Bulgarian Comparative Education Society (BCES)
Education at a Crossroads
XXIII BCES Annual International Conference
Yeditepe University Faculty of Education
İstanbul, Türkiye
24-27 September 2025
Conference registration is now closed. For late or last-minute participation inquiries, contact the Conference Chair.
The Conference Program, including presentation schedules by date and time, will be available soon.
Thematic Sections
1. Comparative and International Education
Section Chair: Prof. Charl Wolhuter, North-West University, South Africa
2. International Education Issues
Section Chair: Assoc. Prof. Zacharias L de Beer, North-West University, South Africa
3. School Education: Policies, Innovations, Practices
Section Chair: Dr. Gillian L. S. Hilton, University of West London and BFWG, United Kingdom
4. Higher Education & Teacher Education and Training
Section Chair: Prof. James Ogunleye, Academy of Innovation & Management, United Kingdom
5. Law and Education
Section Chair: Prof. Elizabeth Achinewhu-Nworgu, Ulster University, United Kingdom & Ireland
6. Well-being in the School Ecosystem
Section Chair: Assoc. Prof. Ayşen Köse Şirin, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
7. Sustainability in Education
Section Chair: Assist. Prof. Onur Seçkin, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
8. Teaching and Learning Experiences and AI
Section Chair: Prof. Gonca Kızılkaya Cumaoğlu, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Committees
Local Organizing Committee
Conference Chair
Prof. Nikolay Popov, Sofia University, Bulgaria
Conference Co-Chair
Prof. Yelkin Diker Coşkun, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Members
Bulgaria
Prof. Marinela Mihova, Veliko Turnovo University, Bulgaria
Assoc. Prof. Marina Pironkova, Sofia University, Bulgaria
Gergana Sakarski, PhD Candidate, Sofia University, Bulgaria
Kalina Popova, M.Ed., 12th Secondary School, Sofia, Bulgaria
Türkiye
Prof. Gonca Kızılkaya Cumaoğlu, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Prof. Hülya Kılıç, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Prof. Dilek Erbaş, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Assoc. Prof. Serdar Körük, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Assoc. Prof. Ayşen Köse Şirin, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Assoc. Prof. Çağla Garipağaoğlu, Bahçeşehir University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Asist. Prof. Onur Seçkin, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Asist. Prof. Hakan Şentürk, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Research Assist. Pelin Sidal, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
International Program Committee
Prof. Charl Wolhuter, North-West University, South Africa
Assoc. Prof. Zacharias L de Beer, North-West University, South Africa
Dr. Gillian Hilton, Middlesex University, United Kingdom
Prof. James Ogunleye, Academy of Innovation & Management, United Kingdom
Prof. Elizabeth Achinewhu-Nworgu, Ulster University, United Kingdom & Ireland
Assoc. Prof. Ewelina K. Niemczyk, North-West University, South Africa
Dr. Anna Czyż, Pedagogical University of Cracow, Poland
Prof. Oksana Chigisheva, Southern Federal University, Russia
Prof. Hennie Steyn, North-West University, South Africa
Prof. Nicholas Sun-keung Pang, East China Normal University, China
Prof. Claudio-Rafael Vasquez-Martinez, University of Guadalajara, Mexico
Prof. Steve Azaiki, Institute of Science and Technology, Nigeria
Assoc. Prof. Oğuzhan Doğan, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Emrah Pelvanoğlu, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Esra Yalçın, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Evrim Eveyik Aydın, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Dilara Koçbaş, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Fatma Akfırat, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Meltem İpek Öner, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Research Assist. Pınar Aylin Yırtıcı, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Research Assist. Simay Vapurlu Şimşek, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Research Assist. Melih Kamarat, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Research Assist. Özgür Nomer, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Research Assist. Özden Oğul Bülbül, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Research Assist. Sevgi Sekmen, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Research Assist. Şevval Kurt, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Research Assist. Gamze Aydın Arık, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Research Assist. Işılay Kolan, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Conference Archive
BCES Conference Programs
XXII BCES Conference Program 2024 printed version
XXI BCES Conference Program 2023 printed version
XX BCES Conference Program 2022 online version
XIX BCES Conference Program 2021 online version
XVIII BCES Conference Program 2020 online version
XVII BCES Conference Program 2019 printed version
XVI BCES Conference Program 2018 printed version
XV BCES Conference Program 2017 online version
XV BCES Conference Program 2017 printed version
XIV BCES Conference Program 2016 printed version
XIII BCES Conference Program 2015 printed version
XII BCES Conference Program 2014 printed version
XI BCES Conference Program 2013 printed version
X BCES Conference Program 2012 printed version
IX BCES Conference Program 2011 printed version
VIII BCES Conference Program 2010 printed version
VII BCES Conference Program 2009 printed version
VI BCES Conference Program 2008 printed version
V BCES Conference Program 2007 printed version
IV BCES Conference Program 2006 printed version
III BCES Conference Program 2005 printed version
II BCES Conference Program 2003 printed version
BCES brief info
The Bulgarian Comparative Education Society (BCES) was founded in Sofia in October 1991.
BCES is registered as a non-profit, non-governmental organization. It focuses on:
- organizing the BCES annual international conference
- organizing national and international conferences on education
- doing comparative education studies
- coordinating international research projects
- supporting publications on problems of education
- organizing study visits to Bulgaria for foreign students, teachers and experts
- providing expertise to education policy making
BCES topics of special interest are:
- Comparative education
- History of education
- Teacher education
- Education policy, reforms and innovations
- Reforms in preschool, primary and secondary education
- Reforms in higher education
- Lifelong learning, vulnerable groups and social inclusion
- School counseling
BCES Conferences
XXII BCES Conference 2024
Education in Developing, Emerging, and Developed Countries: Different Worlds, Common Challenges
Sandanski, Bulgaria, 2 - 5 July 2024
XXI BCES Conference
Recovering Education: Using the Experiences and Learning Acquired to Build New and Better Education Systems
Sofia, Bulgaria, 27 - 30 June 2023
XX BCES Conference
Towards the Next Epoch of Education
Virtual Conference, 20 - 24 June 2022
XIX BCES Conference
New Challenges to Education: Lessons from Around the World
Virtual Conference, 22 - 25 June 2021
XVIII BCES Conference
Educational Reforms Worldwide
Virtual Conference, 23 - 26 June 2020
XVII BCES Conference
Glocal Education in Practice: Teaching, Researching, and Citizenship
Pomorie, Bulgaria, 11 - 14 June 2019
XVI BCES Conference
Education in Modern Society
Golden Sands, Varna, Bulgaria, 11 - 15 June 2018
XV BCES Conference
Current Business and Economics Driven Discourse and Education: Perspectives from Around the World
Borovets, Bulgaria, 20 - 23 June 2017
XIV BCES Conference
Education Provision to Every One: Comparing Perspectives from Around the World
Sofia, Bulgaria, 14 - 17 June 2016
XIII BCES Conference
Quality, Social Justice and Accountability in Education Worldwide
Sofia, Bulgaria, 10 - 13 June 2015
XII BCES Conference
Education’s Role in Preparing Globally Competent Citizens
Nessebar, Bulgaria, 15 - 20 June 2014
XI BCES Conference
Education in One World: Perspectives from Different Nations
Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 14 - 17 May 2013
X BCES Conference
International Perspectives on Education
Kyustendil, Bulgaria, 12 - 15 June 2012
IX BCES Conference
Comparative Education and Teacher Training
Sofia, Bulgaria, 5 - 9 July 2011
VIII BCES Conference
Comparative Education and Teacher Training
Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 9 - 12 June 2010
VII BCES Conference
Comparative Education and Teacher Training
Tryavna, Bulgaria, 29 June - 3 July 2009
VI BCES Conference
Comparative Education and Teacher Training
Sofia, Bulgaria, 1 - 4 July 2008
V BCES Conference
Comparative Education, Teacher Training and New Education Agenda
Sofia, Bulgaria, 28 - 31 August 2007
IV BCES Conference
Comparative Education and Teacher Training
Sofia, Bulgaria, 1 - 4 May 2006
III BCES Conference
Comparative Education in Teacher Training
Sofia, Bulgaria, 18 - 22 April 2005
II BCES Conference
Comparative Education in Teacher Training
Sofia, Bulgaria, 8 - 12 October 2003
I BCES Conference
Comparative Education in Teacher Training
Sofia, Bulgaria, 20 - 24 November 2002