young students’ participation in scientific processes and the association of literature with technology. During the closing session, appreciation was expressed to the members of the organizing and scientific committees, session chairs, participants, and the technical support team for their contributions to the symposium. Particular emphasis was placed on the contributions of Research Assistant Alper Yıldız, Research Assistant Demet Canarslan Yıldız, and Dr. Seyfettin Özdemirel, who actively took part in the organization process. The 2nd International Symposium on Turkish Language, Literature and Culture in the Balkans was successfully concluded, laying the groundwork for future academic collaborations, joint publications, and the establishment of stronger international ties in the field of Turkology.