Talk:
“Education Policy in Practice: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation”
by
Dr. Merve Derebasoglu
Postdoctoral Researcher
European University Institute
derebasoglu.merve@gmail.com
Date and Room Info:
Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 12:30 p.m.
A-130
Abstract:
This talk brings together two studies on education policy in Turkey. The first examines a large-scale university expansion and its gendered impacts, showing that while access improved for both men and women, the gender gap did not narrow beyond the existing time trend. The second evaluates a randomized intervention enhancing core cognitive skills among disadvantaged primary school children. Preliminary results show significant gains in fluid intelligence, memory, and academic performance. Together, these studies highlight how policy design shapes both access and outcomes in education.
Short Biography
Merve Derebasoglu is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the European University Institute. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Bilkent University, where her research focused on the intersection of education policy, labor economics, and gender inequality. Her work combines experimental and quasi-experimental methods to evaluate how large-scale education reforms shape socio-economic outcomes. Prior to her postdoctoral position, she worked as a consultant at the World Bank on labor market and social protection projects. Her research has been published in the Journal of Human Capital and Population Research and Policy Review.