As we greet the New Year, I would like to share some highlights from the achievements and developments at Sabancı University in 2011.

We have admitted 635 new undergraduate students and had 2792 undergraduate and 716 graduate students for a total of 3508.  In the 2010-2011 academic year, the number of our alumni reached 4851, exceeding the number of students.

As part of exchange programs, 145 students went to Europe and 130 students from Europe chose our University.  The number of faculty members was 230 and we had 15.5 students per faculty member.

The number of active projects carried out by faculty members was 165.  Among these projects, 51% were supported by TÜBİTAK, 18% by the EU, 7% were commercial and consultancy projects, and the remainder were supported by the State Planning Organization, Ministry of Industry and Trade, and various international funds.

The School of Management was accredited by the century-old mark of excellence in management education, the AACSB.  A comprehensive cooperation agreement was signed with MIT.  The agreement enables MBA students to receive a SU-MIT double diploma, offers a two-week MIT tour and lectures to Executive MBA students, and provides for many seminar and research opportunities with MIT faculty members visiting SU.  We also took part in the cooperation with MIT and the University of Zaragoza, which will lead to a new double major program in Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

The Sabancı University Nanotechnology Application and Research Center (SUNUM) was commissioned.  Engineering and Natural Sciences students and faculty began to use the laboratories in the center and the first scientific publications based on research done there were produced.  The facilities will be made available to outside institutions in 2012.  We are also establishing a “machine shop” for the use of FENS members and external institutions.

In addition to a number of awards, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences became the only faculty in Turkey to have 3 Jean Monnet Chairs, and was chosen a Jean Monnet Center of Excellence.  Various research projects are being conducted with the cooperation of the FASS and the Central European University.

The Sakıp Sabancı Museum hosted the Treasures of Aga Khan, Across, and For the Last and First Time exhibitions.  The Sabancı University Performing Arts Center, a key difference in our campus life, reached 211,369 viewers.

Our events included “Family Days at the Museum” on February 2 and October 27, the “US Alumni Gathering” on May 6, the “Homecoming and Reunion” on campus on July 2 and 3, the regular “Movie Days” and a variety of SUMED events at a number of venues in Istanbul.  I will continue to come together with the ever-growing family of Sabancı University alumni in 2012.

You helped the Scholarship Fund create more awareness and support a greater number of students.  While our fundraising events helped the Scholarship Fund grow, the contribution of the alumni to this fund increased by almost 150%.

In addition to a busy schedule, the Istanbul Policy Center signed an agreement of cooperation with the German Mercator Foundation, paving the way for many new projects.  Our efforts continue with the Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate, Executive Development Unit (EDU), Competition Forum, Governance Forum, Civic Involvement Projects, Gender and Women’s Studies Forum and many other institutions.

We started two new initiatives to support our Scholarship Fund and become more involved with the society: the SU Summer School for High School Students and the SU Karaköy Academy of Science and Culture, a public Saturday school.

Your active support is helping to propel our University on the path to becoming one of the world’s best universities.

Our key objectives for 2012 are internationalization, fundraising, and the establishment of new Chairs.

As a member of Sabancı University – a family helping to spread scientific and technological developments, disseminating knowledge, making national and international achievements, and growing larger with its alumni – I feel very fortunate.

I wish you an even better year and health, peace and success for you and your loved ones.
 
With warm regards,
 
Nihat Berker

Hikmet Budak of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences was appointed as the National Coordinator for Turkey in the European Plant Science Organization (EPSO).  Turkey is being represented in the EPSO for the first time by Hikmet Budak.

The European Plant Science Organization is the highest institution for plant science studies in Europe.  The organization is a decision-maker in molecular plant science strategies and EU 7th Framework Programs.  The directors of EPSO include European scientists, bureaucrats and administrators.  Election to the Organization requires nomination by other parties.  Sabancı University faculty member Hikmet Budak was nominated for National Coordinator for Turkey both by TÜBİTAK and the President of EPSO.

Sabancı University ranked 106th in the UI Green Metric Ranking 2011 compiled by the University of Indonesia for the second time this year.  The only other university from Turkey on the list was Bilkent University, ranking 165th.

The study assesses 178 universities from all over the world against the principal requirement of working towards reducing carbon footsteps and helping to prevent or reduce global climate change.

The objective of the ranking is to provide an overview of the green campus and sustainability projects and the current situation in universities across the world.
By drawing the attention of university administrations and social stakeholders, the initiative expects to create further awareness of global climate change, energy and water issues, waste recovery and environmentally-friendly transportation.

Founded on the environment, economy and justice, the ranking is expected to cause a shift in attitudes and draw more attention to economic and social issues associated with sustainability.

Please visit for the full list.

The highlights of Sabancı University in 2011 are in the Sabancı University 2011 Almanac

Research and Graduate Policies (RGP) Director Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal has been appointed as Vice President as of 22 December 2011.

Our Rectorship will thus continue to serve with two Vice Presidents. Prof. Mandal will also continue as RGP Director.

A ceremony was held to celebrate the emeritus professorships of the valued Sabancı University faculty members Professor Ayşe Öncü, Associate Professor Cemil Arıkan, Professor Fikret Adanır, Professor Kemal İnan, Professor Korel Göymen, Professor Sabri Sayarı and Professor Vyacheslav Zakharyuta for their invaluable contributions to the institution and their respective fields of study.  The ceremony at Sabancı University was attended by President Professor Nihat Berker, deans of faculties, faculty members, students, employees and guests from academia.

Professor Nihat Berker said, “Institutions bear the imprint of their members.  Our members that we bestow with emeritus professorship have always been at the forefront of our university with their extremely valuable studies, personalities and wealth of experience.”

Emeritus professors are distinguished in academia and the society in their respective fields

Professor Ayşe Öncü, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, has made great contributions to sociology.
Associate Professor Cemil Arıkan served as the Director of Research and Graduate Policy - a first by Sabancı University.
Professor Fikret Adanır, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, has contributed to the university in the field of history.
Professor Kemal İnan, is the Founding Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences.
Professor Korel Göymen, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, has worked extensively in urban planning and local administrations.
Professor Sabri Sayarı, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, has distinguished studies in international relations and political science in Turkey.
Professor Vyacheslav Zakharyuta, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, has been living in Turkey for 20 years and has outstanding achievements in mathematics.

Emeritus Professorship at Sabancı University
Emeritus professorship at Sabancı University is an honorary appointment bestowed upon distinguished faculty members who have been of extraordinary service to the university and the society throughout their academic careers, and retire at 68 years of age.  The bestowment of the title is recommended by the Dean of the respective faculty, approved by the President and ratified by the Board of Trustees.

Emeritus professorship at Sabancı University aims to bolster the concentration of young and extraordinary talent with the wealth of knowledge and experience brought by distinguished professors.  The title also enables retired faculty members to continue prolific scientific efforts and take part in the activities of the university.

The Sabancı University School of Management hosted an event featuring Bangladeshi professor of economics Muhammad Yunus, who won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize with his work on microcredit.  Professor Muhammad Yunus gave a lecture titled “Economic Fluctuations and the Importance of Social Entrepreneurship” at the  Sabancı University campus in Tuzla on Thursday, December 15.  Professor Yunus was received by Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı.

Following an opening speech by the Sabancı University School of Management Dean Professor Nakiye Boyacıgiller, Professor Muhammad Yunus gave details of the microcredit system established in Bangladesh.  Yunus explained that he personally extended financial guarantee to the people of the town close to his campus in Bangladesh, which helped individuals in financial difficulty to become a part of the banking system.  Yunus said that the system was being utilized in 80,000 villages in Bangladesh and an aggregate of 1.5 billion dollars of credit has been allocated so far, with a successful repayment rate of 99.3%.  Muhammad Yunus added that a similar system was being implemented in Turkey.

Muhammad Yunus said that, in contrast to philanthropy,  money spent in social enterprises brought increasing returns, and added, “Initiatives with a public benefit are considered social enterprises.  These may be done by individuals or partnerships.  Social entrepreneurship can create a new business that earns profit while also helping the people.”

Muhammad Yunus concluded by saying, “The young population today is luckier because they have access to advanced technologies.  They can create opportunities that will engage their potential.  They can access all the information they need.  This empowers them in a way that previous generations did not have.”

Güler Sabancı thanked Muhammad Yunus for his speech, and said, “At Sabancı University, we encourage our students towards social entrepreneurship, and we value such efforts greatly.”  Güler Sabancı presented Muhammad Yunus with a commemorative brick of Sabancı University.

Sabancı University Book Club hosted an event featuring Martin Jacques, author of the international bestseller When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order on China and its influence on the next century.

The event was held at the Sabancı University campus in Tuzla on Thursday, December 15.  After opening speeches by Sabancı University President A. Nihat Berker, author Martin Jacques and Fatih Oktay of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, a panel discussion was held on the book, moderated by President A. Nihat Berker.

Discussing the historical, political and economic development of China, Martin Jacques argued that all civilizations have unique sets of values, and that Europe’s attempt to understand China with European values would be erroneous.  Martin Jacques emphasized that as a civilization with a history of five millennia, China needs to be considered from the perspective of its own values, concepts, history and customs.

Martin Jacques said that the uncertainty about the future of the European Union damaged its economic strength, and that the financial crisis led to significant drops in the gross national products of the Western economies.  Jacques noted that the gross national product of China reached 130 billion US dollars in 2010 in the meanwhile, and that the Chinese economy continued to grow consistently.

Jacques argued that the increase in the number of countries trading with China and the total trade volume for the last two decades was indicative of China’s influence on global trade.  Jacques added that the Chinese Bank for Development extended a financial contribution of 110 billion dollars to Chinese companies in 2009-2010, and that the total trade volume of China in 2010 was 3.2 trillion dollars.  Jacques also noted that China’s trade with Turkey accounted for 6.4% of the total trade in China.

Martin Jacques made predictions about China’s future place in the global economy, arguing that China would be the second largest economy after the United States by 2025, and the largest economy of the world, followed by the US, in 2050.

To watch the presentation click here.

Dear Sabancı University Members and Students,

In honour of our retired faculty members Fikret Adanır, Korel Göymen, Kemal İnan, Ayşe Öncü, Sabri Sayarı and Vyacheslav Zakharyuta becoming “Emeritus Faculty Member”, and retired RGP Director Cemil Arıkan becoming “Emeritus Director", we would like to invite you to the “Emeritus Faculty Membership Ceremony” which will be held on 22 December 2011.

We would like to thank our Emeritus Faculty Members, once again, for their distinguished service to our University.
 
Date: Thursday, 22 December 2011
Time: 14:30 – Cocktail: 16:00
Place: Sabancı University Performing Arts Center

A. Nihat Berker

The Digital Forensics Challenge held by the US Department of Defense’s Cyber Crime Center received 1147 groups from 52 countries this year.

Teams of 3 or 4 contestants from all over the world took part in the contest.  The challengers were members of leading computer technology companies, cyber war intelligence experts, teams from military and law enforcement, and IT experts of universities.

The objective of the challenge was to track hackers in cyberspace and crack codes to collect intelligence.  Can Yıldızlı joined the challenge alone under the alias "LoneWolf," and cracked hundreds of codes to uncover the data hidden behind music and image files.  Yıldızlı kept track of professional hackers with the software he developed, and gathered a wealth of digital evidence.

The challenge is considered the largest and the longest competition in digital evidence collecting and intelligence.  The Pentagon aims to discover more talent in the field and encourage more IT experts to work in cyber defense.

The challenge began in January 2011, and contestants were given problems of varying difficulty for almost 1 year.

Speaking on collecting digital evidence, cracking codes and various issues in intelligence, Can Yıldızlı said: "I cracked a code placed in a digital image file to uncover the encrypted message.  I also tracked hackers to collect evidence of their criminal acts and identities.  I was the first among 1147 teams from 52 countries.  My competitors were usually teams of 4, while I competed as a 'LoneWolf.'  At the end of the challenge, I took first place with 4789 points.  The first and second runners-up were teams of 4 people, and they only took around 3500 points.  Although I competed on my own, I was able to leave my closest competitors far behind.”

Can Yıldızlı was invited to an international conference to be held by the Department of Defense in Atlanta.  All expenses of Yıldızlı will be paid for by the Department of Defense, and he will receive an award at the ceremony to be held during the conference.

Yıldızlı was also invited to a visit to the IMPACT (International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats) headquarters in Malaysia.  All expenses of this trip will be paid for by the Department of Defense as well.