Berrin Yanıkkaya

Full Professor at Yeditepe University, Turkey

Berrin Yanıkkaya is a scholar and academic leader in the fields of sociology and communication studies. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Ankara University, and a Master’s degree in Communication Studies from Yeditepe University. Throughout her career, Yanıkkaya has held leadership positions in Türkiye, New Zealand, and Cyprus. She is the founding director of YU-LEARNT, the University Learning and Teaching Implementation and Research Centre, and the founding chair of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (YEDI) Committee at Yeditepe University. Yanıkkaya has actively participated in international higher education initiatives, including serving on the Strategic Council of the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi) and as Vice President for 2025. She has chaired one of the European University Association (EUA) Learning and Teaching Thematic Peer Groups in 2024 and has delivered speeches at global conferences such as those organised by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the International Association of Universities (IAU) and the British Council’s Going Global. Additionally, she has served as a judge for the QS Education Awards between 2023-2025 and works as an external reviewer for the higher education quality agencies. 

“Cultivating Talent, Fostering Belonging: A New Paradigm for Intercultural Education Re-search”