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21st Century Skills Research Trends in Türkiye: Investigating Graduate Theses in Curriculum and Instruction

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 1, 82 - 95

Aylin Akinlar

https://doi.org/10.19126/suje.1544081

Abstract

The internationalization of higher education institutions is a positive development, offering significant opportunities for growth and advancement. It is imperative that students are equipped with 21st-century skills. This paper presents the latest research trends on 21st-century skills in higher education, focusing on graduate theses in curriculum and instruction programs in Türkiye. This research examines the context in which these graduate programs study 21st-century skills from 2014 to 2024, along with the results of these studies. This study employs a qualitative content analysis method using MAXQDA. The analysis reveals an increasing academic focus on 21st-century skills, marked by a peak in dissertation completions in 2022, reflecting a response to evolving technological and societal needs. The emphasis on quantitative and mixed methods, alongside diverse research tools, illustrates the complexity of this research area and underscores a commitment to empirical study. These findings highlight the critical need for ongoing investigation, particularly at the doctoral level and within foundation universities, to further enrich understanding in this evolving educational field. The study suggests fostering diverse research approaches, particularly qualitative and interdisciplinary methods, to enrich insights into 21st-century skills. Expanding doctoral-level research and increasing contributions from foundation universities are recommended to broaden perspectives and strengthen theoretical frameworks. Additionally, the development of specialized data collection tools is encouraged to enhance accuracy and support detailed analysis in this complex field. These recommendations highlight pathways to deepen academic understanding and support the continued evolution of 21st-century skills research.

Keywords

21st-Century Skills Curriculum and Instruction Research Trends.

References

  • Altbach, P. G., Reisberg, L., & Rumbley, L. E. (2009). Trends in global higher education: Tracking an academic revolution. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000183219
  • Ananiadou, K., & Claro, M. (2009). 21st century skills and competencies for new millennium learners in OECD countries. OECD Education Working Papers, No. 41. OECD Publishing. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED529649
  • Bedir, H. (2019). Pre-service ELT teachers' beliefs and perceptions on 21st-century learning and innovation skills (4Cs). Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 15(1), 231-246. https://doi.org/10.17263/jlls.547718
  • Binkley, M., Erstad, O., Herman, J., Raizen, S., Ripley, M., & Rumble, M. (2012). Defining twenty-first-century skills. In P. Griffin, B. McGaw, & E. Care (Eds.), Assessment and teaching of 21st-century skills (pp. 17-66). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2324-5_2
  • Bozkurt, A., Jung, I., Xiao, J., Vladimirschi, V., Schuwer, R., Egorov, G., Lambert, S. R., Al-Freih, M., Pete, J., Olcott, Jr., D., Rodes, V., Aranciaga, I., Bali, M., Alvarez, Jr., A. V., Roberts, J., Pazurek, A., Raffaghelli, J. E., Panagiotou, N., de Coëtlogon, P., & Paskevicius, M. (2020). A global outlook to the interruption of education due to COVID-19 pandemic: Navigating in a time of uncertainty and crisis. Asian Journal of Distance Education, 15(1), 1-126. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3878572
  • Coşanay, G., & Karalı, Y. (2022). Examination of classroom teachers' 21st-century teaching skills. International Online Journal of Education and Teaching (IOJET), 9(1), 432-448. https://iojet.org/index.php/IOJET/article/view/1563
  • Council of Higher Education. (n.d.). What is the Bologna process? https://uluslararasi.yok.gov.tr/en/internationalisation/bologna/whats-the-bologna-process
  • Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Sage.
  • Dhawan, S. (2020). Online learning: A panacea in the time of COVID-19 crisis. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 49(1), 5-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047239520934018
  • Erdem, C. (2019). Introduction to 21st-century skills and education. In C. Erdem, H. Bagci, & M. Kocyigit (Eds.), 21st century skills and education. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Gömleksiz, M. N., Sinan, A. T., & Doğan, F. D. (2019). Perceptions of prospective teachers of Turkish, Turkish language and literature and contemporary Turkish dialects of the 21st century skills and competences. International Journal of Eurasian Research, 7(19), 163-185. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1180053
  • Güneş, F. (2012). Bologna süreci ile yükseköğretimde öngörülen beceri ve yetkinlikler. Yükseköğretim ve Bilim Dergisi, 2(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.5961/jhes.2012.026
  • Hodges, C., Moore, S., Lockee, B., Trust, T., & Bond, A. (2020). The difference between emergency remote teaching and online learning. Educause Review, 27, 1-12. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2020/3/the-difference-between-emergency-remote-teaching-and-online-learning
  • İlhan, E., & Kalaycı, N. (2018). Üniversitelerin lisans programlarında uygulanan çekirdek program tasarısının değerlendirilmesi. Yükseköğretim Dergisi, 8(3), 264-281. https://doi.org/10.2399/yod.18.014
  • Johnson, R. B., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed methods research: A research paradigm whose time has come. Educational Researcher, 33(7), 14-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.3102/0013189X033007014
  • Kim, K. H., Park, H., Yoo, S. J., & Kim, H. Y. (2019). Edutainment, serious games, and experiential environments: Effects on digital literacy, problem-solving, and creativity in learners. Computers & Education, 134, 24-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.01.012
  • Korkmaz, G., & Kalayci, N. (2021). Problem and project-based learning as an educational philosophy: A novel conceptual model for higher education. African Educational Research Journal, 9(3), 774-789. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1324144
  • Kozikoğlu, İ., & Senemoğlu, N. (2015). The content analysis of dissertations completed in the field of curriculum and instruction (2009-2014). Education & Science, 40(182). https://doi.org/10.15390/EB.2015.4784
  • Literacy, C. (2009). P21 Framework Definitions. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED519462
  • Mayring, P. (2014). Qualitative content analysis: Theoretical foundation, basic procedures, and software solution. https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-395173
  • Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2015). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldana, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook. Sage. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9450.1975.tb00535.x
  • Ornstein, A. C., & Hunkins, F. P. (2009). Curriculum foundations, principles, and issues (5th ed.). Pearson Education.
  • Ozdemir, M. Ç., & Arı, A. (2008). Eğitim programları ve öğretim bilim dalında yapılmış bazı doktora tezlerinin incelenmesi. II. Lisansüstü Eğitim Sempozyum, 26(28), 40-63. https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.647030
  • P21 Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (2019). Framework for 21st Century Learning. Battelle for Kids. http://static.battelleforkids.org/documents/p21/P21_Framework_Brief.pdf
  • Patton, M. Q. (1990). Qualitative evaluation and research methods (2nd ed.). Sage.
  • Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice (4th ed.). Sage.
  • Petek, E. (2018). Critical thinking as a nourishing interface to EFL context in higher education. International Education Studies, 11(5), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v11n5p1
  • Powers, B., & Knapp, T. (2006). Dictionary of nursing theory and research (3rd ed.). Springer.
  • Schleicher, A. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on education: Insights from Education at a Glance 2020. OECD. https://doi.org/10.1787/69096873-en
  • Scott, C. L. (2015). The futures of learning 2: What kind of learning for the 21st century? UNESCO Education Research and Foresight Working Papers, 14. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000242996
  • Shaw, A. (2004). About the 21st century and education. 21st-century school – professional staff development and curriculum design. http://www.21stcenturyschools.com/index.html
  • Soffer, J. (2016). Ten 21st-century skills every student needs. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/03/21st-century-skills-future-jobs-students/
  • Tashakkori, A., & Teddlie, C. (2010). SAGE handbook of mixed methods in social & behavioral research (2nd ed.). Sage.
  • Teddlie, C., & Tashakkori, A. (2009). Foundations of mixed methods research: Integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches in the social and behavioral sciences. Sage.
  • Tekerek, B., Karakaya, F., & Tekerek, M. (2018). An investigation on undergraduate programs of teacher training regarding 21st-century skills: Example of elementary mathematics and science. Education Conference. https://iojet.org/index.php/IOJET/article/view/310/239
  • Thomas, J., & Harden, A. (2008). Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviews. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 8, Article 45. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-8-45
  • Voogt, J., & Roblin, N. P. (2012). A comparative analysis of international frameworks for 21st-century competencies: Implications for national curriculum policies. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 44(3), 299-321. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220272.2012.668938
  • Voogt, J., Erstad, O., Dede, C., & Mishra, P. (2013). Challenges to learning and schooling in the digital networked world of the 21st century. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 29(5), 403-413. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12029
  • Vural, M., & Turan, A. H. (2019). Yönetim bilişim sistemleri bölümü mezunlarının sahip olması gereken bilgi, beceri ve yetkinlikler. İşletme Bilimi Dergisi (JOBS), 7(2), 357-388. https://doi.org/10.22139/jobs.562327
  • Xing, B., & Marwala, T. (2017). Implications of the Fourth Industrial Age for Higher Education. The Thinker, 73(3). https://ssrn.com/abstract=3225331
  • Yin, R. K. (2017). Case study research and applications: Design and methods. Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781473915480
  • Zawacki-Richter, O., Marín, V. I., Bond, M., & Gouverneur, F. (2019). Systematic review of research on artificial intelligence applications in higher education–where are the educators? International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 16(1), Article 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-019-0171-0

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 1, 82 - 95

Aylin Akinlar

https://doi.org/10.19126/suje.1544081

Abstract

References

  • Altbach, P. G., Reisberg, L., & Rumbley, L. E. (2009). Trends in global higher education: Tracking an academic revolution. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000183219
  • Ananiadou, K., & Claro, M. (2009). 21st century skills and competencies for new millennium learners in OECD countries. OECD Education Working Papers, No. 41. OECD Publishing. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED529649
  • Bedir, H. (2019). Pre-service ELT teachers' beliefs and perceptions on 21st-century learning and innovation skills (4Cs). Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 15(1), 231-246. https://doi.org/10.17263/jlls.547718
  • Binkley, M., Erstad, O., Herman, J., Raizen, S., Ripley, M., & Rumble, M. (2012). Defining twenty-first-century skills. In P. Griffin, B. McGaw, & E. Care (Eds.), Assessment and teaching of 21st-century skills (pp. 17-66). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2324-5_2
  • Bozkurt, A., Jung, I., Xiao, J., Vladimirschi, V., Schuwer, R., Egorov, G., Lambert, S. R., Al-Freih, M., Pete, J., Olcott, Jr., D., Rodes, V., Aranciaga, I., Bali, M., Alvarez, Jr., A. V., Roberts, J., Pazurek, A., Raffaghelli, J. E., Panagiotou, N., de Coëtlogon, P., & Paskevicius, M. (2020). A global outlook to the interruption of education due to COVID-19 pandemic: Navigating in a time of uncertainty and crisis. Asian Journal of Distance Education, 15(1), 1-126. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3878572
  • Coşanay, G., & Karalı, Y. (2022). Examination of classroom teachers' 21st-century teaching skills. International Online Journal of Education and Teaching (IOJET), 9(1), 432-448. https://iojet.org/index.php/IOJET/article/view/1563
  • Council of Higher Education. (n.d.). What is the Bologna process? https://uluslararasi.yok.gov.tr/en/internationalisation/bologna/whats-the-bologna-process
  • Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Sage.
  • Dhawan, S. (2020). Online learning: A panacea in the time of COVID-19 crisis. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 49(1), 5-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047239520934018
  • Erdem, C. (2019). Introduction to 21st-century skills and education. In C. Erdem, H. Bagci, & M. Kocyigit (Eds.), 21st century skills and education. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Gömleksiz, M. N., Sinan, A. T., & Doğan, F. D. (2019). Perceptions of prospective teachers of Turkish, Turkish language and literature and contemporary Turkish dialects of the 21st century skills and competences. International Journal of Eurasian Research, 7(19), 163-185. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1180053
  • Güneş, F. (2012). Bologna süreci ile yükseköğretimde öngörülen beceri ve yetkinlikler. Yükseköğretim ve Bilim Dergisi, 2(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.5961/jhes.2012.026
  • Hodges, C., Moore, S., Lockee, B., Trust, T., & Bond, A. (2020). The difference between emergency remote teaching and online learning. Educause Review, 27, 1-12. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2020/3/the-difference-between-emergency-remote-teaching-and-online-learning
  • İlhan, E., & Kalaycı, N. (2018). Üniversitelerin lisans programlarında uygulanan çekirdek program tasarısının değerlendirilmesi. Yükseköğretim Dergisi, 8(3), 264-281. https://doi.org/10.2399/yod.18.014
  • Johnson, R. B., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed methods research: A research paradigm whose time has come. Educational Researcher, 33(7), 14-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.3102/0013189X033007014
  • Kim, K. H., Park, H., Yoo, S. J., & Kim, H. Y. (2019). Edutainment, serious games, and experiential environments: Effects on digital literacy, problem-solving, and creativity in learners. Computers & Education, 134, 24-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.01.012
  • Korkmaz, G., & Kalayci, N. (2021). Problem and project-based learning as an educational philosophy: A novel conceptual model for higher education. African Educational Research Journal, 9(3), 774-789. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1324144
  • Kozikoğlu, İ., & Senemoğlu, N. (2015). The content analysis of dissertations completed in the field of curriculum and instruction (2009-2014). Education & Science, 40(182). https://doi.org/10.15390/EB.2015.4784
  • Literacy, C. (2009). P21 Framework Definitions. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED519462
  • Mayring, P. (2014). Qualitative content analysis: Theoretical foundation, basic procedures, and software solution. https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-395173
  • Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2015). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldana, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook. Sage. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9450.1975.tb00535.x
  • Ornstein, A. C., & Hunkins, F. P. (2009). Curriculum foundations, principles, and issues (5th ed.). Pearson Education.
  • Ozdemir, M. Ç., & Arı, A. (2008). Eğitim programları ve öğretim bilim dalında yapılmış bazı doktora tezlerinin incelenmesi. II. Lisansüstü Eğitim Sempozyum, 26(28), 40-63. https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.647030
  • P21 Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (2019). Framework for 21st Century Learning. Battelle for Kids. http://static.battelleforkids.org/documents/p21/P21_Framework_Brief.pdf
  • Patton, M. Q. (1990). Qualitative evaluation and research methods (2nd ed.). Sage.
  • Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice (4th ed.). Sage.
  • Petek, E. (2018). Critical thinking as a nourishing interface to EFL context in higher education. International Education Studies, 11(5), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v11n5p1
  • Powers, B., & Knapp, T. (2006). Dictionary of nursing theory and research (3rd ed.). Springer.
  • Schleicher, A. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on education: Insights from Education at a Glance 2020. OECD. https://doi.org/10.1787/69096873-en
  • Scott, C. L. (2015). The futures of learning 2: What kind of learning for the 21st century? UNESCO Education Research and Foresight Working Papers, 14. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000242996
  • Shaw, A. (2004). About the 21st century and education. 21st-century school – professional staff development and curriculum design. http://www.21stcenturyschools.com/index.html
  • Soffer, J. (2016). Ten 21st-century skills every student needs. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/03/21st-century-skills-future-jobs-students/
  • Tashakkori, A., & Teddlie, C. (2010). SAGE handbook of mixed methods in social & behavioral research (2nd ed.). Sage.
  • Teddlie, C., & Tashakkori, A. (2009). Foundations of mixed methods research: Integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches in the social and behavioral sciences. Sage.
  • Tekerek, B., Karakaya, F., & Tekerek, M. (2018). An investigation on undergraduate programs of teacher training regarding 21st-century skills: Example of elementary mathematics and science. Education Conference. https://iojet.org/index.php/IOJET/article/view/310/239
  • Thomas, J., & Harden, A. (2008). Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviews. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 8, Article 45. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-8-45
  • Voogt, J., & Roblin, N. P. (2012). A comparative analysis of international frameworks for 21st-century competencies: Implications for national curriculum policies. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 44(3), 299-321. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220272.2012.668938
  • Voogt, J., Erstad, O., Dede, C., & Mishra, P. (2013). Challenges to learning and schooling in the digital networked world of the 21st century. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 29(5), 403-413. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12029
  • Vural, M., & Turan, A. H. (2019). Yönetim bilişim sistemleri bölümü mezunlarının sahip olması gereken bilgi, beceri ve yetkinlikler. İşletme Bilimi Dergisi (JOBS), 7(2), 357-388. https://doi.org/10.22139/jobs.562327
  • Xing, B., & Marwala, T. (2017). Implications of the Fourth Industrial Age for Higher Education. The Thinker, 73(3). https://ssrn.com/abstract=3225331
  • Yin, R. K. (2017). Case study research and applications: Design and methods. Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781473915480
  • Zawacki-Richter, O., Marín, V. I., Bond, M., & Gouverneur, F. (2019). Systematic review of research on artificial intelligence applications in higher education–where are the educators? International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 16(1), Article 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-019-0171-0
There are 43 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Curriculum and Instration (Other)
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Aylin Akinlar 0000-0002-4448-2721

Early Pub Date April 17, 2025
Publication Date
Submission Date September 5, 2024
Acceptance Date November 1, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 15 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Akinlar, A. (2025). 21st Century Skills Research Trends in Türkiye: Investigating Graduate Theses in Curriculum and Instruction. Sakarya University Journal of Education, 15(1), 82-95. https://doi.org/10.19126/suje.1544081
AMA Akinlar A. 21st Century Skills Research Trends in Türkiye: Investigating Graduate Theses in Curriculum and Instruction. SUJE. April 2025;15(1):82-95. doi:10.19126/suje.1544081
Chicago Akinlar, Aylin. “21st Century Skills Research Trends in Türkiye: Investigating Graduate Theses in Curriculum and Instruction”. Sakarya University Journal of Education 15, no. 1 (April 2025): 82-95. https://doi.org/10.19126/suje.1544081.
EndNote Akinlar A (April 1, 2025) 21st Century Skills Research Trends in Türkiye: Investigating Graduate Theses in Curriculum and Instruction. Sakarya University Journal of Education 15 1 82–95.
IEEE A. Akinlar, “21st Century Skills Research Trends in Türkiye: Investigating Graduate Theses in Curriculum and Instruction”, SUJE, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 82–95, 2025, doi: 10.19126/suje.1544081.
ISNAD Akinlar, Aylin. “21st Century Skills Research Trends in Türkiye: Investigating Graduate Theses in Curriculum and Instruction”. Sakarya University Journal of Education 15/1 (April 2025), 82-95. https://doi.org/10.19126/suje.1544081.
JAMA Akinlar A. 21st Century Skills Research Trends in Türkiye: Investigating Graduate Theses in Curriculum and Instruction. SUJE. 2025;15:82–95.
MLA Akinlar, Aylin. “21st Century Skills Research Trends in Türkiye: Investigating Graduate Theses in Curriculum and Instruction”. Sakarya University Journal of Education, vol. 15, no. 1, 2025, pp. 82-95, doi:10.19126/suje.1544081.
Vancouver Akinlar A. 21st Century Skills Research Trends in Türkiye: Investigating Graduate Theses in Curriculum and Instruction. SUJE. 2025;15(1):82-95.
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