JPPI | Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Islam
Vol 14 No 1 (2026): Islamic Educational Studies

Internationalization and the Expansion of Islamic Higher Education in Turkiye: Historical Legacies, Policy Shifts, and Mobility Challenges in Theology Programs

Demir, Kerem Alp (Unknown)
Aydın, Selim Efe (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Jun 2026

Abstract

This article examines the internationalization and expansion of Islamic higher education and theology programs in Turkey. It argues that Turkey represents an important case because its theology education has been shaped by the transformation from Ottoman medrese traditions to modern university-based faculties, secular republican reforms, political Islam, state regulation, and changing geopolitical aspirations. Using a qualitative literature-based method with a thematic and conceptual-critical approach, this study synthesizes scholarly works on Turkish Islamic higher education, curriculum reform, English-medium instruction, scholarship programs, educational diplomacy, governance, and academic mobility. The findings show that internationalization in Turkish theology programs is not merely a technical process of increasing international students, adopting English-medium instruction, or expanding global partnerships. It is also an institutional and epistemological process involving religious identity, curriculum integrity, linguistic plurality, quality assurance, stakeholder participation, and soft power. The article concludes that Islamic higher education requires a context-sensitive model of internationalization that combines academic excellence, religious and ethical identity, intercultural competence, educational diplomacy, and participatory governance.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

jppi

Publisher

Subject

Education

Description

JPPI: Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Islam (print ISSN: 2339-1413; online ISSN: 2621-8275) adalah media komunikasi ilmiah bidang pendidikan Islam yang diterbitkan oleh Program Pascasarjana, Institut Agama Islam Darussalam (IAID) Ciamis Jawa Barat Indonesia. JPPI terbit dua kali dalam satu tahun, ...