Innovative Education Fellow

Toplum İçin Yenilik ve Yardım Derneği (TIYYD) is a nonprofit organization offering support to refugee communities all across Türkiye. In partnership with Karam Foundation, TIYYD runs two Karam Houses in Türkiye – in Istanbul and Reyhanli

Karam House is working in partnership with NuVu Studio, an innovation school based in Cambridge, MA. on after-school studio-based learning programs focusing on refugee and Turkish youth at the Karam Houses in Reyhanli and Istanbul, Türkiye.

At the Karam Houses, hundreds of youth learn through access to technology and makerspaces, expert mentorship, and a sophisticated design-based curriculum developed by NuVuX that teaches youth how to build their ideas and their community. The Innovative Education Fellows are part of the team that delivers these innovative experiential programs.

NuVuX’s hands-on studio curriculum is grounded in fundamental design skills and explores an extensive range of topics and disciplines. Within our model, students take projects from idea to finished prototype through an iterative process of research, diagramming, prototyping, critical feedback, and input from experts.

ABOUT YOU

You are passionate. You love the design-based approach and are energized by the field, its development, and the potential it has to change the way we think and work.

You love to see growth. You see that education is a way to not only take youth from school to university but also, if taught in a more innovative way, can teach them to think critically, identify nuanced society problems, and build its solutions.

You are creative. You get excited to approach your work in a way that is not necessarily the status quo. You are ready to test new ways of doing work, harnessing the knowledge that you gained from your own design education.

You are collaborative. You thrive in a setting where people are building off of one another’s energies, ideas, and potential.

You are a learner. You are excited about expanding your own knowledge and creativity.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As an Innovative Education Fellow, you will join a unique, highly skilled team of mentors based in Istanbul and Reyhanli in teaching studios at both Karam House locations and virtually. You will have opportunities to expand your own knowledge and creativity through collaboration with students and staff on projects that result in real products.

Fellows engage collaboratively with the program leader and the mentors, who have expertise across many fields, including industrial design, fashion, architecture, robotics, engineering, art, music, and filmmaking, to inspire topics and themes for upcoming studios, which are split into 3 concentrations:

• Community: Engaging with local entities and delivering direct impact.
• Media: Tackling global issues and rethinking information pathways.
• Technology: Pushing the boundaries across fields and disciplines.

What We’re Looking For: The Essentials

This is a full-time fellowship with a duration of one year, and selected candidates may have the opportunity to apply for a longer-term position after the completion of the one-year fellowship.

• An undergraduate or graduate degree in a design or design/tech field such as architecture, computational design, or industrial design, or equivalent experience.
• Proficiency in design with an ability to think critically and creatively.
• Strong writing, graphic, and oral communication skills.
• Turkish Citizen or Istanbul issued Residency Permit.
• Speaks proficiently in two out of the following languages: Arabic, English and Turkish (English is preferred).

What We’re Looking For: Strongly Preferred

• Proficiency in programming, electronics, mechanical design, and digital fabrication expertise (Rhino, 3d Printing, Arduino, AR/VR…).
• Experience working with remote teams.
• Teaching experience.

LOCATION: Eyüpsultan, Istanbul, or Reyhanli, Hatay Türkiye

HOURS: Full-time, 40 hours per week. Saturday – Wednesday.

COMPENSATION: Based on the candidate’s level of experience, qualifications, and the organization’s salary scale in Turkish Lira.