Meeting at Bilgi University with Shigeo Katsu

Attended by Mr. Shigeo Katsu and other representatives of the World Bank and the IFC, the Istanbul Bilgi University Rector, members of the Board of Trustees, Secretary General, faculty members, Bilgi students and representatives of Turkish Youth Voice group.

1- This was followed by a discussion of Youth Issues in Turkey by the eight Bilgi University students selected to visit the Bank in February and the two Youth Voices representatives present.  They focused on the following issues:

• youth unemployment,
• the inadequate educational system in Turkey,
• gender and other forms of discrimination,
• the lack of a voice for youth in this society,
• the lack of faith in this society providing adequate rewards and incentives for hardworking and successful youth,
• the unequal distribution of wealth as it affects youth, and
• issues pertaining to the handicapped. 

2. This was followed by comments and questions from World Bank and IFC representatives.  Mr. Katsu  noted that the issues the students presented were very consistent with his observations that day at various schools and in general with his understanding of the issues. He emphasized the importance of education and noted that the Bank wished to place education high on its agenda in Turkey. He was also very concerned with gender issues and the handicapped or disabled. Other participants made comments on the importance of student and youth input on issues of concern to the Bank.  Mr. Katsu said that that the Bank was very committed to a dialogue with youth in the ECA region and would like to include Bilgi students among others in regional activities. He made specific reference to the Knowledge Economy Forum, which we believe is to be held in Istanbul in 2005. All agreed that there was a need to identify tangible areas for mutual work

3. Mr. Shigeo Katsu also noted his concern for Roma issues. He made reference to two meetings, one in Bulgaria, early in February to launch the Decade of Roma Inclusion and another in Paris in May pertaining to the Roma Education Fund. He said that he would like to invite Bilgi to the Paris meeting. Bilgi would also very much like to attend the meeting in Bulgaris. Mr. Katsu also showed particular interest in poverty issues and forced migration. Ayhan Kaya spoke with about these at the conclusion of the meeting.

4. John Innes made reference to World Bank analytic work on Turkey in three areas: poverty, labor market and “programmatic analytic work” on themes and topics in education and would like to invite Bilgi to made comments on reports.