In cooperation with our Department and the OMÜ Guidance and Psychological Counseling Student Community, the “3rd Traditional OMÜ GPC Days” was held on May 4, 2026, with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ UNIDES Program. The event, which was completed with strong participation, addressed the future of artificial intelligence in psychological counseling and professional brand value through presentations delivered by distinguished experts.
The program was implemented under the project entitled “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Counseling and the Brand Value of Psychological Counselors,” which was deemed worthy of support within the scope of UNIDES (University Participatory Youth Sustainable Support Program) of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The program attracted attention with its rich content consisting of two main sessions.
The opening speech of the program was delivered by Kürşat Emül, President of the GPC Student Community and UNIDES Project Coordinator, who shared the implementation process of the project and its student-centered vision. In their opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Hatice Kumcağız, Head of the Department of Educational Sciences, and Prof. Dr. Hamza Çalışıcı, Dean of the Faculty of Education, emphasized the importance of innovative approaches in the counseling profession, integration with digital transformation, and the significant contribution of such ministry-supported student projects to institutional quality and accreditation processes.
Morning Session: Brand Value and Networking in the Private Sector
In the first phase of the event, a conference was organized to guide students who aspire to make a difference in their career journeys. Dr. Şule Yalçın delivered an inspiring presentation entitled “Enhancing Brand Value and Building Networks in the Private Sector,” sharing strategies on how young psychological counselors can build their own unique professional brands and establish strong professional networks.
Afternoon Session: Panel on “Artificial Intelligence in Psychological Counseling”
The panel, moderated by Prof. Dr. Hatice Kumcağız, featured the following speakers:
• Prof. Dr. Seher Balcı Çelik (Ondokuz Mayıs University)
• Prof. Dr. Enver Sarı (Giresun University)
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Faruk Caner Yam (Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University)
The panelists discussed the potential of artificial intelligence technologies in counseling processes, their ethical boundaries, the digital transformations expected to shape the profession in the future, and how psychological counselors should adapt to this technological transformation from an academic perspective, thereby concluding the program.
We would like to thank all of our faculty members, stakeholders, and students whose efforts and strong interest contributed to the successful organization of this event.
