Core Curriculum Summer Retreat

The Core Curriculum Summer Retreat (CCSR) is an annual initiative organized by the Foundations Development Directorate at Sabancı University, bringing educators and students from partner institutions together to foster international collaboration, pedagogical innovation, and leadership development within core curriculum programs. Each year, the retreat focuses on a pressing global issue, shaping discussions and activities around a central theme and reflecting on its impact on excellence in teaching.

Purpose & Vision

Designed as a unique platform for intellectual exchange, the retreat encourages self-reflection, cross-cultural dialogue, and professional growth among participants. Through workshops, peer discussions, excursions, and guest lectures, faculty members engage in critical conversations on how core curricula can respond to contemporary challenges in higher education and beyond. The initiative serves as a platform for international visibility, leadership development, acknowledgment of outstanding commitments of teaching, promotion of the core curriculum model, and encouragement of pedagogical models that promote civic engagement habits and skills.

CCSR aspires to be a long-term, sustainable effort that strengthens core curriculum programs globally, ensuring that higher education remains responsive, inclusive, and forward-thinking. Each year, It aims to produce white papers that serve as guiding principles for innovative teaching strategies and improvement of learning. By cultivating an engaged, international community of educators, we aim to inspire innovative teaching approaches that empower students to become informed, responsible global citizens. 

Annual Themes: Addressing the Challenges of Our Time

The retreat focuses on a pressing global issue each year, shaping discussions and activities around a central theme. Participants examine how core curricula can equip students with the critical thinking skills, adaptability, and ethical foundations necessary to navigate these challenges.

    CCSR 2025 – Core Curriculum and Disruptive Technologies
    Amsterdam University College & Sabancı University

    15–19 September 2025

    The 2025 retreat explored “Core Curriculum in the Age of AI and Digital Transformation”, examining how general education or core curriculum models can prepare students for a world shaped by artificial intelligence and technology. Faculty and students from Sabancı University and Amsterdam University College engaged in dynamic discussions on critical thinking, ethics, and adaptability in the digital age.

     

       

      CCSR 2024 – Core Curriculum in an Age of Crises
      Columbia University & Sabancı University

      10–17 August 2024

      The 2024 theme, "Core Curriculum in an Age of Crises" addressed the impact of political turmoil, economic instability, climate change, and technological disruption on higher education. Participants examined how core curricula can equip students with the critical thinking skills, adaptability, and ethical foundations necessary to navigate these challenges.