Dear Students, Prospective Students, Alumni, and Esteemed Stakeholders,
As the Department of Tourist Guiding, we regard tourism as a strategic field for preserving cultural heritage, enhancing social awareness, and strengthening intercultural dialogue. Since 1998, our department has been offering undergraduate education with the primary mission of educating highly qualified tourist guides who possess strong professional competence, adhere to ethical values, and embrace a deep sense of social responsibility. With our well-established academic background and innovative educational approach, we continue to prepare professionals capable of contributing to both the tourism industry and society.
Our four-year undergraduate program consists of a comprehensive curriculum totaling 240 ECTS credits. The curriculum has been designed to provide students with a solid foundation in professional knowledge, general culture, foreign languages, communication, history, art history, mythology, archaeology, history of religions, tourism legislation, professional ethics, and sustainability. Professional practice courses, field studies, and the compulsory 90-day internship enable our students to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experience. Furthermore, the graduation project completed in the eighth semester serves as an essential component in developing research, analytical thinking, and scientific reporting skills.
While designing our curriculum, we have considered not only the current requirements of the profession but also emerging trends that will shape its future. Topics such as cultural heritage management, sustainable tourism, cultural routes, experience design, and alternative forms of tourism help our students adapt to the evolving dynamics of the tourism sector. In line with our student-centered educational philosophy, our courses are enriched through interactive teaching methods, field observations, educational excursions, and seminars delivered by industry professionals.
Recognizing that tourist guiding is a profession best learned through field experience, our department regularly organizes educational and practical study tours. Visits to significant destinations such as Sardis, Laodicea, Hierapolis, Aphrodisias, the Pamukkale Travertines, Troy, Assos, the Gallipoli Peninsula, Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, Ayvalık, and Cunda provide students with valuable opportunities to reinforce their theoretical knowledge in authentic settings. These experiences enhance interpretation techniques, group management skills, and professional confidence. In addition, World Tourist Guides Day activities, collaborations with professional associations, and meetings with tourism professionals allow our students to establish professional networks even before graduation.
One of the primary strategic priorities of our department is internationalization. Our faculty's admission to the European Institute of Cultural Routes – University Network represents a significant achievement in this regard. Through this membership, we actively develop international academic collaborations in the fields of cultural routes, cultural heritage, and sustainable tourism, creating valuable opportunities for research projects, publications, and academic exchange programs. This network not only enhances the global visibility of our department but also broadens the international perspectives of our students.
Alongside education and research, contributing to society remains one of our department's core missions. The Balıkesir Tourism Guide, prepared by our academic staff, has made a significant contribution to regional tourism literature by presenting the cultural and tourism assets of the region from a scientific perspective. In addition, seminars, conferences, and public events organized by our department help raise public awareness regarding tourism, cultural heritage preservation, and sustainable destination management.
Through collaborations with local governments, professional organizations, and tourism industry representatives, our department actively supports the development of Balıkesir's tourism potential. These partnerships strengthen university–community engagement and facilitate the contribution of academic knowledge to regional development. We believe that tourist guiding is not merely about interpretation but also about representation and cultural responsibility. Therefore, we aim to educate our students as informed ambassadors and advocates of cultural heritage.
In line with our commitment to transparency and quality assurance, the learning outcomes, course contents, and graduation requirements of our program are openly shared, and continuous improvement is embraced as a fundamental principle. Increasing our national and international visibility, standardizing our digital content, and strengthening our academic productivity remain among our strategic objectives.
As the Department of Tourist Guiding, our goal is to become an academic center that produces knowledge, contributes to society, engages internationally, and prioritizes professional ethics. We prepare our students not only for a profession but also for a lifelong responsibility of representing and protecting cultural heritage.
We will be delighted to welcome prospective students who choose our department and prepare them for the future through our distinguished academic staff, practice-oriented curriculum, international collaborations, and commitment to social contribution. We also invite our alumni and all stakeholders to remain active participants in this academic and social journey.
Tourist guiding is a conscious bridge between the past and the future. We remain firmly committed to strengthening this bridge through scientific knowledge, ethical values, and social responsibility.
Yours sincerely,
Prof. Dr. Özlem KÖROĞLU
Head of the Department of Tourist Guiding