Browsing by Author "Son-Turan, Semen"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7

Citation - WoS: 10
Citation - Scopus: 27
Fostering Equality in Education: the Blockchain Business Model for Higher Education (bbm-He)
(MDPI, 2022) Turan, S. Semen; Son-Turan, Semen
This paper seeks to address which business model in higher education that fosters SDG 4, is adequate for the post-pandemic period. To that end, it introduces the “Blockchain Business Model for Higher Education” (BBM-HE) and a transformed business model canvas framework based on existing literature, concepts, theories and findings relating to most of the pressing issues in higher education from the present study. To determine these issues, secondary data is used in the qualitative research design by applying inductive content analysis techniques to online reports. The originality of this study lies in the “adaptive” perspective to the requirements of the post-pandemic higher education landscape, which consists of modifications to the core elements of higher education, the integration of blockchain technology into the entire system, and a stronger approach to sustainability practice through sustainability tokens. The envisaged model sets out to provide a roadmap for all stakeholders, but most importantly, “decentralized” higher education institutions of the future and the “employable skills-seeking” proactive students all over the world, as opposed to the former “solely degree-focused and affluent” consumers of educational offerings. This study contributes to higher education literature in terms of business models, blockchains, pandemics, and sustainability.
Citation - WoS: 33
Citation - Scopus: 45
Sustainability Disclosure in Higher Education: a Comparative Analysis of Reports and Websites of Public and Private Universities in Turkey
(Emerald Group Publishing Ltd., 2019) Son Turan, Semen; Lambrechts, Wim; Son-Turan, Semen
Purpose : The purpose of this paper is to explain the extent and content of the sustainability disclosure of public and foundation (private but not-for-profit) universities in Turkey. Design/methodology/approach : Subsequent to a systematic literature review of six academic databases and the National Thesis Center, a content analysis using a combination of Global Reporting Initiative and campus assessment tools from previous studies is conducted on stand-alone sustainability reports and websites of a purposive sample of eight universities in Turkey. Findings : Infrequent and unsystematic sustainability practice done through websites seems to be more prevalent than formal reporting through international initiatives. Research and practice diverge by focusing on different sustainability indicators. Sustainability needs to be integrated into teaching and curriculum through university policies and regulations. Foundation universities show greater effort in sustainability reporting than public universities. Research limitations/implications : The research is limited by the availability of mostly self-reported, dispersed and unaudited data by foundation universities in addition to framework-imposed specificities. Furthermore, there is only one public university with a formal sustainability report in the sample.Practical implications : The findings offer suggestions for developing extra sustainability indicators and may assist local policy-makers and researchers in their efforts to improve sustainability reporting by local universities.Originality/value : This comprehensive research effort is one of the few studies from a non-Western country perspective and the only study on Turkey in relation to universities and sustainability reporting. Keywords : Citation Son-Turan, S. and Lambrechts, W. (2019), "Sustainability disclosure
Citation - Scopus: 13
The Blockchain–sustainability Nexus: Can This New Technology Enhance Social, Environmental and Economic Sustainability?
(Springer International Publishing, 2020) Son Turan, Semen; Son-Turan, Semen
With the rise and fall of the prominence of Bitcoin, blockchain technology,which provides public online ledgers used for the verification and recording oftransactions, has started to become the center of attention for diverse parties in theglobal financial system. This chapter explores the nature of blockchain and discusseshow it may contribute to, or obstruct, sustainability. To this end, first, blockchaintechnology is introduced. Next, a short discussion on sustainability is presented,including how it is defined, measured, reported, and understood in theoreticalframeworks. After that, the 2015 United Nations Sustainable Development Goalsare briefly explained. This is followed by a systematic literature review, whichhighlights the scarcity of literature linking blockchain to sustainability. Finally, theauthor offers her own reflections on the potential of blockchain to revolutionize thefinancial services industry and weighs up the pros and cons vis-a-vis sustainable development.
Citation - WoS: 10
Citation - Scopus: 15
The Hesfs for Higher Education Funding, Employment and Sustainability
(Emerald Group Publishing Ltd., 2020) Son Turan, Semen; Son-Turan, Semen
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop a higher education funding and employment system that obviates barriers to sustainable development and helps engrain the notion of sustainability into the institutional framework. Design/methodology/approach: The “Higher Education Sustainability First System” (HESFS) is a conceptual model that builds upon ideas from previous literature. Its theoretical basis draws on a joint value creation framework from the stakeholder theory and business model perspectives. Findings: A holistic three-pillar approach that offers multiple value propositions is needed to engage the stakeholders to collaborate for the coherent functioning of the HESFS. This will enable the establishment of a viable innovative financial model and the institution of a sustainability-focused student employment program that are facilitated by a robust sustainable infrastructure. Several sustainable development goals may be furthered in the process. Research limitations/implications: The applicability of a part or entire HESFS depends on the characteristics of the higher education institution and the level of its maturity in a sustainable development process. Although its different constituents have been empirically validated in literature, the HESFS model could be applied in a case study to determine its potential feasibility. Practical implications: The HESFS may inspire policymakers, businesses and higher education institutions to forge alliances to devise innovative resources of funding and engage in employment partnerships that can lead to progress in sustainable development. It may particularly be useful for institutions in developing and less developed countries, where inequality and high youth unemployment rates prevail. Originality/value: By focusing on an under-researched topic through a multitheoretical perspective, this study contributes to theories pertaining to stakeholder engagement and business models. © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited.
The TRAIN Framework for AI-Assisted Development of Novice Accounting Instructors
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2025) Son-Turan, Semen
Novice accounting instructors in higher education, and particularly in specialized fields like accounting, face significant challenges, including the need to frequently update curricula, balance theoretical and practical instruction, master new technologies, and integrate sustainability principles into their teaching. These demands are compounded by limited access to professional development resources and growing pressures for educational sustainability. This study evaluates the potential of AI chatbots to address these challenges by enhancing the capacity of junior instructors to create and deliver effective, sustainability-aligned course materials. It introduces the TRAIN framework (Technology-enhanced Responsible AI Integration for Novice Instructors), a structured model designed to align AI capabilities with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 4.c (Teacher Training). Through a systematic literature review (2019–2024), the research identifies key themes, including chatbot integration in education, AI’s capabilities and limitations, and its broader implications for accounting education. The findings demonstrate that AI chatbots can streamline content creation, provide personalized instructional support, and foster sustainable teaching practices. By bridging critical gaps in AI literacy and sustainability integration, the TRAIN framework offers a roadmap for empowering educators to meet evolving educational demands while advancing environmentally responsible teaching methodologies. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Citation - Scopus: 2
Tokenization and Nfts: a Tokenized Income Sharing Model for Higher Education as a Potential Solution for Student Debt in the Usa
(Springer Nature, 2023) Son Turan, Semen; Son-Turan, Semen
This study focuses on how to tokenize educational assets and discusses how tokenization and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) can be operationalized and adopted to the higher education landscape to provide funds for students during their higher education studies. To that end, it builds upon the income-contingent loans and higher education funding literature to propose a system that captures the value of the student’s potential future income streams as a token to be offered to higher education stakeholders willing to invest in a young person’s future, make an impact toward the Sustainable Development Goals, or simply, to diversify their portfolios and hedge against market downturns. The Future Income Token “FIT” is conceptually devised through a literature review and builds on previous findings by the author. This interdisciplinary study fits into the blockchain, crowdfunding, and higher education finance literature. Given the increasing difficulty of mobilizing funds for higher education and, the almost universal, growing student loan default problem, it asks the question: What aspects of higher education tokenomics may give higher education stakeholders the incentive to contribute to a student’s education, that other forms of financing do not? Policy makers, practitioners, as well as theoreticians can benefit from the ideas and the findings of the study. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Citation - WoS: 2
Citation - Scopus: 4
Unlocking the Neural Mechanisms of Consumer Loan Evaluations: an Fnirs and Mlbased Consumer Neuroscience Study
(Frontiers Media SA, 2024) Girişken, Yener; Son, Semen; Demircioğlu, Esin Tuna; Filiz, Gözde; Çakar, Tuna; Ertuğrul, Seyit; Sayar, Alperen; Tuna, Esin; Son-Turan, Semen
This study conducted a comprehensive exploration of the neurocognitive processes underlying consumer credit decision-making using cutting-edge techniques from neuroscience and artificial intelligence (AI). Employing functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), the research examines the hemodynamic responses of participants while evaluating diverse credit offers. The study integrates fNIRS data with advanced AI algorithms, specifically Extreme Gradient Boosting, CatBoost, and Light Gradient Boosted Machine, to predict participants' credit decisions based on prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation patterns. Findings reveal distinctive PFC regions correlating with credit behaviors, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) associated with strategic decision-making, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) linked to emotional valuations, and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) reflecting brand integration and reward processing. Notably, the right dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) and the right vmPFC contribute to positive credit preferences. This interdisciplinary approach bridges neuroscience and finance, offering unprecedented insights into the neural mechanisms guiding financial choices. The study's predictive model holds promise for refining financial services and illuminating human financial behavior within the burgeoning field of neurofinance. The work exemplifies the potential of interdisciplinary research to enhance our understanding of human financial decision-making.