History
The Department of Child Development was established in 2014 within the Faculty of Health Sciences at Istanbul Medipol University. It admitted its first students during the 2014-2015 academic year and celebrated its first graduates in 2018.
In December 2014, under the leadership of Department Head Prof. Dr. Arzu YÜKSELEN, the Child Development Assessment, Monitoring, and Early Intervention Unit was founded at Medipol Mega University Hospital. Initially operating one day a week, the unit expanded its services to five days a week in 2016 with the inclusion of other faculty members. In 2015, the department was also established within the School of Health Sciences at the Haliç Campus with the same academic staff, admitting its first students in the 2015-2016 academic year.
The Department of Child Development (Chairmanship) was officially established in 2017, with faculty members also providing instruction at the graduate level. The Master’s Program with Thesis in Child Development began admitting students in the 2017-2018 academic year and has produced approximately 20 graduates to date.
Following the success and high patient satisfaction of the first unit at Medipol Mega University Hospital, the Developmental Diagnosis, Assessment, Monitoring, and Early Intervention Unit was established at Koşuyolu Medipol Hospital in 2019, providing services every Wednesday.
To allow students to benefit from the quality of service at Medipol University hospitals, enhance their clinical practice skills, and increase professional awareness, another Child Development Assessment, Monitoring, and Early Intervention Unit was opened at the South Campus in April 2022. This unit features two family-child interview rooms with one-way mirror observation rooms and one group room. Since its opening, it has provided child development support services to university staff, their relatives, and external families.
As of March 2022, faculty members joined the Pregnancy School Education Team at Medipol Mega University Hospital, providing bi-weekly training on "Development and Support of Infants Aged 0-1" through online and face-to-face sessions. Since March and April 2023, faculty members have also been active in Pregnancy School programs at Çamlıca Medipol Hospital and within the Ümraniye Municipality, respectively.
The most recent addition, the Developmental Diagnosis, Assessment, Monitoring, and Early Intervention Unit at Çamlıca Medipol Hospital, commenced operations in October 2023, offering services every Friday.
In October 2023, the Department signed a protocol with Ataşehir Municipality to raise awareness and support the development of children from families receiving social assistance. Within this scope, the department also supports the KAİZEN Project, where students conduct activities to support the social-emotional skills of children aged 8-15. Additionally, collaboration continues with five municipal kindergartens to assess and support the development of preschool children.
According to RUR (Round University Ranking) data, our university ranks 1,091st globally and 31st nationally. Based on URAP Turkey data, the university has risen to 40th place in the national rankings. According to 2023 YÖK Atlas data, our Department of Child Development—which has a quota of 50 students—ranks 24th among 37 universities in terms of student preference.