Applications for exchange programs in the 2011-2012 academic year began for students who want to get to know other cultures more closely, make friends from all over the world, and experience education at different universities. Applications may be submitted between the 1st and 28th of February. The Sabancı University International Relations Office is a good source of information for aspiring exchange students, and helps them make informed choices.
Burak Arıkan, director of the International Relations Office, explains the benefits of exchange programs:
Parallel to the dizzying rate at which technology and communication develop nowadays, school and student profiles change at every stage of education. This change is a requirement. Today’s individuals are expected to be multifaceted, and embrace ongoing change and development in a multicultural, wide range of interests and abilities.
Contemporary concepts like “international” “intercultural” “interdisciplinary” and “interpersonal” are all based on interaction, and are the stepping stones to success in higher education and professional life alike. The international relations offices of universities play a key role here. Students should know that one of the key experiences which support the wide perspective these concepts bring upon students and the ability to empathize and think differently – abilities that will help them regardless of the field they will work in the future – is exchange programs. Thanks to international mobility, students live and learn how life, education and human relations are different in other countries. This is very significant in making them more knowledgeable, productive and tolerant. As Sabancı University, we view internationalization as key to our future policy, and strive to increase the number of international cooperation agreements, currently at 300, for higher numbers of incoming and outgoing exchange students every year.
Please click below for comments by previous exchange students:
http://iro.sabanciuniv.edu/students/exchange/outgoing/sharing-experiences
