TPM 2

TPM 2: Istanbul, Turkey

DATE: 26th to 27th of March, 2023.
HOSTING ORGANISATION: Istanbul Sehit Umut Sami Sensoy, TARSUS, Turkey

GLOBE – International Project Meeting Held in Istanbul in a Wonderful Atmosphere

Higher powers decided that this meeting of the team working on the "GLOBE" project would be held in Istanbul. The original plan was to meet in Tarsus, in eastern Turkey, but the ground there was still unstable, and all accommodation in that area was filled by people who had recently lost their homes due to earthquakes.

A Special Experience During Ramadan

Some higher powers also influenced the timing of this meeting to coincide with Ramadan, the holy month in the Muslim world. This period is characterized by particularly animated streets during the evening hours, a special liveliness around holy places like Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, and definitely, a unique atmosphere in the city.

Encounter with the City's Rich History

A very special experience began upon arrival at the beautiful "Istanbul Airport," built in the second decade of the 21st century and officially taking over as the main airport in 2019. The experience was enriched by impressive religious buildings, fantastic bridges, incredible crowds on winding shopping streets, the colorful array of local crafts, the beauty of palaces in coastal parts of the city, delicious food, and numerous other attractions.

Chosen Project Mascot – CT Digi

During the two-day project meeting, we covered a range of topics. The project coordinator from Spain presented us with the plan and tasks for the upcoming period. We agreed on who would complete what and by when, and we also chose the project mascot. Although our Juca (an owl in traditional dress) was somehow the most beautiful, we voted for the interesting microphone we named "CT Digi" as it reflects the theme of our project—aiming to improve students' digital literacy.

The project consortium, which includes LINK and ITHS, has numerous tasks ahead in preparing teaching materials that teachers can use in class to familiarize students with digital literacy skills. All the tools we create will be tested during a five-day training session that we will organize in Belgrade in October. We are especially looking forward to having the opportunity to introduce our city to our project partners (and dear friends). Students from their schools will also join us as guests, and we hope they will take away as many beautiful memories from Belgrade as we did from Istanbul.