Giving a speech at the 6th IICEC International Energy Forum where On the Road to G-20 Antalya Summit: Global Energy Security Today and Tomorrow was discussed, Güler Sabancı said:

"We expect the report of IICEC, reviewing the energy import of Turkey, to provide guidance to the new government"

"Paris Summit is of critical importance for the world in terms of climate change"

The 6th IICEC International Energy Forum organized by the Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate is held with the theme "On the Road to G-20 Antalya Summit: Global Energy Security Today and Tomorrow" this year. 

Making the opening speech of the summit, Güler Sabancı, the Founding Chairman of the Sabancı University Board of Trustees, said, "G-20 and B-20 summits will be held in Antalya in November and chaired by Turkey. This brings us additional opportunities and responsibilities about the matters that are important for the world."

Dr. Fatih Birol, the Honorary Chairman of the IICEC Steering Committee and the Chief Economist of the International Energy Agency, said, “We are waiting for a signal to the energy world from Paris. There should be more investment on energy efficiency, solar energy and nuclear energy, and the way should be cleared for the investors for more investment."

Istanbul, May 15, 2015 - Organized by the Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC), the sixth IICEC International Energy Forum took place at the Conrad Hotel Istanbul, hosted by Güler Sabancı, the Founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sabancı University, and Dr. Fatih Birol, the Honorary Chairman of IICEC Steering Committee. 

Stating that IICEC has proven itself as the most important intellectual leadership platform for exchanging ideas and opinions in two very important matters such as energy and climate during the last six years, Güler Sabancı said, "Organized by the Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC), this high level government, industry and academy forum is a unique event for the energy industry of both Turkey and the region. The aim of IICEC is to gather the universities, industry and public sector together in a platform and offer policy recommendations. I believe with all my heart that the role of IICEC as the "north star of energy" will reinforce further with its increasingly expanding network and intellectual leadership." 

"We expect the report of IICEC to provide guidance to the new government"

Emphasizing that IICEC issued its first report and discussed energy import of Turkey, Güler Sabancı, the Founding Chairman of the Sabancı University Board of Trustees, stated the following about the report, which they expect to provide guidance to the new government:

"The local energy resources are insufficient against the increasing energy demand of Turkey, and our country maintains its net importer position. I believe this report, which is related to energy having an important share both in our import and current deficit, is an evaluation made timely considering the targets for the year 2023. IICEC report points out the following: Although the recent decrease in the energy prices appears as alleviating the burden of import, this is a temporary situation and the energy prices are expected to not remain at this level. As the import burden will increase when the energy prices increase, it is possible that the problem will grow apace if the required structural measures are not taken. The increase in import dependency also intensifies the risks related to the energy security of Turkey. According to the ordinary course scenarios, the energy import bill of Turkey would be doubled by the year 2023. Therefore, it would be useful to see the lowness of oil prices in this period as an opportunity, to decrease the import dependency of Turkey in energy, and to take structural measures."

"Hosting the G-20 and B-20 brings us additional opportunities and responsibilities about the matters that are important for the world"

Emphasizing that the G20 and B-20 summits to take place in Antalya in November bring additional opportunities and responsibilities to Turkey about the important matters in the world, Sabancı said, "The global energy system features greatly varying opportunities and challenges. In this dynamic energy circle, there is a topic that still remains in the first place of the agenda: Energy security, in other words 'finding the energy resources continuously for a reasonable price'. We named this year's Forum as 'On the Road to G-20 Antalya Summit: Global Energy Security Today and Tomorrow'. In the long term, energy security covers the economical progresses and the energy investments to be made according to the environmental needs. 

On the other hand, short term energy security includes the capability of quickly responding to the instant changes in the supply-demand balance of the energy system. In this context, as a multi dimensional topic, the energy security requires effective strategies in various fields from geopolitics to strategy investments, energy networks to emergency response."

"Climate change is a global threat, so it requires global solutions"

Pointing out that the United Nations Climate Change Convention will meet in Paris and a convention will be signed drawing the frame of the works to be carried out on alleviating the negative impacts of the climate change, as well as the compliance, Güler Sabancı said, "Paris Conference will have a great role in determining how the world we will leave to the next generations be. Climate change is a global threat beyond all the borders. Therefore, it requires global solutions. There are still more than 1,3 billion people in the world without secure access to energy! In order to eliminate this global problem, energy investments and 'energy access for everyone' has an important place in the energy agenda of G-20. B-20 community will evaluate the background of the energy applications and make recommendations for a more sustainable energy trade. As the Co-Chairman of the B-20 Trade Task Force, I truly believe that the G-20 and B-20 summits will provide effective solutions for the global energy problems."

Sabancı celebrated Dr. Fatih Birol, the Honorary Chairman of IICEC, who is elected as the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency with the unanimity of 29 member countries, and wished him luck in his new position. Sabancı said, "I truly believe that the International Energy Agency, with the leadership of Dr. Birol starting from September 1, will provide significant contributions to the strategies established for a more secure, more reliable, efficient, sustainable and competitive future for the energy in the world."

Dr. Fatih Birol: “The decisions to be taken in Antalya will set the direction for the world”

During his speech, Dr. Fatih Birol, the Honorary Chairman of the IICEC Steering Committee and the Chief Economist of the International Energy Agency, profiled the G-20 members. Pointing out that the G-20, which constitutes 80 percent of the global economy and where more than two third of the global population live in, consumes 80 percent of the energy, Dr. Birol stated that three quarters of the energy investments are realized by these countries. Dr. Birol indicated that more than 80 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions are also caused by the G-20 and said, "The decisions to be taken and the direction to be set this year in Antalya might have an important impact on the global economy. This year, Turkey has developed an important concept; ''comprehensiveness"... This brings a holistic approach for the entire world. It shows that we do not forget about the less developed regions of the world."

Emphasizing the lack of energy in Africa and sharing interesting figures during his speech, Dr. Birol continued, "Africa has big energy resources in terms of natural gas and oil. 30 percent of the new oil field discoveries in the world are in the Sub-Saharan Africa. Coal is still an important energy resource. It is possible to use solar energy 330 days of the year in Africa. But among approximately 45 countries in Africa, only 4 countries are able to give electric energy to 50 percent of their citizens, in other words to each one person out of two. The energy consumption of total 800 million people in Africa is equal to the consumption only in New York. This is a serious global problem. It is required to deliver energy to the people, thus to make more investment for this. This year, Turkey brought into its agenda the topic of making investment to the Sub-Saharan Africa this year."

"The decrease in the energy prices served to the middle and high income groups"

Indicating that the subsidies applied to the fossil fuels in the entire world constitutes an important problem, Dr. Fatih Birol said, "Total 500 billion dollars of subsidies in the world reduce the prices of oil and natural gas. But these subsidies increase the carbon dioxide emission. At first, we thought low prices will be good for poor people, but 8 percent of 500 billion dollars were used for the low income group, which constitute 20 percent of the population. The middle and high income groups benefit more from this support as middle and high income groups of the developing countries consume more energy. Therefore, there are works carried out for disabling the subsidies related to the fossil fuels."

Dr. Birol pointed out that several power plants operated with coal will be built in the world as coal is an inexpensive energy resource and stated that it will positively contribute the climate change if these are high efficiency power plants. 

Dr. Birol: “We are waiting for a signal to the energy world from Paris" 

Dr. Birol stated that the energy industry constitutes 80% of the carbon dioxide emissions and said, "It is impossible to take serious steps about the climate change without solving this problem in the energy industry. During the last 100 years, the use of coal, oil and natural gas increased significantly. We used half of the budget granted to us by the nature. The researches show that, in 2040, we would already spent the entire budget granted by the world to us. We will get used to live in a totally different world after that date. So, we are waiting for a signal to the energy world from the Climate Summit 2015 to take place in Paris. There should be more investment on energy efficiency, solar energy and nuclear energy, and the way should be cleared for the investors for more investment."

The people shaping the energy industry in the world met in Istanbul for the sixth time

Gathering the stakeholders of the governments and the energy industry together in Istanbul, the 6th International Energy Forum discussed the current status and future of the oil, natural gas and electricity investments in Europe, Turkey and Middle East in parallel to the recent political developments. 

The forum organized with the theme "On the Road to G-20 Antalya Summit: Global Energy Security Today and Tomorrow" served as a platform setting the ground for energy discussions that will become prominent in the G-20 Summit to take place in Antalya in November.

Two panels, "Energy Security: Expectations of the Governments from G-20" and "Expectations of the Business World from B-20", were held following the speeches of the Special Advisor to Prime Minister of Japan Eiichi Hasegawa, and the Energy Counselor of the Secretary, DOE, USA Melanie Kenderdine. 

Dr. Walter Steinmann, State Secretary for Energy, Switzerland; Ana Palacio, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and  Member of the Council of State, Kingdom of Spain; Cansen Başaran–Symes, President, Board of Directors of Turkish Industry & Business Association (TÜSİAD); Gabor Kiss, Ambassador of Hungary to Turkey; Dr. Sergiy Korsunskiy, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Turkey; Dr. Johannes Teyssen, the CEO of E.ON SE; John G. Rice, the Vice Chairman of GE and Dr. Werner Brinker, the CEO of EWE AG, were also among the prominent guests of the forum traditionally organized by IICEC since 2010 for the future of a more secure, sustainable global energy. 

Fall Semester Applications

Details of application for undergraduate and graduate students who wish to use dormitory facilities in the 2015-2016 Academic Year are given below.

• Please first log on to the student information system (bannerweb.sabanciuniv.edu) to access the application form.
• Applications will begin on 27.07.2015 at 10:00 and end on 24.08.2015 at 22:00.
• Dormitory applications just can be make on the online system and placement results of all students applying online will be announced on the web on 04.09.2015 at 14:00.
• When selecting roommates, please ensure that the roommate you have selected also selects you. Otherwise the system will disregard one-sided selections and may assign you to different rooms.
• You can update and even cancel your online application until the deadline.
• In the event that enrolled students who are assigned a room wish to terminate their dormitory occupancy without a valid reason, they will not be able to access their online dormitory application form for coming semester.

Dormitory fee payment information:

The dormitory fees for our undergraduate and graduate students in the first semester of the 2015-2016 Academic Year are listed below for as a reminder and the payment required to be paid to between the dates 04.09.2015 and 11.09.2015 under this system.

Dormitory Fees (September  2015 - June 2016) / Per person (VAT included)

Undergraduates            1. Semester        2. Semester        Total Annual Fee

4 person rooms            2.900 TL                2.900 TL              5.800 TL

2 person rooms            4.250 TL                4.250 TL              8.500 TL

Graduates                    1. Semester        2. Semester        Total Annual Fee

2  person rooms            4.250 TL                4.250 TL              8.500 TL

1  person rooms            5.500 TL                5.500 TL            11.000 TL

Studio apartment           5.750 TL                5.750 TL            11.500 TL

Deposit 850 TL (Undergaduate&Graduate, paid once when entering.)

Bloomberg Businessweek’s “Favorite Universities 2015” survey revealed that Sabancı University is Turkey’s favorite university once again. 

Bloomberg Businessweek partnered with Realta Consultancy to receive responses from 16,215 students in 80 universities to determine the "Favorite University of Turkey." The survey included both public and private universities. According to overall results, Sabancı University ranked first among all universities in Turkey.  

The survey contained 57 questions under 12 categories of "Faculty", "Academic Support", "Assessment and Feedback", "Learning Resources and Environment", "Courses and Curriculum", "Contribution to Personal Development", "Social Environment", "Location, Access and Facilities", "Alumni Community", "Career and Internship" and "Overall Satisfaction". The survey determined Turkey's favorite university. 

Please click here to view the piece in Bloomberg Businessweek's May 10, 2015 issue. 

Click here to vire the "Favorite Universities 2014" results. 

Sabancı University ranked 13th on Times Higher Education's (THE) "100 Under 50" list of top universities under 50 years old, and became the top emerging young university from Turkey on the list.

Sabancı University is also the youngest of the top 15 universities on the list. In its 16th year, Sabancı University also holds the highest position among universities that have been included in the list for the first time this year.

Speaking on the subject, Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı expressed her happiness and pride, saying "Since the day we were founded, our dream has been to become a global university. We are taking firm steps in this direction. Our entry to the “Times Higher Education (THE) 100 Under 50" list in 13th position is a sure sign that we are on the right path. It is the achievement of the entire Sabancı University family that we are the highest-placed Turkish university on this list. The most valuable asset of our university is its people: our students, parents who have confidence in their children and us, our faculty, our employees, and our alumni.  The Sabancı University family is the fulcrum of our international recognition we achieved in such a short span of time. Thanks are due all stakeholders for their contribution and confidence in our university." 

President Nihat Berker: "Sabancı University is a leading global university with interdisciplinary education that focuses on research and the individual, an environment of free academic choice and performance, and a globally-influential faculty. Our university has become an international point of reference during its pursuit of a vision that is respectful of diversity, sensitive to the needs of all stakeholders, and of creativity in research and education that enables the generation and dissemination of original knowledge.

“The success of Sabancı University depends on the climate we have fostered since establishment, the philosophy of research-led education, and investments for this purpose. As a result of our efforts, our active research fund was TL 80 million by the end of 2014, with 1.33 research projects and TL 400,000 research budget per faculty member.

“In addition to research, we are a natural innovative leader in education as well. The number of students per faculty member is 13.  Our students are able to choose their diploma program freely at the end of their first year. We are the only university in Turkey which allows that. Starting from the first year, our undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to work on a unique real-life issue within a research group.

“Our ‘Free Projects’ program enables our students to create and receive funding for their own projects.  These processes carry great benefits to our students and the society.

“These are among the top considerations when compiling international lists of universities. As Sabancı University, our goal is to be a global university that always tops international rankings."

Methodology

The performance indicators used in the rankings are: 

• Research: volume, income and reputation (worth 30%)
• Citations: research influence (worth 30%)
• Teaching: the learning environment (worth 30%)
• International Outlook: staff, students and research (worth 7.5%)
• Industry Income: innovation (worth 2.5%)

 Global "100 Under 50" Rankings

Three Turkish universities were included on THE's "100 Under 50" list.

The other Turkish universities were Bilkent University in 28th place and Koç University in 51st place.  

Please click here for the THE list.

Meriç Algün Ringborg, an 2007 graduate of the Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design program, was chosen to the internationally-recognized and very prestigious "All the World's Futures" exhibition. 

"All the World's Futures" will be featured at the 56th Venice Biennale to be held between May 9th and November 22nd, 2015.

Meriç Algün Ringborg was also featured in the March 2, 2015 issue of Art in America with her work. 

Erdag Aksel is participating in the Collateral Exhibition of the Venice Biennial, Glasstress Gotika 2015.

For more information: 
http://www.myartguides.com/venice-art-biennale-2015/art-biennale/collateral-events/item/4982-glasstress-gotika

Industrial Engineering second year student and Such As Blog contributor Bengüsu Özcan published her first book Maskeli Kedi (Cat in a Mask).  The book was printed by Pena Publishing on April 9.

Bengüsu Özcan

Maskeli Kedi is the story of Eylül, a young and successful actress who always remains a bit of a misfit.  The name comes from Eylül’s Twitter avatar ‘Cat in a Mask.’  Bengüsu reports having great fun while writing the story – we hope you have fun too.

Maskeli Kedi is available in all bookstores, and online at idefix and kitap yurdu.

Eylül is a young, pretty and talented actress who goes up against life all by herself.  You may have met her unknowingly; you may have sat beside her at a gathering of friends, or she could even be a distant relative – her stage is other people’s lives and her characters are masks that you will never see through.  Try to track her down and you will come up empty-handed; so cautious is she that she condemned herself to solitude in a castle to prevent people’s secrets from being revealed.  All was well until someone passing by the street discovered her secret castle and took Eylül from behind the mask into the warm daylight.

Leading to the Paris Conference, a conference on "Sustaining Climate Change and Development Policies in Harmony" and a Young Researchers Workshop on "Beyond Special Conditions: Turkey and Climate Change Policies" were held in Istanbul.

L’Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Marmara University Research Center for International Relations (MURCIR) and Istanbul Policy Center-Sabancı University-Stiftung Mercator Initiative held a two-day event to discuss climate change as a great threat to societies, economies and ecosystems.

Coordinated by Istanbul Policy Center Mercator-IPC researcher Dr. Ethemcan Turhan and Marmara University faculty Associate Professor Semra Cerit Mazlum, the events kicked off with introductory remarks.

Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center Director Professor Fuat Keyman,  Marmara University Research Center for International Relations Director Associate Professor Semra Cerit Mazlum and Ambassador of France Laurent Bili made the opening speeches for the conference and scientific workshop designed to discuss various issues related to climate change and development policies, and in preparation for the Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP21) to be held in Paris in December 2015.

Fuat Keyman said “The global community faces two important issues: Climate change and development. The climate conference to be held in Paris at the end of the year is of international significance. Three critical issues will be discussed: development, security and economy. We need serious work before and after the event if we want the Paris conference to succeed. We need to generate new policies on an ongoing basis, and we require the involvement of different actors for this. Climate change is a major field of study for us at the IPC."

Semra Cerit Mazlum commented: “We are in a new era, new understandings, and new expectations. Are new policies possible in a new era shaped by humankind, and what kind of politics do we foresee? Turkey is among the latecomers to the climate change scene in terms of both academic work and public involvement. Our purpose behind this conference is to build networks and create platforms for discussion."

Laurent Bili delivered his speech in Turkish, saying "The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) makes some indubitable statements: 'It is without a doubt that the climate system is warming. The implications are clear: Unless collective awareness is created and people are mobilized as a whole, what we do now will not amount to more than placing the burden on the shoulders of future generations.' There will be no shortage of climate meetings in 2015, all of which will culminate at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) in Paris at the end of the year. In this respect, France faces two challenges at the same time: It will host thousands of delegates and observers for two weeks, and as the chair of COP, will act as the facilitator for a unanimous agreement."

The conference on the first day of the event brought together representatives of public, private and financial sectors, universities and nongovernmental organizations from France and Turkey. Discussing the issues were Philippe Zeller, Environmental Advisor to the Government of France; Tuba Seyyah of the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning Climate Change Office; Barış Karapınar, Chief Author of the 2nd Working Group of the 5th Research Group of IPCC; Mustafa Özgür Berke on behalf of the Climate Network; TÜSİAD Board of Directors Member Metin Akman; TSKB (Industrial Development Bank of Turkey) Sustainable Management Systems Representative Hülya Kurt, and AFD Turkey Director Bertrand Willocquet. The pressing issues in the conference were low-carbon economies and the involvement of civil society and other stakeholders in the decision-making process leading up to the climate change summit (COP 21) in Paris.

Following the conference were an exhibition by famous photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, titled "60 Solutions to Climate Change," and a cocktail.

A Young Researchers Workshop on "Beyond Special Conditions: Turkey and Climate Change Policies" was held on the second day of the event.  Introductory remarks were made by UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food and University of California Global Studies Professor Hilal Elver, and IPCC 5th Progress Report 3rd Working Group Chief Author and Director of the International Center for Environment and Development, Professor Franck LeCocq.

Academics and researchers from public institutions, nongovernmental organizations and think tanks discussed various aspects of climate change and exchanged opinions.

Trainings were held for the female inmates and guards of the Izmir Aliağa Penitentiary and meetings between local organizations, women and penitentiary personnel as part of the “Mor Güvercin - Purple Dove” project implemented by the Sabancı University Gender and Women’s Studies Forum in association with the Youth Re-autonomy Foundation of Turkey and the KAMER Foundation with the approval and cooperation of the Ministry of Justice General Directorate of Penitentiaries, the financial support of the European Union Central Finance and Contracts Unit and the consultancy of the Ministry of Family and Social Policy. 

On the first day of training, project introduction seminars were held for female inmates and guards, explaining the importance of NGO work in penitentiaries. Taking part in the first day's seminar were representatives of the independent women's organization Women's Solidarity Society of Izmir, the Izmir Bar Association Women's Rights Commission, City of Izmir Women's Support Center and Shelter, the Izmir branch of the Ministry of Family and Social Policy Violence Prevention and Monitoring Center, Youth Re-autonomy Foundation of Turkey and KAMER, who informed women on their local support mechanisms. On the second and third days, female inmates were separated into 12-25 and 25 and above age groups for training. The training provided by KAMER and the Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Forum focused on the themes violence, discrimination and gender. On the third day, attorney-at-law Selmin Cansu Demir facilitated a workshop on “Women’s Rights.”   On the fourth day of the project, Associate Professor Aslı Akdaş Mitrani gave training on “The Role of Prison Personnel and Psycho-Social Services in Penitentiary Relations” to guards and personnel.

Prior to the activity in Izmir, four-day projects were held in the Ankara Sincan Women's Peniteniary, Denizli Bozkurt Women’s Open Penitentiary and Adana Karataş Women's Penitentiary. Sessions in the provinces of Denizli, Ankara, Adana and Izmir included a seminar titled "Post-Release Life and Advice-Support Mechanisms” for 400 inmates and workshops with 60 guards. All events were held by YRFT, Sabancı University, KAMER, local women’s NGOs, Bar Associations and experts from Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centers (ŞÖNİM).

After the completion of the Izmir Aliağa Women's Penitentiary event, the Purple Dove project will conclude with a conference in June where representatives from all partnering institutions and the press will be invited.

About the project:

The Mor Güvercin-Purple Dove Project is based on the idea that women’s shelter homes planned to be commissioned in 24 provinces around Turkey may be a viable alternative for women who have been imprisoned and seek to rejoin social life in a disadvantaged position. 

The project aims to improve the visibility of female inmates and provide them with alternatives that will generate value in post-release life while seeking to develop relationships among local NGOs, women’s shelters and penitentiaries. Other objectives of the project are to reveal the vulnerability of prison inmates to violence against women, help inmates gain a sense of women’s rights, and inform them about women’s shelter homes. 

At the end of the project: 

- 120 female inmates in the 12-25 and 25 and above age groups in women’s penitentiaries in 4 provinces will have received knowledge about women’s rights, gender and violence against women. 

- 400 inmates in 4 provinces will have learned more about women’s organizations and shelter homes for their post-release use, and have gained awareness about their rights.

- 40 guards and 12 psycho-social services specialists (52 personnel in total) assigned to women’s penitentiaries will have received information about women’s rights and civil society, and have developed closer ties to civil society.

- One guard from each penitentiary (4 in total) will have been chosen to liaise between penitentiaries and women’s shelter homes and NGOs, acting as an NGO representative.

- The project will have contributed to former inmates utilizing women’s shelters in 24 provinces of Turkey post-release. 

- Local women’s nongovernmental organizations will have assumed liaison role between women’s shelter homes and penitentiaries.

The project is implemented by the Youth Re-autonomy Foundation of Turkey, active in the area of juvenile delinquency since 1992, in association with the Sabancı University Gender and Women’s Studies Forum and the KAMER Foundation with the approval and cooperation of the Ministry of Justice General Directorate of Penitentiaries, the financial support of the European Union Central Finance and Contracts Unit and the consultancy of the Ministry of Family and Social Policy. The project began in February 2014 and will continue for 18 months in four women’s penitentiaries in Turkey (Ankara, Adana, Izmir and Denizli).  

Vestel and Sabancı University Executive Development Unit partnered to establish the Vestel Retail Academy to guide Vestel towards its vision of "being number 1 in the retail business."

The Vestel Retail Academy will foster a common retail culture among Vestel employees and all field teams (assistants, merchandisers, supervisors, promoters and others) in the chain and dealership channels. Nearly 1000 Vestel employees and field sales personnel will receive training at the Vestel Retail Academy over the course of one and a half years. The curriculum consists of 40 different courses under categories including management skills and leadership, business and people management, retail trends and change management, proactive selling, competitive store operations, future scenarios, and strategic management. Vestel Group of Companies CEO Turan Erdoğan said that the Vestel Retail Academy was a great step towards becoming "number 1 in the retail industry" and continued: "The guiding principle of Vestel is to be customer-focused in all operations from manufacturing to marketing, sales and customer service. Just as we design our products according to customer needs, we base our retail approach on it as well. Sociological and economic changes have an impact on customer wants and needs. If you are in the retail business, you must continuously reinvent yourself by taking these dynamics into consideration. We made an investment that serves our purpose of being number 1 in the retail business and started the Vestel Retail Academy. We would like to thank our business partner Sabancı University Executive Development Unit for their valuable support through their expertise and experienced people."  

Academy is for everyone from General Manager to store employees

Explaining their objective of fostering a common retail culture across Vestel, Erdoğan said: "Vestel operates a multitude of sales channels. In addition to our dealerships, we have internet sales and chain store channels. The retail academy designed by Sabancı University Executive Development Unit is tailored to the unique needs of Vestel and includes courses that span all of our channels and have benefits for each. In order for us to become number 1 in retail, everyone from General Manager to chain store employee will take these trainings." Sabancı University Executive Development Unit Director Cüneyt Evirgen said that the retail academy designed for Vestel would, in addition to fostering a common culture, benefit efficiencies and customer satisfaction, adding: "As Sabancı University we are excited to join forces with Vestel, Turkey's leading electronics brand. The new academy program will help Vestel become the pride of our nation in retail as well as technology. Train-the-Trainer courses in the academy will ensure that Vestel will have its own trainers by the end of the program."

Products to speak silently

The "silent selling" course in the Vestel Retail Academy offers learnings in correct store design and product layout, and active sales with informational materials wherein the product speaks for itself. Theoretical training will be complemented with roleplays, videos and interactive work. Vestel will create an e-learning portal to support the Retail Academy. All Vestel employees and field sales teams that complete the Retail Academy successfully will receive certificates.