DIRECTOR, at ANKARA HACI BAYRAM VELI UNIVERSITY, Turkey.
Aydan Irgatoğlu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages at Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University’s School of Foreign Languages. With foundations in English Language Teaching (PhD, 2017; MA, 2010) from Gazi University and a bachelor’s in English Teaching from Hacettepe University (2005), she combines strong academic preparation with extensive teaching expertise. Beginning her career as an English teacher in Turkish secondary and preparatory schools (2006–2018), she transitioned into university-level lecturing and professorship, including roles at Başkent University and Başkent’s Rectorate English Prep School (2009–2019). Since 2022, she holds the title of Associate Professor and has led the Vocational School and Academy of Foreign Languages. Her leadership, research, and teaching form an integrated profile dedicated to improving English language education in Turkey.
Professional Profile
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🎓 Education
Aydan earned her PhD in English Education from Gazi University’s Institute of Educational Sciences in November 2017, completing a thesis that examined teacher self-development models within one‑year preparatory programs at private universities in Ankara under the supervision of Doç. Dr. Bena Gül Peker. She completed her master’s in June 2010 at the same institute with a thesis investigating the effect of using pictures to enhance foreign language listening comprehension, mentored by Yrd. Doç. Dr. Abdullah Ertaş. Earlier, she secured a Bachelor’s degree in English Language Teaching from Hacettepe University in June 2005. Additionally, she obtained an Associate Degree in Public Relations from Anadolu University’s Open Education Faculty in 2006. This robust academic journey combines advanced research training with broad pedagogical foundations.
💼 Experience
Over nearly two decades, Aydan has held diverse academic and administrative roles across Turkey. From 2006 to 2009, she worked as an English teacher at Fahri Keskin Anadolu Lisesi and Dümrek İlköğretim Okulu, and as a trainer at Legoland, CA. She joined Başkent University in 2009 as a lecturer in the Rectorate’s English Prep School, rising to Assistant Professor in their Faculty of Arts & Sciences (2018–2019). In 2019, she moved to Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University’s School of Foreign Languages as an Assistant Professor, and in March 2022 she was promoted to Associate Professor. Administratively, she served as Head and Vice Director of the Vocational School (2019–2023), and since February 2023, as its Director. Her roles encompass teaching, management, and institutional development.
🔬 Research Interests
Aydan’s research concentrates on language education, teacher development, and pedagogical innovation. She investigates how teacher resilience, reflective practice, and emotional and motivational aspects shape English language instruction. Her work spans topics such as language learning strategies, autonomy, self-directed development, and the socio-emotional dimensions of teaching. Methodologically, she employs qualitative, corpus-based, and retrodictive modeling approaches, with applications in ESP course design, assessment literacy, and teacher noticing in practicum. Aydan also explores educational technology integration, intercultural competence, and digital literacy among educators and learners. Her collaborative international research frequently contributes to understanding teacher cognition and learner experience in multilingual contexts.
🏆 Awards
Aydan is recognized for her leadership and academic contributions in English education. She holds the title of Associate Professor since March 2022 at Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, having previously earned Assistant Professor status in 2019. Her administrative achievements include leading the Vocational School as Director since February 2023 following her tenure as Vice Director (2019–2023). At project level, she acts as a trainer and co-coordinator for the prestigious 500 Academician Researcher International Bolashak Scholarship program since October 2023—and as investigator for the international initiative launched in September 2024. Within the scientific community, she is Vice President of INÖED since 2023 and has been a board member since 2021. These roles reflect her academic excellence and institutional impact.
📄 Top Noted Publications
Aydan has published extensively in international peer-reviewed journals and books. Highlights include:
📄 1. An Investigation of the Relational Aspects of L2 Teacher Pride in the Turkish Context
Year: 2025
Journal: International Journal of Applied Linguistics
Focus:
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Examines how pride is experienced by L2 (English as a second language) teachers in Turkey.
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Emphasizes relational dimensions (e.g., interactions with students, colleagues, institutions).
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Likely employs qualitative methods (e.g., interviews or narrative inquiry).
Keywords: L2 teacher identity, emotions, pride, relationality, Turkish context
📄 2. Interdisciplinary ESP Course Design for Tertiary Engineering Students
Year: 2025
Journal: Jurnal Cakrawala Pendidikan
Focus:
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Development of an ESP (English for Specific Purposes) curriculum for engineering undergraduates.
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Integrates both engineering content and language learning.
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Likely includes needs analysis and course design methodology.
Keywords: ESP, engineering education, course design, interdisciplinary approach, tertiary level
📄 3. Through Students’ and Lecturers’ Eyes: Kazakhstani Medical Students’ Needs
Year: 2025
Journal: Novitas-Royal
Focus:
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Needs analysis of medical students in Kazakhstan from both student and lecturer perspectives.
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Investigates language, academic, and professional needs in medical education.
Keywords: needs analysis, medical English, learner-centered education, Kazakhstan, ESP
📄 4. Pre‑Service EFL Teachers’ Noticing in Practicum
Year: 2025
Journal: SAGE Open
Focus:
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Studies how pre-service EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers notice classroom events during their practicum.
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Informed by teacher cognition and reflective practice theories.
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May include data from journals, observations, or stimulated recall.
Keywords: pre-service teachers, noticing, practicum, teacher education, classroom observation
📄 5. Le sujet en procès: Teacher Resilience in Türkiye
Year: 2025
Journal: SAGE Open
Focus:
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Theoretically rich exploration of teacher resilience within challenging Turkish educational contexts.
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Title suggests influence from poststructural or psychoanalytic theory (e.g., “subject on trial”).
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May explore identity, institutional pressures, and coping strategies.
Keywords: teacher resilience, Türkiye, subjectivity, poststructuralism, coping, emotional labor
Conclusion
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aydan Irgatoğlu is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award, especially within the fields of language education, educational psychology, and applied linguistics. Her research productivity, mentorship, international collaboration, and academic leadership clearly meet and exceed the expectations for such a prestigious recognition.