Istinye University hosted the Türkiye's first ever UNESCO MOST School titled “Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence Use in the Field of Migration.” Held between 9–11 July in collaboration with the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM), the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Türkiye, the programme addressed the potential contributions of AI technologies to migration governance and discussed ethical use cases that could generate societal benefit.
The event brought together a distinguished group of participants, including Prof. Dr. Mehmet Akif Kireçci, Chair of the MOST and Migration Specialization Committee of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO; Prof. Dr. Ayselin YILDIZ, member of the same committee and coordinator of the MOST School; Prof. Dr. Ahmet İçduygu, Director of Koç University’s Migration Research Center (MiReKoc); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgü Yolcu, Communications Advisor at PMM; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Karataş, Director of PMM’s Migration Research Center; Veysel Dağlar, Head of the IT Department at PMM; and Ivanka Spadina, Senior Coordinator of the Migration and Border Governance Programme at IOM Türkiye.
The discussions focused on how technological developments, particularly AI, can be ethically integrated into migration policies and governance frameworks.
“Science Must Lead the Construction of a Future Where Data Is Governed”
Professor Mehmet Akif Kireçci, Chair of UNESCO Turkiy’s MOST Committee, delivered a comprehensive evaluation of the vision, objectives, and future aspirations of the MOST School. Highlighting the international scope and strategic significance of the program, he remarked: "Migration is not merely a humanitarian matter; it is a multifaceted, interdisciplinary, and inherently global phenomenon directly linked to international law. Collaborative initiatives conducted through programs such as the MOST School, which brings together participants from 46 countries, constitute tangible examples of collective efforts to address shared global challenges. In today’s world, we must strive to pioneer the construction of a system in which we govern the data—rather than the data governing us."
“Technology Constitutes a Significant Dimension in Turkey’s Migration Governance”
In his opening remarks, Associate Professor Mustafa Karataş, Director of the Migration Studies Center at Presidency of Migration Management, underscored the increasingly pivotal role of technology in Turkiye’s migration management. Emphasizing that the Presidency of Migration Management closely follows technological advancements, Dr. Karataş stated: "Since our establishment, we have diligently integrated technological innovations into our operations to ensure that migration-related processes are conducted swiftly and efficiently. At the same time, we closely monitor emerging digital solutions to deploy them effectively across our migration management procedures. With the rapid evolution of today’s technologies, the question of how artificial intelligence—now prevalent across various domains and of growing global significance—can be incorporated into migration management has begun to receive considerable attention on numerous scientific platforms. Through this training, we believe that our institutional awareness regarding the human rights–sensitive and effective use of artificial intelligence technologies in the field of migration will be further enhanced."
“Turkiye Prioritizes Science in Migration Governance”
Ivanka Spadina, Senior Coordinator for Migration and Border Governance at IOM Turkey, underscored the significance of artificial intelligence for migration management. Reflecting on Turkey’s institutional capacity in migration governance, Spadina noted: "Our primary objective is to ensure that migration is managed in an orderly, secure, and human rights–compliant manner. Turkiye stands among the countries that conduct this process with notable effectiveness. I am delighted to be here and to witness the valuable contributions that the academic community is making to this field. Such initiatives are of exceptional importance in ensuring that public policies are supported by a sound scientific foundation."
"Emerging Artificial Intelligence Translates into Societal Benefit"
Professor Ayselin Yıldız, faculty member at Istinye University and Coordinator of the MOST School, emphasized that the responsible and effective utilization of artificial intelligence technologies holds great promise for enhancing Turkiye’s migration governance. Continuing her speech with the core objectives of the MOST School, she stated: "The integration of artificial intelligence technologies into migration governance carries the potential to generate large-scale societal benefit. Through the MOST School, we have had the opportunity to explore this potential within an ethical, effective, and human rights–oriented framework. As Istinye University, we take grateful to host such a significant endeavor."
Over the three-day program of the MOST School, the ethical, legal, and practical dimensions of artificial intelligence in the field of migration were thoroughly explored. Key topics addressed during the program included “the ethical dimensions and legal framework of artificial intelligence,” “AI-based projects and applications of the Presidency of Migration Management,” and “AI-supported automated decision-making mechanisms in the field of migration.”
