Dr. Sena Berktaş Delivered a Seminar at Tianjin University, China

Dr. Sena Berktaş, a faculty member in the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Istanbul Gedik University, delivered a seminar titled “Responsible Design for Educational Equity: Human-Centred Design Strategies for Supporting Immigrant Communities” at the Department of Industrial Design, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University, one of China’s leading higher education institutions, upon invitation.

During the seminar, Dr. Berktaş presented her doctoral research on social innovation and responsible design, demonstrating how the Human-Centred Design (HCD) approach can contribute to addressing the educational challenges faced by immigrant communities. She shared the research process, key findings, and practical design strategies developed to foster more inclusive communication and educational environments. While social design and Human-Centred Design approaches have become increasingly prominent in Western countries, design education and research in many Asian institutions continue to focus primarily on industrial production and product development. In this context, Dr. Berktaş’s research, which illustrates how design methodologies can be applied to address complex social challenges, attracted considerable interest from the academic staff and students at Tianjin University.

This academic engagement is expected to pave the way for future collaboration between Istanbul Gedik University and Tianjin University through joint research initiatives and academic partnerships. The visit also represents a step in strengthening the international visibility and academic presence of Istanbul Gedik University.