An example of transformation in education: Urfa STEM Center

Raising generations who have the skills required by the rapidly changing world, who can keep up with the age and increasing innovative quality in education has become the focus of educational sciences. In this process, it has become important to examine and disseminate educational practices that go beyond the classics. The aim of this study is to examine how "change and transformation in education" is implemented through the example of Urfa STEM Center, a successful initiative in education. In this context, it is aimed to determine what kind of factors and processes played a role in the success of the Urfa STEM initiative, which operates as an innovative education center. This research is based on the activities of the Urfa STEM center between 2016-2022. The research, which was conducted as a case study, a type of qualitative research design, included nine individuals selected through criterion sampling. A semi-structured interview form was used in the data collection phase of the study. The views of the participants were analyzed by thematic analysis. The patterns that emerged during the analysis were thematized and presented. Activity reports, photographs, videos, and notes of the Urfa STEM initiative were used as additional data sources. According to the results of the research, the effective factors in the establishment and sustainability of Urfa STEM Center were gathered under the themes of "feeling the need for change, being ready to realize change, realizing change and making change permanent" within the framework of "individual and collective leadership", and thirty-five different characteristics were emphasized in this context. In this context, it comes to the forefront that organizational members should feel the need for change, be ready for change, realize change and make change permanent. In addition, in the change management process, the leader and the leading coalition should have change awareness, have effective communication skills, share authority, be solution-oriented, have innovation management skills, be open to different ideas, have crisis management skills and be able to evaluate change. The results of the research have important implications for the realization and dissemination of quality education projects in a region with socio-economic problems but with a young population and high development potential.