BAUN Hosts the “4th International Symposium on Administrative Law and Administrative Judiciary”

Organized by Balıkesir University (BAUN) with the support of Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality and the Balıkesir City Council, the “4th International Symposium on Administrative Law and Administrative Judiciary” (ISALAJ-2024) commenced with an opening ceremony held at the Malazgirt Conference Hall of the BAUN Atatürk Congress and Culture Center.

In addition to Balıkesir University, the symposium is co-hosted by Istanbul University Faculty of Law and the Ord. Prof. Dr. Sıddık Samı̇ Onar Administrative Law Research Centre, in cooperation with Istanbul Ticaret University, Bukhara State University, Gulistan State University, Baku State University Faculty of Law, the Academy of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, Termez State University, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, KH. Dosmukhamedov Atyrau University, International Vision University, the Finance Institute of Tashkent Financial University, and Tashkent State University of Economics. The event brings together distinguished scholars of administrative law with young academics and legal professionals.

The symposium, held on May 16–18, 2024, under the theme “New Technologies, Information Technologies, Artificial Intelligence”, was inaugurated with the participation of Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan Dr. Jonibek Tavakalov; Mayor of Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Ahmet Akın; Chief Public Prosecutor Abdulkadir Akın; President of the Justice Commission of the First Instance Courts of Judicial Jurisdiction Mehmet Soner Sağıroğlu; President of the 1st Administrative Court of Balıkesir Feyzullah Ertan; Rector of Balıkesir University Prof. Dr. Yücel Oğurlu; Balıkesir Deputy Governor Yusuf İzzet Karaman; Rector of Tashkent Finance Institute Prof. Dr. Tolkın Zakirovich Teshabayev; District Governor of Karesi Metin Arslanbaş; District Governor of Altıeylül Turgay Hakan Bilgin; BAUN Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Cevdet Avcıkurt and Prof. Dr. Murat Doğdubay; Vice Rector of Istanbul Commerce University Prof. Dr. Rahmi Deniz Özbay; members of the senate; members of the judiciary; academic and administrative staff; and students.

Following a moment of silence and the national anthem, the opening speeches commenced. Vice Rector of the Academy of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan Prof. Dr. Cemile Namazova emphasized the brotherhood of Türkiye and Azerbaijan with the words “one nation, two states,” underlining that the Azerbaijani people always feel the support of the Turkish nation. Expressing her pleasure in being a partner of the symposium, Prof. Dr. Namazova affirmed that cooperation with Balıkesir University would continue.

Vice Rector of Istanbul Commerce University Prof. Dr. Rahmi Deniz Özbay, in his speech on artificial intelligence and administrative law, highlighted the rapid development of AI technologies and their increasing self-awareness, and extended his gratitude to all contributors to the symposium.

Rector of Tashkent Finance Institute Prof. Dr. Tolkın Zakirovich Teshabayev noted the growing collaborations between Uzbekistan and Türkiye in education, health, trade, and investment. Expressing his happiness to take part in the symposium, he underlined the ongoing cooperation between Tashkent Finance Institute and Balıkesir University, one of Türkiye’s most prestigious higher education institutions, and conveyed his thanks to all contributors.

Rector of Balıkesir University Prof. Dr. Yücel Oğurlu stated that he was honored to host Türkiye’s largest organization in the field of administrative law, with the participation of nine universities from Türkiye and abroad. He emphasized the importance of bringing together distinguished experts and young scholars, and noted that 65 papers would be presented in Turkish, English, Russian, as well as in Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Uzbek Turkish. Prof. Dr. Oğurlu expressed his gratitude to all contributors and organizers.

Mayor of Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Ahmet Akın welcomed the participants with the words, “Welcome to Balıkesir, the most beautiful place in Türkiye.” Stressing the city’s historical role and its legacy of the National Resistance Movement (Kuva-yi Milliye), Mayor Akın emphasized that administrative law and jurisdiction are indispensable components of the democratic rule of law, and expressed his thanks to all who contributed to the symposium.

Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan Dr. Jonibek Tavakalov described the symposium as a significant experience for academics from European and CIS countries and wished for a fruitful outcome.

Balıkesir Deputy Governor Yusuf İzzet Karaman also emphasized in his speech that the development of artificial intelligence, one of the most important technological breakthroughs, necessitates various adjustments in administrative law, and expressed his hope that the symposium would open new horizons in the field.

The opening program concluded with a plaque presentation ceremony, followed by the inauguration of the exhibition “The Master of the Line: Hasan Aycın”, featuring works of Hasan Aycın, the Balıkesir-born artist awarded the Presidential Grand Prize in Culture and Arts. The symposium will continue with concurrent academic sessions, both in-person and online, at the BAUN Atatürk Congress and Culture Center, along with a series of social programs in Balıkesir.