The Faculty of Education of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University hosted the 19th Early Childhood Education Student Congress as part of the 20th anniversary of our university’s founding. The congress began with an opening ceremony on April 27, 2026 at the 15 July National Will Hall of the Ahi Evran Congress and Culture Center and was attended by Deputy Governor İsmail Çetinkaya, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Şimşek, Dean of the Faculty of Education Prof. Dr. Ayfer Şahin, scholars, sponsors, academic and administrative staff, and students.

The opening speech of the congress was delivered first by the Congress Chairs, Assistant Professor Tuğba Kanmaz and Associate Professor Şule Alıcı, who provided detailed information about the event. Emphasizing that the responsibilities of teacher-training institutions are both extensive and significant, the chairs noted that the Faculty of Education at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, with its long-standing history, is training the teachers who will shape our future. At the conclusion of their remarks, the conference chairs expressed their hope for a pleasant and inspiring conference and thanked everyone who contributed to its organization.

Afterwards, Prof. Dr. Ayfer Şahin, Dean of the Faculty of Education, took the floor and expressed her gratitude for hosting the 19th Early Childhood Education Student Congress. Thanking everyone who contributed to the organization of the congress, Şahin expressed her hope that it would be a productive event.

Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Şimşek then delivered a speech in which he spoke about the importance of early childhood education. Emphasizing that the early childhood education period is one of the most critical stages of human development, Şimşek stated, “Education is the art of shaping a child into a human being.” At the conclusion of his speech, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Şimşek expressed his hope for the success of the conference and thanked everyone who contributed to its organization.

stly, Deputy Governor İsmail Çetinkaya delivered a speech. In his remarks, Çetinkaya highlighted the connection between the Ahi culture and education, explaining that in the Ahi tradition, children are raised and guided according to their individual talents. Expressing his hope for a productive and successful conference, Deputy Governor İsmail Çetinkaya thanked everyone who contributed to the organization of the event.

Following the opening speeches, a musical performance was presented by the Department of Music at our university’s Neşet Ertaş Faculty of Fine Arts. The event then proceeded to the conference’s opening panel. In the panel titled “Digital Transformation and Sustainability in Early Childhood Education in the Light of the Global Goals,” moderated by Prof. Dr. Nesrin Işıkoğlu, Prof. Dr. Dilek Altun and Prof. Dr. İlkay Ulutaş delivered their presentations.

The 19th Early Childhood Education Student Congress will continue through April 29, 2026, featuring panels scheduled over the course of two days.