HACETTEPE UNIVERSITESI EGITIM FAKULTESI DERGISI-HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF EDUCATION, no.35, pp.240-250, 2008 (SSCI)
Social change is the change which takes place in the structure, main institutions, the balance between the components or the organisation method of the society. The relationship between education and social change has been discussed for years. According to some philosophers education causes social change and whereas according to the others education is shaped as a result of social change. The most significant functions of education in a society are to socialise individuals, to enable. the continuity of the society and to raise generations that would try to establish social change. Especially the effect of universities which are the institutions directing research processes can not be ignored. In recent years, many countries have reformed their higher education systems. Especially the reforms which take place in the higher education systems of developing countries are; establishing new institutions, changing financial and administrative structures, forming evaluation and accreditation mechanisms, program reforms and technological innovations. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of higher education on social change. In this context, fundamental concepts in education, social change and higher education, developments and problems within the framework of social reality have been investigated and some suggestions have been made with an analytical approach.